> Why not set a fixed price; with reductions for overruns. Because then the only companies willing to take on the project would be those that have no idea what

> Why not set a fixed price; with reductions for overruns. Because then the only companies willing to take on the project would be those that have no idea what they're doing (and will burn the money with nothing usable to show for it), and those who will insist on detailed requirements beforehand that cannot change. And the latter is not something the government is able to provide.