Acquisition Archetypes: Underbidding the Contract
• SEI Report
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
Topic or Tag
Abstract
The concept of bidding on a government contract is deceptively simple. Underbidding is a tactic that complicates all aspects of the process.
From the Acquisition Support Program, one in a series of short papers on acquisition patterns of failure. Acquisition Archetypes is an exploration of patterns of failure in software acquisition using systems thinking concepts.
Part of a Collection
Patterns of Failure: Acquisition Archetypes
Cite This SEI Report
Software Engineering Institute (2008, September 1). Acquisition Archetypes: Underbidding the Contract. Retrieved August 8, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetypes-underbidding-the-contract/.
@techreport{Citekey_2008,
author={Software Engineering Institute},
title={Acquisition Archetypes: Underbidding the Contract},
month={Sep},
year={2008},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetypes-underbidding-the-contract/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Aug-8}
}
Software Engineering Institute. "Acquisition Archetypes: Underbidding the Contract." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, September 1, 2008. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetypes-underbidding-the-contract/.
Software Engineering Institute, "Acquisition Archetypes: Underbidding the Contract," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, 1-Sep-2008 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetypes-underbidding-the-contract/. [Accessed: 8-Aug-2026].
Software Engineering Institute. "Acquisition Archetypes: Underbidding the Contract." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 1 Sep. 2008. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetypes-underbidding-the-contract/. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.
Software Engineering Institute. Acquisition Archetypes: Underbidding the Contract. Software Engineering Institute. 2008. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetypes-underbidding-the-contract/