Book excerpt: Navigating Government Procurement is an authoritative, insiders perspective on the strategic thinking behind drafting and negotiating government contracts with vendors. Featuring state and municipal directors of procurement as well as procurement attorneys from across the country, this book provides a broad yet comprehensive overview of the challenges unique to purchasing goods and services on behalf of government agencies and entities. These leaders articulate the finer points of the procurement process and the best practices required for working with government contractors, from soliciting bids and complying with regulatory requirements to setting enterprise-wide standards for frequently purchased commodities. Additionally, the authors discuss the impact of politics and the economy on government procurement procedures while offering advice on maintaining ethical operation standards and working with agency budgets. The different niches represented enable readers to get inside some of the great minds in government today, as these experts reveal the secrets and challenges behind how the government obtains goods and services.