How We Work
Our Methodology
A battle-tested, five-phase framework built by a founder who has lived every stage — from DARPA prototype to FedRAMP-accredited prime contractor.
Process-Driven. Founder-First. Results-Oriented.
Most grant writers hand you a template and disappear. SBIR GovCon embeds alongside your team as a fractional capture advisor — applying the same operational rigor that took ORock Technologies from startup to the first FedRAMP-accredited cloud provider. Every phase below maps to a concrete deliverable and a measurable outcome.
Discovery & Fit Analysis
We conduct a structured intake to map your technology against active SBIR/STTR solicitations across DoD, DARPA, AFWERX, SpaceWERX, DHS, and civilian agencies. A Go/No-Go Decision Matrix scores each opportunity on technical alignment, competitive landscape, and commercialization potential — so you invest proposal effort only where the probability of award is highest.
Deliverables
- ✓Go/No-Go Decision Matrix
- ✓Top 5 Topic Match Analysis
- ✓Agency fit scoring (DARPA, AFWERX, SpaceWERX)
- ✓Competitive landscape brief
Capture Strategy & Win Themes
With target topics confirmed, we architect the capture strategy. This means defining win themes that speak directly to the program manager's priorities, building a compliance matrix against the solicitation's evaluation criteria, and drafting the dual-use commercialization narrative that evaluators expect to see in Phase II and beyond.
Deliverables
- ✓Win theme framework
- ✓Compliance and evaluation matrix
- ✓Dual-use commercialization narrative
- ✓Proposal outline and section assignments
Proposal Development
We co-author the technical volume, management plan, and budget justification using AI-accelerated intelligence tools layered with deep domain expertise. Every section is written to the evaluator — not to impress a general audience. Iterative review cycles ensure the final submission is compliant, compelling, and differentiated.
Deliverables
- ✓Full technical volume draft
- ✓Management plan and team bios
- ✓Budget narrative and justification
- ✓Final compliance review and submission package
Agency Engagement & Stakeholder Alignment
Awards go to teams that program managers already know. We leverage direct relationships across DoD acquisition offices, DARPA program managers, and FedRAMP authorization bodies to position your company before the solicitation closes. Pre-submission meetings, white paper submissions, and industry day participation are coordinated as part of this phase.
Deliverables
- ✓Program manager outreach strategy
- ✓White paper or capability statement
- ✓Industry day and pre-solicitation meeting prep
- ✓Stakeholder relationship map
Award Transition & Commercialization
Winning Phase I is the beginning, not the end. We guide you through the transition from Phase I feasibility to Phase II execution — including sole-source bridge strategies, SBIR Phase III pathways to prime contracts, and dual-use commercialization planning that opens both government and commercial revenue streams.
Deliverables
- ✓Phase I to Phase II transition roadmap
- ✓Sole-source and Phase III strategy
- ✓Commercialization plan update
- ✓Ongoing fractional advisory (Tier 3)
Why We're Different From Generic Grant Writers
Operator Credibility
John Leon built and scaled ORock Technologies to FedRAMP accreditation and FIPS 140-2 compliance — the same milestones your evaluators care about. We don't advise from theory; we advise from execution.
Agency-Side Intelligence
Generic grant writers read the same public solicitations you do. We maintain active relationships with program managers across DARPA, AFWERX, SpaceWERX, and DoD acquisition offices — giving you signal before the solicitation drops.
Dual-Use Strategy
We architect proposals that satisfy federal evaluators and lay the groundwork for commercial revenue. The result is a company that can pursue government contracts and private-sector growth simultaneously.
AI-Accelerated, Human-Led
We use AI tools to accelerate intelligence gathering, compliance checking, and draft iteration — but every deliverable is reviewed and refined by a human advisor with direct federal contracting experience.
What to Expect: Engagement Timeline
Most clients complete the full five-phase cycle in 45–60 days for a first submission. Tier 1 Readiness Assessments are delivered in 7–10 business days. Ongoing Tier 3 advisory engagements run on a monthly retainer with weekly touchpoints.
Week 1
Discovery intake, topic analysis, Go/No-Go matrix delivered
Weeks 2–3
Capture strategy, win themes, and compliance matrix finalized
Weeks 4–6
Proposal drafting, iterative review cycles, agency engagement
Week 7+
Final submission, debrief, Phase II transition planning
Ready to Start the Process?
Begin with a Tier 1 Readiness Assessment — a $2,500 fixed-fee diagnostic that tells you exactly where you stand and which opportunities are worth pursuing.
Book Your Readiness Assessment