This article on GovExec.com, about the reworked Alliant GWAC, contains a truly fantastic analogy about a problem that plagues many government IT procurements.

A typical federal statement of work resembles a grocery list, when it should resemble a directory of food categories, he said. Rather than specify a particular cereal brand, Alliant will allow bidders to provide their best cereal possible.

From now on, I’m leading every proposal with the statement, “TCG proposes to provide our best cereal possible.” If that doesn’t grab people’s attention, I don’t know what will.