USDR partners with government teams to modernize how you procure, budget for, and oversee major software projects. Get systems that actually work for your mission and the people you serve.
“Just the value of this is going to be exponential. We’re so thankful for USDR’s willingness and ability to help us, no matter what part of the process we were are."
Prepare solicitations in days, not months
Get expert help drafting RFPs that attract the right vendors and set clear expectations from day one.
Make informed decisions with confidence
Know what software should actually cost and how to evaluate vendors beyond their sales pitches.
Evaluate proposals with confidence
Get coaching to assess vendor past performance, code quality, and user research artifacts to have a high level of confidence that the chosen vendor can deliver.
Procurement workshops
Bring together your project team, contracting officer, and leadership for intensive 1–2 day sessions to prepare a new acquisition strategy, put together a detailed budget estimate for a project, or even prepare an entire RFP.
Budget workshops
Prepare an independent government cost estimate for a custom software project in this 3–4-hour session, which can support a build-or-buy decision, a funding request, or establishing a frame of reference for evaluating vendor bids.
Ongoing coaching
Get a trusted advisor in your corner as you navigate unfamiliar territory with new vendors and new approaches. We'll help you evaluate proposals, assess vendor performance, and course-correct troubled projects.
Product owner and technical review support
We'll coach your team through the first critical sprints so you know how to hold vendors accountable and make the product decisions only you can make.
Agile contracting community of practice
USDR hosts a meeting of contracting officers and procurement professionals who want to swap best practices for Agile procurement, held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT. Please note that this meeting is only for government employees in the United States who are procurement professionals.
Custom software procurement office hours
Join our procurement specialists with questions about procuring custom software in government. Our team holds weekly office hours for any employee of any level of government in the United States who wants to chat.
Systems that work the way people expect
No training manuals, no confusing interfaces, just software that makes sense
Services that launch at the speed of need
Agile approaches let you deploy working features in weeks
Technology you can sustain
Build with modern practices so your team can maintain and improve systems long after vendors leave
We adapt our approach based on where you are and what you need
Feeling burned by a project failure
We'll help you prepare a new acquisition strategy that will put you in control
Stuck with underperforming vendors
We'll review your existing contracts and help you course-correct
Facing a solicitation that doesn't feel right
We'll assess RFPs you've already prepared and help you avoid signing problematic contracts
Drowning in procurement processes that stretch for months
We'll show you how modern procurement can move at the speed your community needs.
Read about real impact we've helped create across the country
Building Compact Connect: Revolutionizing interstate professional licensing
A partnership to streamline interstate licensing infrastructure cuts costs and complexity. Read the full story
Improving RFPs with user research: How Summary Sheets can improve government technology procurement
A shockingly simple solution to create better RFPs and improve the process for all. Read the full story
Why verifying software vendors’ work should be a requirement in government
The success rate for custom software projects in government is abysmal. Knowing from the start that a vendor has the abilities you’re looking for can reverse this trend. Read the full story
Every partnership starts with understanding your specific challenges and constraints. We adapt our approach to match your timeline, capacity, and goals.
We're not a vendor
We're not bidding on your work or selling you software. That means we can give you unbiased guidance about what will actually serve your mission—without any conflicts of interest.
We've seen what happens when procurement
goes wrong
And we’ve seen what happens when it goes right. We help government teams take back control. From preparing RFPs that get you better proposals, to evaluating vendor work you've never had to assess before, to coaching government teams through their first sprints, we're with you at every step where procurement typically breaks down.
We move at the speed you need
No months-long contracts to get started. If you need someone to review a solicitation you're about to sign, we can do that this week. If you need a budgeting workshop next week, we can make it happen.
Many USDR talent engagements pair your team with experienced professionals who volunteer their time and expertise.
You'll work alongside mid-to-senior procurement professionals with government experience. Our full-time staff oversee every project from scoping to delivery. You get quality expertise at no cost, with sustainable solutions your team can maintain long after we're gone.
Whether you're starting a new procurement, fixing a troubled one, or just want to talk through your options, we're here to help.
