"Tell you what, if government contracting officers and COTRs got as much bribe money as you bidders believe, everybody around DC would be living in a 25,000 sq ft minimansion, on 1/2 acre, with a pool, and 2 SUVs in the drive."
Kinda funny how the same companies always get the work isn't it?
As I said, its not necessarily corruption. Laziness has much to do with it. Its easier to stay with the people you know then to qualify new companies.
1. You must be responsive ~ not only do you have to actually make the bid in writing (not just on a phone call to your buddy), you must respond to the bid. If the government wants jeeps you can't offer to sell them ink pens. If this didn't happen all the time I wouldn't mention it.
2. You must be responsible ~ that is, you have to be able to deliver the goods, or the service. Just another way of saying that it helps to be in the business you say you're in.
3. Meet the deadline for responding.
Successful bidders usually have someone in charge of making sure they meet these three simple standards. An amazingly large number of bidders manage to miss deadlines, be in the business to deliver the goods or services they are bidding to provide, or explain how they are going to meet the contract requirements.
All those other rules, standards and procedures affecting federal government contracting have been designed to thwart theft, fraud, abuse, misuse, subversion, exversion, conversion, and aggravated mopery.
As long as you aren't already in jail it's pretty hard for any ordinary businessman to fail to meet all but the top three standards I discuss above.
When you violate any one of the top three standards, your bid will not be opened.