Originally Posted by
Fitter2
I have had described to me (in an unguarded moment) the process by which a bidder to MOD ensures that the contract deliverables cannot possibly meet the operational needs, requiring expensive post contract modifications. The prosess is connived at within MOD as it allows the contractor to bid low and meet Treasury forward budget restraints, but win an X billion £ contract, and make an overall profit. I gather MOD learned this from the Pentagon.
To be honest, very often they don't have to try hard or actually deceive, they just have to answer the exam questions, which usually aren't very good. One of the case studies in the book describes how a bidder, who pointed out the deliverable could never be put to use without buying technical pre-requisites costing much more, was blacklisted because of their 'attitude'. The Nimrod office didn't want to know.