SG-2650-07302026 Optical Engineering and Optomechanical Engineering Services.docx

Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena, CA 91109-8099

July 30, 2026

SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI): SG-2650-07302026 Optical Engineering and Optomechanical Engineering Services

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, cryogenic 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

1.0 BACKGROUND

JPL, a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) managed by Caltech, is NASA's center for robotic exploration of the solar system, driving critical, nationally significant missions that range from Mars rovers to deep space telescopes.

JPL is seeking to find Small Businesses and Other-than-Small Businesses with experience providing the products and services listed below.

2.0 SCOPE TASKS

2.1 Optical Systems Engineering & Performance Analysis

· Requirement Derivation & Error Budgeting: Capability to define instrument-level optical specifications from core mission requirements. This includes managing line-item error budgets for wavefront error (WFE), ensquared energy, and specialized imaging spectrometer metrics such as Cross-track Response Function (CRF), Along-track Response Function (ARF), Spectral Response Function (SRF), Smile, and Keystone.

· Optical Modeling & Tolerancing: Expertise in raytracing suites (CODE V and Zemax) to perform sensitivity and Monte Carlo tolerancing analyses. Partners must be capable of generating "as-built" models by embedding real-time wavefront maps and manufacturer component data into the design files during active alignment cycles.

· Multidisciplinary STOP Integration: Capacity to support interdisciplinary Structural, Thermal, and Optical Performance (STOP) analysis pipelines by translating raw thermal/structural perturbations back into raytracing software to isolate performance deformations.

2.2 Optomechanical Flight Hardware Design & Structural Analysis

· Flight Hardware Design: Proven experience executing conceptual and detailed mechanical layouts in Siemens NX. Scope includes high-level instrument coordinate configurations, optical bench structures, internal subsystem housings, custom shutter mechanisms, and flight vacuum vessels such as vacuum dewars.

· Precision Mechanical Stackups: Experience translating raw optical design points into 3D CAD coordinate frames and running high-fidelity mechanical tolerance stackups to ensure flight assemblies have adequate physical adjustment ranges.

· Finite Element Analysis (FEA): Advanced proficiency in NASTRAN and SigFit to perform initial sizing, assembly-level verification, and localized breakout structural analyses. Models must prove hardware margin safety profiles against dynamic testing profiles, thermal extremes, and launch vehicle environments.

· Cryogenic Material Engineering: Working knowledge of material behavior in deep cryogenic regimes. Capabilities must encompass kinematic mount optimization, isolation design, and managing material test plans (e.g., Coefficient of Thermal Expansion testing).

2.3 Optical & Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (GSE)

· OGSE Design & Procurement: Ability to design layout schemes, run tolerancing loops, procure, and assemble custom Optical Ground Support Equipment (OGSE) used to align multi-channel systems, spectrometers, and telescopes.

· Test Automation & Interfaces: Experience writing standalone interface and control software in Python or MATLAB to automate OGSE configurations and handle complex data collection scripts.

· OMGSE/MGSE Structural Compliance: Capacity to design and analyze optomechanical handling equipment and integration fixtures to aerospace safety standards, ensuring adequate margins for stress, bolted joints, and facility tip-over parameters.

2.4 Optical Procurement

· Subcontractor Oversight: Proven experience procuring optical elements for critical optical element fabrication and high-precision assemblies, including structural benches and specialized telescope/mirror assemblies.

· Milestone & Schedule Management: Capacity to manage vendor technical execution baselines, tracking fabrication schedules to ensure on-time delivery of long-lead spaceflight optics.

· Mandatory Inspection Points: Experience establishing and executing technical gates at vendor facilities, including critical manufacturing inspection points, pre-shipment reviews, and raw data package audits.

· Receiving & Inspection (R&I): Capability to manage formal receiving, post-shipment unpacking, log verification, and post-delivery incoming inspection protocols for flight optical hardware to verify technical compliance prior to cleanroom integration.

2.5 Cleanroom Floor Operations, AI&T, & Production Management

· Operational Planning & Documentation: Capabilities to author formal, step-by-step Integration and Assembly Test procedures and comprehensive hardware build-books to map parallel integration streams.

· Hands-On Assembly & Floor Leadership: Experience deploying floor leads and technicians to execute precise cleanroom tasks, including space-flight optical bonding, precise fastener torquing, kinematic mount tuning, and structural heavy-lift operations.

· Multi-Unit Delivery Oversight: Institutional capacity to maintain oversight across parallel assembly flows (e.g., executing concurrent runs of up to 6 distinct instruments), including tracking procurement, tracking fabrication, and compiling final document delivery structures.

3.0 VENDOR RESPONSE

Company Information

Company Name

Address

Point of Contact

Title

Email

Phone Number

CAGE/UEI

☐ SDB

☐ SBA Certified WOSB ☐ SBA Certified VOSB ☐ SBA Certified SDVOSB ☐ SBA Certified HUBZone

☐ HBCU/MSI

☐ Other-than-Small Business

☐ No

☐ No

☐ No ☐ N/A

If applicable, please list your teaming partners.

The tasks listed below correspond to those outlined in Section 2. In the chart, please place an “X” under “Yes” for each area that aligns with your company’s capabilities and experience, and an “X” under “No” for each area that does not.

2.1 Optical Systems Engineering & Performance Analysis

2.2 Optomechanical Flight Hardware Design & Structural Analysis

2.3 Optical & Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (GSE)

2.4 Subcontract Technical Management (CTM) & Optical Procurement

2.5 Cleanroom Floor Operations, AI&T, & Production Management

Please Attach or Enter Capabilities Statement for Areas Identified Above]

Please give us 3 or more examples of your relevant past performance in the format below.

Past Performance #1

Contract Name:

Tier 1 (Prime) /Tier 2/ Tier 3?:

Summarized Scope of Work – Provide Technical Details Here

☐ 2.2 ☐ 2.3 ☐ 2.4 ☐ 2.5

Past Performance #2

Contract Name:

Tier 1 (Prime) /Tier 2/ Tier 3?:

Summarized Scope of Work – Provide Technical Details Here

☐ 2.2 ☐ 2.3

Past Performance #3

Contract Name:

Tier 1 (Prime) /Tier 2/ Tier 3?:

Summarized Scope of Work – Provide Technical Details Here

☐ 2.2 ☐ 2.3

Please include “Optical and Optomechanical Engineering Services RFI Response” in the subject line of your email to Shannon Grover at shannon.l.grover@jpl.nasa.gov. JPL may contact you to ask questions or request further information.

DISCLAIMER: There is no commitment or guarantee on the part of JPL to move forward with a Request for Proposal (RFP) at this time.

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