[bumby]

>understanding that "meeting requirements" and "achieving the best value"

These can often be at odds. It is surprisingly difficult to award a govt contract under the guise that it provides better value (and there are specific contract mechanisms to that effect). However, from a contracting officer's perspective, it can be riskier (to them personally, even if it's less risky to the taxpayer). The govt also has other goals, like reducing the risk of putting all their eggs into one contractor's basket. All this to say, there are enough competing aspects to undermine a claim that "value" is baked into the primary goals of every contract.