There are also many variations on the contractor relationship that are important. Some contractors are hired through staff augmentation companies while others w

There are also many variations on the contractor relationship that are important. Some contractors are hired through staff augmentation companies while others work through their own company. Working through your own company is a much better arrangement, but harder to get setup. You'll have more control over rates and have the opportunity to get more work. This all depends on having a relationship with someone with some kind of budgetary control and relationship with procurement. If procurement can get a better deal working directly with your company then it's normally possible to work something out. This is a good reason to build relationships with the "highly political" people that technical-types normally eschew.