Procurement contracts that overlook later consequences

Do poorly written procurement contracts reflect incompetence or deliberate choices?

Competent drafting for immediate requirements can still overlook later consequences; this is the possibility explored in the discussion.

The discussion criticizes procurement arrangements that absorb money in research and development without delivering equipment. A panelist asks whether poorly written contracts reflect incompetence or deliberate choices. The response argues that people can have the knowledge to write a contract correctly on its immediate terms while failing to consider its later consequences. On that interpretation, a superficially satisfactory agreement can still produce poor results as the program develops.