RFI: Industry Interest in Use of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Test Facilities and Capabilities

Public Notice/Announcement – Request for Information (RFI) THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. NO PROPOSALS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE. This Request for Information (RFI) is issued by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of JPL Management and Oversight (NOJMO) to solicit responses from all interested parties. This document is for information and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to express interest in the use of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) test facilities. This RFI is a standalone market research effort and is not related to, a continuation of, or a supplement to any previous RFI issued by NASA or NOJMO concerning the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), its facilities, capabilities, or potential industry use. This RFI is not related to any current or future competitive acquisition for the operation of the JPL. Responses to any prior RFI should not be considered responsive to this notice, and information submitted in response to a previous RFI does not constitute a response to this RFI. This notice is issued for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation, request for proposals, or an offer or commitment by the Government to enter into a contract or other type of agreement. Purpose The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a federally funded research and development center operated by the California Institute of Technology for NASA, maintains a broad portfolio of world-class facilities and test capabilities supporting spacecraft, instruments, robotics, and advanced technology development. NASA is conducting market research to assess industry interest in the potential short-term or medium-term utilization of select JPL facilities and capabilities. The purpose of this RFI is to: Understand potential demand for JPL test and integration facilities and services located in La Cañada Flintridge, California and other NASA-owned facilities managed or operated under JPL purview Inform internal planning related to facility utilization and potential access models Identify general categories of industry use cases and constraints Assess potential workforce, scheduling, and infrastructure considerations associated with external facility use In addition to facilities located at the primary JPL campus, certain capabilities may exist at associated NASA sites managed by JPL, including the Table Mountain Facility in Wrightwood, California, which supports optical communications, astronomy, and related technology demonstrations. Representative Facility Capabilities (see Attachment A) Representative Support Services (see Attachment A) Cost Recovery and Facility Use Considerations External use of NASA facilities is generally subject to cost recovery and usage fees consistent with federal policy governing the use of government-owned facilities and infrastructure. Depending on the nature of the activity, facility use may require reimbursement to NASA for costs including: facility operations and maintenance technical support services utilities and infrastructure usage scheduling and administrative support Specific cost structures or pricing models are not defined at this stage and may vary depending on the scope and duration of any future activities. Workforce and Staffing Considerations NASA is interested in understanding how potential industry users would envision staffing activities conducted within JPL facilities. Respondents are encouraged to address: Whether they anticipate bringing their own technical personnel to conduct testing or development activities within the facilities. The extent to which they may wish to leverage existing JPL or Caltech technical staff, engineering expertise, or operational support already available onsite. Any considerations related to workforce integration, safety training, or operational oversight. This information will help NASA understand potential operational models for facility utilization. Requested Indust…