The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) is the bible of federal contracting. FAR is written to give the government all of the cards.

Federal agencies and Congress pitch "come on in, it's an open market, we are spending the taxpayers' dollars".

The market is far from open. The Federal Acquisition Regulations:

• Limit competition because open competition is impractical.
• Allows subjective best value decisions in making awards so that buyers get what products and services they want (low bid does not have to win).
• Allows contracting officers to make decisions that seem contrary to regulations on the basis that is in the best interest of the taxpayer.
• Denies around 90% of contract protests.
• Uses your taxpayer dollars and a small army of lawyers (paid for by you) to beat you in court of you disagree cross them.

And Congress writes the laws that give the executive agencies all of the cards in buying products and services.