NASA to Compete JPL Management Contract

NASA has announced that it will compete the contract for operating the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), currently managed by Caltech. Caltech has managed JPL for NASA since 1958, and the current agreement ends on Sept. 30, 2028. NASA conducted market research and held an Industry Engagement Day in July 2025 to gather intent from other parties to compete and to ensure that offers are sought from as many sources as practicable. Caltech has established a team to prepare for the competition and will respond to the request for proposal (RFP) once released. JPL has been restructuring, implementing cost-reduction initiatives, and developing a new contracting mechanism to scale reimbursable and philanthropic work. Several launches are planned for 2028, including FALCON, EAGLE, SkyFall, MoonFall, and GRACE-C. The competition reflects NASA's commitment to securing the best capabilities, innovation, and mission performance for American space exploration. The outcome of the competition could have significant implications for the future of JPL and its role in robotic space exploration and national security.

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