I used to consult for a company that made WiMax base station equipment in India. Typically, the way government would work, is that they'd send out request for information to multiple vendors. Then, they'd take the list of parameters that they got from each vendor, create a master list of parameters, and pick the "best" under each parameter as a requirement. Then, they'd send out a request for quotes to all vendors with a list of requirements that would be impossible to meet simultaneously.
What happens then ? How did they pick up the most appropriate ? Or maybe they wait for one the vendors (the fastest) to produce a product up to the specs ?
I really don't know. I wasn't there long enough and didn't have full insight into the workings. But my guess is that they eventually settled on a solution that met most of the specs at a reasonable cost.
However, what that opens up, is a way for corrupt officials to favor a vendor and use the others-did-not-meet-this-particular-spec as a justification.
Just my 2c. I really have no idea if it actually was ever used in this way.
