Government should only purchase software solutions which comply with open standards . Non-compliant software stops the public benefiting from genuine competition.
To illustrate with just one example (there're thousands), there is only weak competition in the market for public transport ticketing in NZ because none of the existing regional systems (ATHop, BUSIT, Smartride, Snapper, Metrocard, GoCard, etc.) comply with any ticketing standards. Each system is unique. To change from one vendor to another means throwing everything out and starting again. It's called "vendor lock-in" and it's not how you get the best and most cost-effective systems for customers or ratep
The solution in this case is for public agencies to insist that potential solutions comply with existing open standards such as the security standard for transit fare collection systems, CIPURSE.