Re: *sigh*
<consultancy> doesn't work for you, they work for them. Routinely misunderstood in a world where mere competency is well above the population average.
Assuming there is a reason why the actual delivery isn't carried out in-house, a partial mitigation is to get rival companies on either half of the equation - specifying and delivering. They know each other's tricks, and will race to hold the other accountable. And, if you structure the money and deliverables right, you can avoid some finger pointing and make the most cost effective route for either side to do their job and get out.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
