Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Government-hired contractors are like grandparents in that they will give you anything you want. Here is a request to government employees to be adults and only ask for things that are practical and will be used.

I’ve worked in government acquisition since 1980. For 25+ years, I was on the government side hiring companies to build things for us. For several years now, I am on the contractor side building things for government customers.

When on the government side, remember one thing:

Contractors will give you anything you want.

Of course, there are a few caveats here. One is that the contractor won’t “give” you what you want for free (that is actually against Federal law). You have to pay them for their product and services.

Another caveat is that the “thing you want” is possible.  If it is not, you won’t receive it. A caveat to this caveat (what is a caveat anyway?) is that if the “thing you want” is impossible and yet you still want it, the contractor will try really hard (as long as you pay them for their vain efforts).

Another caveat, contractors will give you (sell you) anything you want even if that thing is silly and even if the contractor knows you will never use it. Folks, accept this one. Government employees often buy items that are silly and that they never, ever use.

Now to the title of this post. Given contractors’ willingness to give you what you want, they are much like grandparents.

Hmm, is that an original thought?

Contractors and grandparents give you what you want.

There is one big difference between the recipients here – government employees and grandchildren.

Government employees are adults.

Adults can see silly items for what they are – silly. Adults can see what they have bought in their lifetime and never used (time share house in the Mediterranean as one example). Adults should know better, especially since they are spending someone else’s money.