Re: The X Prize approach
I'll agree with that. My little firm was once up for a tiny little Gov't-job. It soon became obvious that the surrounding bureaucracy and 'essential' up front tender documentation was bigger than the job itself. We pulled out.
Currently there is little or no comeback on the commissioning body if things go titsup, with the exception of an awkward afternoon in front of a select committee before moving on to the next appointment (see Lin Homer ex Border Agency ex Dept of Transport ex HMRC)
Maybe we could make the X-Prize approach work both ways to incentivise the commissioning body. As well as the eventual supplier being paid on delivery maybe the commissioning body would only get it's money if it's spec was succesfully achieved.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
