[wslack]

I've also heard of contractors selling nearly identical software to multiple agencies and charging each the full price of development (one reason open source has faced opposition), and sometimes decent excel macros can solve the actual problem.

You're totally right that if the incentives don't change, the choices made by execs won't change either. For example, a contracting officer I've met saved their agency a billion dollars by not continuing a failing contract, and was punished (to the point of leaving that agency) because that wasn't what the incentives supported.

How can USDS/18F be helpful to you and others in your position? The messages you list at the end are all true.

[throwafed98]

The Playbook is helpful. So is the DoD’s Detecting Agile BS. More publish references similar to these that can be presented to management. Another Avenue would be to engage GAO and OMB in order for their reports to align with above. Thank you!