You needed to have me for a COR (Contracting Officer’s Representative)! I manage two contracts for separate Army contracting offices. One is a little on the flaky side, but the other more than makes up for it. As a case in point, we are currently negotiating for an option to have some work performed for the next three months. It would be easier for both the government and the contractor to use either a T&M (time and materials) or cost plus contract, both of which are allowed by law. We are using a FFP (Firm Fixed Price) instead.
In a FFP contract the risk is fully on the contractor for them to perform. It may cost a little more at the beginning, but there is no provision for the cost overruns seen so often with a cost plus or T&M. They bid, we evaluate it, if it meets the statement of work and is within the budget, they get the award. Then they have to produce.
Does the contractor have a lobbyist telling them how much is in the appropriation? I don’t know, that is between congress and the lobbyist. If there is any corruption that is where it is.
I was once involved in procurement for a very prestigous building. The State Department invited us to come for a face to face presentation.
As we were leaving, down the hall, we saw our competitor AND TIP O’Neal!! They were also leaving
We got the contract.