FFRDC Industry Event at JPL - Summary

Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) Competitive Procurement Amendment 3 to FFRDC-26-RFI-SSN
October 28, 2026
Summary of Industry Engagement Event at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory October 21-22, 2026

The purpose of this amendment to the subject notice is to provide the following information from the Industry Engagement Event:
1. General summary of questions and answers.
2. Listing of all attendees.
3. Copies of all presentations.
General Summary of Questions and Answers
1. Question: Does NASA plan to issue a draft RFP with opportunity for questions/comments before the final RFP is published? When is the RFP coming out?
Answer: Per the procurement website (https://www.nasa.gov/ffrdc/), the release of the Draft RFP is currently estimated for the 1st Quarter of calendar year (CY) 2027 and the Final RFP in the 2nd Quarter of CY 2027.
2. Question: Please clarify NASA’s anticipated approach for existing Caltech/JPL major subcontracts whose periods of performance extend beyond, or overlap with, the current Caltech contract with NASA. Examples may include Deep Space Network support, Information Technology Infrastructure Services, IT Management Services, Facilities Maintenance and Operations, and Temporary Support Services. Specifically, how does NASA anticipate these existing contractual arrangements [to] be addressed or potentially impacted by the future operating model and transition? Answer: In general, we expect that the successor Contractor will identify an overall plan and will collaborate with the predecessor Contractor during the transition period to identify the appropriate agreements for novation/transition to the successor Contractor to ensure mission continuity. Any potential scope changes, as noted in the draft statement of work that was released for comment on September 29, 2026, will be defined in the solicitation.
3. Question: What specific improvements is NASA seeking through this competition, and what would success look like during the first three to five years of the new contract? Answer: NASA is emphasizing efficiency and speed in mission delivery, within cost, across the Agency; this especially includes mission continuity for the work at JPL. The exact strategy and procurement approach is still under development, and the draft solicitation will contain further details on what is important to NASA for both the procurement evaluation/selection and performance under the new contract.
4. Question: Which scope elements does NASA currently consider candidates for FFP?