The commercial half of public policy: contract awards, framework renewals, outsourcing disputes and the financial health of firms that sell to the state. Items note contract values and durations where those are disclosed. Read by bid teams, procurement officials and investors tracking government-exposed revenue.
The federal rules do not apply in Des Moines or Sacramento — state and local buying runs on different statutes, thresholds, preferences, and protest systems.
James Wellington · June 21, 2026
Federal invoices carry legal interest penalties after 30 days — a protection vendors can actually enforce, if they know the clock's start and the proper invoice trap.
James Wellington · May 29, 2026
Contracts reserved for service-disabled veteran-owned firms run into billions annually — and the program's history includes the largest set-aside fraud cases on record.
James Wellington · May 6, 2026
The women-owned small-business program reserves contracts in industries where women are underrepresented — and since 2021 every set-aside requires third-party or SBA certification.
James Wellington · April 14, 2026
Past-performance ratings feed every future proposal — and the system's official record shows ratings inflation, missed deadlines, and reports that decide awards years later.
James Wellington · March 22, 2026