Why Government Tech Falls Short, And What We Can Do About It
Why Government Tech Falls Short, And What We Can Do About It
By Jordan Cole, Seven Hills Technology
The RFP process is outdated. Here’s how we’re helping public sector teams unlock better outcomes with smarter, more human-centered technology partnerships.
Government agencies face a mountain of challenges when it comes to implementing new technology, and the most persistent roadblock is the procurement process itself.
Request for Proposal (RFP) processes are designed with good intentions: fairness, transparency, and risk mitigation. But in reality, they often result in decision-making that rewards administrative precision over innovation, box-checking over outcomes. The timeline alone — from crafting the RFP to receiving responses, evaluating vendors, and securing approvals — can stretch six months or more. In that time, technology shifts, team needs evolve, and project momentum fizzles out.
The unintended consequence? Public sector organizations default to off-the-shelf solutions, not because they’re the best fit, but because they’re the easiest to buy.
At Seven Hills Technology, we see this problem not just as a bottleneck, but as a huge opportunity.
We’ve partnered with organizations across industries, and what stands out time and time again is this: the best solutions come from deep, collaborative partnerships, where product thinking, user experience, and technical execution are aligned from the start. That’s what’s missing in most RFP-led engagements.
The Hidden Cost of the Status Quo
Choosing an enterprise vendor based on their ability to complete complex paperwork doesn’t guarantee a good outcome. In fact, it often leads to generic implementations that don’t evolve alongside the needs of the people they’re supposed to serve.
And for smaller, more innovative technology partners? Participating in a lengthy RFP cycle can be prohibitively expensive. Many opt out before the process even begins, meaning agencies never get a chance to evaluate some of the most thoughtful, agile, and user-focused teams in the market.
The result: limited competition, limited creativity, and limited long-term success.
A More Strategic Approach: Partner Early, Build Smart
We believe there’s a better way.
At Seven Hills, we approach public sector work the same way we approach any product challenge — with people at the center and technology in service of outcomes.
Rather than forcing teams into rigid scopes or static requirements documents, we help them ask the right questions early:
- What do your end-users really need?
- Where are your biggest process bottlenecks?
- What data do you have (or need) to drive better decisions?
- How might a tailored digital experience improve access, efficiency, or equity?
We turn these insights into working roadmaps — starting small, building iteratively, and capturing early wins that generate momentum. By the time procurement conversations begin, project leaders are aligned, value is clearly articulated, and risk is reduced — not by red tape, but by clarity and collaboration.
Real Innovation Doesn’t Come from a Spreadsheet
Government agencies don’t need more paperwork. They need partners who can guide them through complexity and co-create better solutions — partners who understand what’s at stake and know how to deliver under pressure.
That’s where we thrive.
We bring a cross-industry perspective, Midwest grit, and a practical mindset that’s obsessed with outcomes. We work side-by-side with project leaders, asking tough questions, surfacing insights, and delivering real software that drives impact.
Whether it's improving citizen access to services, modernizing internal workflows, or reimagining legacy platforms — we bring a bias toward action, without ever losing sight of long-term sustainability.
Let’s Rethink What’s Possible
If you're a public sector leader tired of the limitations of the traditional procurement model, or a technologist looking for a partner who actually listens — we should talk.
The future of government technology doesn’t need to be slower, clunkier, or more complicated. It just needs better partnerships.
The red tape won’t go away overnight. But with the right mindset and a product-focused partner, meaningful change is absolutely within reach.
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