Caltech could lose control of JPL for first time in decades

NASA will open the management and operation contract for Jet Propulsion Laboratory to competitive bidding for the first time. Caltech, which has managed JPL since NASA’s inception in 1958, must compete to retain control of the La Cañada Flintridge institution. NASA said the growth of the U.S. space economy indicates a viable competitive market for programmatic and institutional elements. The decision is intended to find efficiencies, strengthen performance, and drive mission outcomes faster and more affordably. Caltech and JPL leadership said the announcement was not a surprise and that a team is already in place for the bidding process. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman also announced broader agency reorganization aimed at concentrating resources on national space policy priorities and reducing bureaucracy.

"“The rapid growth of the U.S. space economy indicates there may now be a viable competitive market for programmatic and institutional elements,” NASA said in a . “This decision is part of a broader governmentwide and agency effort to find efficiencies, strengthen performance, and drive mission outcomes faster and more affordably.”"

"In a joint statement, Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum and JPL Director Dave Gallagher said the announcement came as “no surprise,” and that it already had a team in place “to ensure we are positioned for success” in the bidding process."

"“Over the course of our nearly seven-decade-long partnership with NASA, Caltech and JPL have led humanity's exploration and understanding of the universe - and our place within it," the Pasadena university said “The ambitions ahead - no less bold than those we have already realized- are ones we are fully prepared to meet.”"

"The competition for the contract is part of a slate of changes NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced on Friday, including a massive re-organization of the space agency intended “to concentrate resources towards the highest priority objectives in the National Space Policy and liberate the best and brightest from needless bureaucracy and obstacles that impede progress,” Isaacman wrote in a to the agency's roughly 18,000 employees."

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