JPL Prime Contract Replace | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) was based by Caltech researchers in 1936. Since 1958, when NASA was established, Caltech has managed the Lab for the house company by means of a contractual relationship that has been commonly reviewed and renewed.

NASA introduced right this moment that they’ll compete the contract for working JPL, with Caltech’s present settlement ending on Sept. 30, 2028. We have been in discussions with the company about their intent to compete the contract and welcome a good and open competitors. This announcement comes as no shock. Caltech is nicely ready with a group established final summer time to make sure we’re positioned for fulfillment, and we’ll reply to the request for proposal (RFP) as soon as launched.

Leading as much as this determination, NASA performed market analysis (by way of a Sources Sought Notice) and subsequently held an Industry Engagement Day in July 2025, each to collect intent from different events to compete, and to make sure that gives are sought from as many sources as practicable so as to get hold of the very best worth for taxpayers. Each step is a part of a typical authorities procurement course of, reflecting NASA’s dedication to the American folks to safe the very best capabilities, innovation, and mission efficiency for American house exploration.

Caltech shares a dedication to each make sure that the expertise, assets, and capabilities cultivated at JPL are nicely administered and stewarded for the advantage of the nation, and that taxpayer funds are judiciously and responsibly managed. Over the course of our almost seven-decade-long partnership with NASA, Caltech and JPL have led humanity’s exploration and understanding of the universe — and our place inside it. This partnership has produced extraordinary, first-of-their-kind achievements: the primary rovers to traverse the floor of Mars, the primary U.S. smooth touchdown on the Moon that paved the best way for the Apollo astronauts and laid the bottom for the primary human touchdown on the Moon, and the primary (and solely) spacecraft to enter interstellar house. The ambitions forward — no much less daring than these we now have already realized — are ones we’re absolutely ready to satisfy.

We have and can proceed to evolve and take the required steps to make sure the Laboratory stays the nation’s premier heart for the robotic exploration of the universe. Such efforts are exemplified within the work we now have completed over the past yr to considerably improve JPL’s operations, together with a large-scale restructuring, cost-reduction initiatives, and a brand new contracting mechanism to rapidly scale reimbursable and philanthropic work. These modifications place JPL to thrive within the present atmosphere and advance inspiring work aligned with NASA’s ambitions, together with help of the human spaceflight program and significant contributions to U.S. nationwide safety.

Along with our different vital work, a number of thrilling launches are approaching within the near-term, with as many as 5 in 2028 (FALCON, EAGLE, SkyFall, MoonFall, and GRACE-C). Caltech and JPL stay targeted on efficiently delivering these missions.

The expertise, creativity, and drive of the JPL neighborhood are what have made the Lab world-renowned for almost 90 years, and this neighborhood will proceed to gasoline its success far into the long run. Thank you in your unparalleled work that conjures up the world, accelerates U.S. trade, and advantages humanity as a complete.

We will proceed to speak with you as this course of progresses.