The RFP fails to clearly state the business case for vendors. The RFP fails to elicit proposals or vendor quality that match expectations. The model contract provisions fail to support expeditious negotiations. Cost proposals appear to be out of sync with functionality expectations. Cost proposals are sufficiently disparate to force selection of the lowest bid without the probability of success being factored into the cost.
Project sponsors disappear in mid-project.
In mid-design, it becomes clear that there are differing opinions about the project's business purpose. There are insufficient government-side resources to review the first deliverable. There are disagreements about whether the first functional deliverable meets the users' requirements. Deliverables fail to be completed on a timely basis, irrespective of which party is responsible for the delay. Failure by the administrative leadership and the project manager to establish expectations and manage those expectations at the government and vendor level sets the stage for problems to propagate.