# SBIR Firms Seek Defense Mission Users

A company with an existing NASA Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award is exploring defense applications for satellite automation and seeking operational users who can validate mission needs and inform future proposals. The discussion recommends contacting topic authors or technical points of contact before a solicitation opens, while also conducting customer discovery with operators, mission owners, and budget holders. Suggested DoD and Space Force channels include SBIR.gov, DOD SITIS, Space Systems Command Front Door, and SpaceWERX; no specific solicitation, contract value, or contact was identified.

- Companies developing dual-use satellite technology can use these channels to identify mission stakeholders and test whether proposed capabilities address operational needs before shaping a proposal.
- Customer discovery should distinguish among the person performing the work, the person accountable for mission performance, and the person who could fund adoption; these may be different stakeholders.
- Commenters recommend pre-solicitation outreach to topic authors or technical points of contact. They caution that discussions may be restricted once a solicitation is accepting proposals, so firms should consult the applicable solicitation instructions.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Information Technology
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 15, 2026

### Government Entities
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
- United States Space Force (USSF)
- Space Systems Command (SSC)
- SpaceWERX

### Key Quotes
> When the topics are published you have 30 days to contact them. They always provide email and/or phone. Give them a call, chat about what you have and your plan for the proposal, and they’ll let you know if you are in the right track. But do note once the solicitation actually starts accepting proposals, they are not allowed to talk with you per federal regulation. So reach out in that “pre-solicitation“ period.
> — Commenter

> For each potential application, identify three roles: the person doing the work, the person accountable for mission performance, and the person who could fund adoption. Those may be three different people.
> — Commenter (former NASA STTR Phase III program manager)

### Sources
- [finding an end user for my SBIR](https://www.reddit.com/r/GovernmentContracting/comments/1x6rz47/finding_an_end_user_for_my_sbir) - reddit-governmentcontracting