Government bidding is totally different........ In most cases the rules only allow for certain things to even be spec'd. That is that even if you wanted a particular piece of gear, if the manufacturer doesn't have government pricing, they can't even suggest it to you. Government bidding is brutal......... not to mention the season that it has.
It is a totally different game. Usually cut throat pricing and for whatever can meet the spec. I think the only reason to be in it is knowing that different departments have to spend X amount of money each year in order to maintain that spending ability. So in go orders for all kinds of anything that could be used or needed. Usually at the last minute before the spending for the year is cut off.