Sources SoughtPosted Aug 20, 2026·Responses due Aug 21, 2026

Optical Engineering and Optomechanical Engineering Services RFI

NASA · NASA MANAGEMENT OFFICE -- JPL

Stage
Early notice (sources sought, presolicitation or special notice)
NAICS
541715
Value
Not stated
Solicitation
SG-2650-07302026
Set-aside
No Set aside used
PSC
Not stated
Place
Pasadena, CA, USA
Contact
Shannon Grover (shannon.l.grover@jpl.nasa.gov)
CSV Email

Capture briefs (a one-page, shareable copy of this page) are part of Pro. The CSV here holds the notice, its timeline and past awards.

Where this opportunity stands

Every notice posted under solicitation SG-2650-07302026 in this department, oldest first.

Early notice
  • Jul 31, 2026
    Sources Sought
    Open
  • Aug 20, 2026 · this notice
    Sources Sought
Solicitation
None posted
Award
Not yet. Typical award: Sep 17, 2026 to Mar 5, 2027, middle of the range Dec 5, 2026.
Measured from 23 past early notices at National Aeronautics and Space Administration that later posted an award (middle half of cases, counted from Jul 31, 2026).

Next steps for this stage

Standard steps for the notice type; not advice about this buyer.

  • Answer the notice: this is when the requirement can still be shaped.
  • Contact the contracting officer named on the notice.
  • Check who won similar work; they are the likely bidders.

What the notice says

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is seeking information from qualified vendors regarding their capability to provide Optical Engineering and Optomechanical Engineering services. As our Optics & Spectroscopy Section proposes new work, we are forecasting potential resource shortfalls across upcoming flight programs. To mitigate this, JPL is seeking external partners capable of supporting the full engineering life cycle of specialized instruments. Specifically, our pipeline involves development across a diverse portfolio of complex architectures, including off-axis reflective telescopes, cryog… (show all)

enic imaging systems, hyperspectral imaging systems, and multiband imaging systems. Qualified organizations must possess the capabilities to perform high-level optical design and modeling, complex optomechanical hardware design, Structural Thermal Optical Performance (STOP) analysis, test equipment automation, and hands-on integration, precision alignment, and verification within cleanroom environments. Due to the mixed classification levels of the targeted instrument portfolio, some but not all the work may require an active TS/SCI clearance. Partners must have the institutional agility to support both unclassified engineering work packages and highly secured, classified project components. Furthermore, because select projects involve building multiple copies of identical instruments, our technical strategy requires a structured technology transfer process. Partners will be expected to collaborate closely with JPL personnel to teach, share, and institutionalize custom alignment and test methodologies. This RFI is for planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or commitment to procure any services. Neither JPL nor the U.S. Government will be responsible for any costs incurred by you in furnishing any information. Responses received will be carefully reviewed by JPL and may be considered as part of a future solicitation. Prospective subcontractors are advised that any information provided shall be deemed to be furnished with unlimited rights to JPL, with JPL assuming no liability for the disclosure, use, or reproduction of such data. This RFI is to also gather information of potential qualified sources and to obtain your business size relative to the following NAICS code: 541715 � Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) with a size standard of 1,000 Employees. Responses to this RFI may be used by JPL to make appropriate decisions regarding a Small Business Set-Aside procurement. All responses shall be submitted by 3:00 PM Pacific Time on Friday, August 21, 2026, electronically to the undersigned. Information about JPL can be found at: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/who-we-are/. Thank you, Shannon Grover JPL Subcontracts Manager (626) 243-8002 shannon.l.grover@jpl.nasa.gov

Who won similar work

29 award notices on SAM.gov in the last 24 months. Matched by: Same agency (NASA), same NAICS 541715.

Single-winner award sizes (29): middle half $1.2M to $58.6M, median $2.9M; range $26K to $1.8B.

WinnerAwardsValueLast
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc.2$3.6MJul 7, 2025
ASCEND AEROSPACE AND TECHNOLOGY, LLC1$1.8BSep 10, 2025
BASTION TECHNOIOGIES INC1$488.0MDec 16, 2025
BARRIOS TECHNOLOGY, LLC1$450.5MAug 14, 2025
ARES TECHNICAL SERVICES CORPORATION1$400.0MAug 7, 2026
SIERRA LOBO INC1$266.0MApr 24, 2026
TROY SIERRA JV LLC1$220.5MSep 30, 2025
New Rights Group, Inc.1$75.9MMay 4, 2026
MILLENNIUM ENGINEERING AND INTEGRATION SERVICES, LLC1$58.6MApr 6, 2026
University of Wisconsin System Madison WI 53715 USA1$24.0MSep 8, 2025

Value counts single-winner awards. "Shared" awards are multiple-award contracts that list every winner with the same total ceiling; that ceiling is not one company's win, so it is not added in. Revenue next to a ticker is the company's last annual revenue from its 10-K.

Latest awards

Competitive landscape

For the 8 most frequent past winners above. Lobbying is matched by the company's exact name or exact ticker; agencies are as named on the filings.

  • 0 of these past winners lobbied Natl Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) since 2024 (0 filings)
  • 0 of their lobbyists list a past Natl Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) job
  • No corporate PAC money from them to the overseeing committees since 2024
  • 0 foreign-agent (FARA) registrations
See who and the source records with Pro

Policy around it

Bills the past winners named while lobbying this agency's issues, rules from the department, and executive orders that name the agency, last 12 months.

  • 0 bills named on the past winners' lobbying filings
  • 16 rules from the department in the last 12 months
  • 0 executive orders naming the agency in the last 12 months
See who and the source records with Pro

Market

For past winners matched exactly to a listed company. Insider trades are open-market buys and sells (Form 4) in the last 90 days, shown as facts; our own study found insiders do not reliably buy ahead of awards. A sale marked 10b5-1 was made under a trading plan set up in advance.

  • 0 of the past winners are listed companies
  • 0 insider buys and 0 insider sells at them in the last 90 days
See who and the source records with Pro

Sources: SAM.gov notices and award notices; Senate LDA lobbying filings; FEC filings; FARA; Federal Register; congress.gov; SEC Form 4. Every row above links to its record.

Companies are matched to tickers by exact name only. A company we could not match shows no market rows; that is a miss, not a finding.