The U.S. Department of Energy has opened a solicitation for an exchange of up to 40 million barrels of crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, with proposals due October 6 at 11 a.m. Central time. No barrels have been awarded, and any successful exchanges would be delivered in November and December 2026. The offer falls within the previously announced 172-million-barrel U.S. release commitment, rather than representing an additional release, and the 40 million barrels are a ceiling for this round rather than supply already entering the market. The timing places the offer one day before the Bureau of Economic Analysis releases August personal income and outlays data, including the PCE price index. That report cannot reflect the September 29 notice or subsequent oil-market moves. The next material DOE development will be the bid deadline and any resulting awards, which will determine how much reserve crude could reach buyers during the delivery window.