I think you only read the first part of that sentence. e: I mean that there's two types of funding models. NASA (or some other government's space agency) can

I think you only read the first part of that sentence. e: I mean that there's two types of funding models. NASA (or some other government's space agency) can put out a call for bids to provide a mission to Mars with certain capabilities (transport this many tons of cargo, this many people, having this characteristics) - then ULA, BO, SpaceX etc then work up bids for their various Mars capabilities to service that bid. SpaceX can go "We can do this using our Interplanetary Transport System". This would be an ordinary commercial arrangement like the Commerical Crew and Commercial Cargo that NASA already does. In theory some large enough company could do a similar thing. Like SpaceX / ULA do for Satellite launches today. At the end of the mission after delivering the cargo/crew/etc SpaceX keeps the hardware, and can sell tickets to whoever else wants to go. The other approach is that NASA comes along and wants SpaceX to build a system that meets certain capabilities but in a more integrated/directed fashion like was done between NASA and Boeing/Rockwell/etc for the space shuttle, but NASA owns the gear (since it was funding the development) Both options end up with SpaceX building the ITS, but the way it's funded will determine who owns it at the end of the mission.