Match Maker: NASA SBIR for 3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing

This is Part 1 of a 3-part series matching 3D printing and additive manufacturing companies to active SBIR/STTR funding opportunities. Today: NASA. Next: NSF. Then: DoD.

The goal here is simple: identify the active solicitations, then tag the companies best positioned to pursue them. MWE is not submitting these bids. We're playing match maker — connecting the right companies to the right federal funding opportunities.

If you're an AM company on this list, we want you to know about these. If we missed you, speak up. The whole point is surfacing opportunity to everyone who can execute.

NASA SBIR: Rolling Appendices Through September 2027

NASA has moved to a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) model with rolling appendices, valid through September 30, 2027. The first three appendices (26A SBIR, 26B SBIR, 26B STTR) closed May 21, 2026 — but additional appendices will drop throughout the year without warning.

Phase I: Up to $150,000 (6 months)
Phase II: Up to $850,000 (24 months)
Next appendices: TBA — sign up at nasa.gov/sbir_sttr

AM-Relevant Subtopics from the First Cycle

The following subtopics from Appendices 26A and 26B are strong fits for 3D printing / AM companies. Expect similar topics in future appendices:

ORBECON.1.S26A — In-Space Production of Semiconductors & Quantum Materials. Zero-G AM for custom tooling, substrates, thermal management structures.

ORBECON.3.T26B — Advanced Materials Manufacturing from Space for Earth. Microgravity-developed materials, AM-manufactured on Earth.

ENABLE.1.S26B — Laser Welding + Real-Time NDE Inspection. Same sensing/feedback tech as metal AM process monitoring.

COSMO.3.S26B — AI for Rapid Development of Space Precision Components. Generative design + AM for spacecraft parts.

LWS.2.S26B — Regolith-Based Shielded Habitats (SHELTURS). Lunar construction-scale 3D printing.

AERO.5.S26B — Improved Material Discovery via Modeling & Experimentation. New AM feedstock development — alloys, composites, ceramics.

GO.2.S26B — Cost-Effective 3D Printing of Hall Thruster Magnetic Circuits. Direct AM of propulsion hardware: tungsten, copper, magnetic alloys.

Who Should Pursue These

@re3D (Houston, TX) — Large-format Gigabot printers from recycled plastic. SBIR veterans with Army Phase II ($1.99M) for waste-to-print. Fits LWS.2 and ORBECON.3.

@Elementum3D (Erie, CO) — Metal AM materials: Al, W, Cu, Ta alloys for aerospace/defense. Fits AERO.5 (material discovery) and GO.2 (refractory metals).

@Fabric8Labs (San Diego, CA) — Electrochemical AM for micron-scale metal deposition. Fits ORBECON.1 (conductive traces, RF, thermal management).

@Holo (Mountain View, CA) — Pure copper AM via photochemical process. Electronics-grade copper. Fits ORBECON.1 and space electronics AM.

@nTopology_nTop (New York, NY) — Computational design for AM. Enables COSMO.3 (AI for rapid development). SBIR veteran.

@Fortify3D (Boston, MA) — Digital composites AM with magnetic alignment. Fits GO.2 (magnetic circuits) and AERO.5.

@Mantle3D (San Francisco, CA) — Precision metal tooling via AM. Production tooling for NASA components.

@RivelinRobotics — Automated AM post-processing with NDE inspection. Complements ENABLE.1.

@XactMetal (State College, PA) — Affordable powder bed fusion. Low entry cost suits NASA's $150K Phase I ceiling.

Why Now

NASA releases appendices without warning. The BAA model rewards speed. Companies with pre-positioned white papers submit within days. Proposal limit: 2 per appendix per offeror.

Action items: Register at nasa.gov/sbir_sttr. Download BAA from SAM.gov. Prep a 10-page white paper mapped to your strongest subtopic.

Up Next

Part 2 (June 29): NSF SBIR — Advanced Manufacturing topic. Open now. July 27 deadline. Phase I up to $275K.

Part 3 (July 1): DoD SBIR — Monthly rolling BAAs. Navy Release 3 open now. AM-specific topics.

MWE advises federal funding strategy at $3,500 flat + 5% of gross award. If you're a tagged company and want help navigating the NASA BAA, reach out: rosezee@milkywayeconomy.com

If you're an AM company we missed, comment or reach out. We'll update the series and add you to the list.