NASA has opened a competitive solicitation to choose who will manage the Jet Propulsion Laboratory after Caltech's contract ends in 2028. The agency says the competition will help evaluate alternative management models that could improve mission performance, innovation and cost-efficiency amid fiscal pressures and rapid growth in the U.S. space economy. The next contract is expected to be worth at least $30 billion, with potential bidders ranging from research universities to major defense and aerospace contractors. NASA says it started the process early to protect continuity and avoid operational disruption.
Who Will Run JPL? NASA Opens Competitive $30B Solicitation Ahead Of 2028 Contract Expiration
The laboratory in California. - NASA
NASA has formally launched a competitive solicitation to select the organization that will manage the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) after the current management contract with the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) expires in 2028. Caltech has managed JPL since its founding in 1936, and JPL predates the creation of NASA by more than two decades.
Background
JPL operates as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) and has historically been overseen by a not-for-profit institution. While Caltech has been the laboratory's steward for decades, NASA says it is now assessing whether alternative management models could deliver advantages in performance, innovation and cost-efficiency.
Why NASA Is Opening A Competition
NASA said conducting a competition will allow the agency to assess the potential benefits of alternative management approaches, including opportunities to enhance mission performance, spur innovation and improve overall cost and operational efficiency.
The agency cited the rapid growth of the U.S. space economy and ongoing fiscal pressures in Washington as reasons to explore whether a competitive process could yield better value or new capabilities. Funding for NASA represents a small share of the federal budget, and the agency is looking for ways to protect mission priorities amid tighter fiscal scrutiny.
Who Might Bid
Sources indicate the next management contract could be substantial—valued at least around $30 billion over its term. Potential bidders include research universities with strong aerospace and systems engineering programs, as well as large aerospace primes such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing. Traditionally, FFRDCs are operated by nonprofit organizations or charitable arms of institutions, but the solicitation leaves room to evaluate alternative arrangements.
Operational Continuity And Next Steps
NASA emphasized that beginning the selection process well ahead of the 2028 expiration is intended to ensure continuity of laboratory operations and minimize any disruption to ongoing missions. The agency will solicit proposals, evaluate management approaches, and select a partner that aligns with JPL's technical mission and organizational needs.
What This Means: The move signals a potentially significant shift in how one of the United States' premier robotic space laboratories is managed, with implications for mission planning, cost structure and industry-university relationships in the space sector.
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