In Heidelberg, the design of the imaging optics has been finished and the lenses (FORS is an all-dioptric focal reducer) are presently being polished by FISBA. Delivery is expected later this year. The optics for the polarimetric mode consisting of a Wollaston prism of 132 mm (!) free diameter
and two mosaics with 135 mm free diameter of superachromatic retarder plates have already been delivered to the consortium (by Halle).
The standard set of grisms has also been designed and is presently being procured. The broadband and interference filters which will be provided with FORS are being defined in collaboration with the Instrument Science Team.
Since it became clear that atmospheric dispersion would significantly degrade the image quality of FORS, ESO decided to install atmospheric dispersion correctors (ADCs) in unit telescopes UT1 and UT3. A novel design called ``Longitudinal ADC'' consisting of two silica prisms with variable distance will be used. A paper giving full details is currently in preparation.