Having successfully bid on and completed a number of federal projects during my career, I concur that it is more challenging and rates are higher. However, there are reasons for that. First of all, worker wages are often determined by a relatively higher rate, such as required by Davis-Bacon. Standards, either imposed by Congress or by stringent department policies, are more challenging. Hours and working conditions are often more limited, with little flexibility for what may be contractor desires. Plans and specifications are usually more well defined and alternate or substituted materials or techniques are mostly not allowed.
Accountability for taxpayer dollars and for meeting the stringent standards afore mentioned is the responsibility of a quality assurance person who oversees the project, typically more closely and critically than that of a private industry project quality control person. If you are accustomed to being able to be more free and flexible in mobilizing, procurring your needed materials, and conducting your work ... then perhaps you feel intimidated ... like quality control is trying to "stick it to the contractor."
I was being sarcastic. I've seen a helluva lot of $10k quotes turn into $20k quotes though. And the facts are that it's almost always from someone who complains constantly about their tax dollars. Oh the irony.
It's not the employees who want this. It's the contracting officials who are following the laws that come from congress. Just remember, every single time someone screams "accountability and transparency" you can add at least three more rules or regulations to a contracting process. Believe me, the employees don't want it any more than you do.
There is a ton of truth in this post. In my experience, good contractors love govt contracts and bad ones hate them.
