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18F Is Testing Micro-Purchase Auctions

micropurchase.18f.gov

1–10 of 18 posts

Re: 18F Is Testing Micro-Purchase Auctions

#6
post #2

Can anyone explain why an otherwise very forward-looking, user-experienced focus got stuck with an incomprehensible name like "18F?"

What would you have preferred? The Forward-Looking User-Experience-Focused Group -- FLUEF for short?

I mean, I never would have guessed that Apple would be a major computer vender. Or that Sears would be a store. Or that Kellogg would be a food company. Things get stuck with opaque-looking names all the time, if you don't know the history behind them.

Re: 18F Is Testing Micro-Purchase Auctions

#9
post #7

It's interesting that this time around the bids didn't bottom out at the min. All but one are in the $300-$500 range. The first time they tried this the winning bid was one (1) dollar[1]. [1]: https://18f.gsa.gov/2015/11/06/micro-purchase-lessons/

That $1 bid was someone who wanted to do the project for free. Just thought that should be disclosed.

"I figured it would be cool to be a part of this first micro-purchase experiment and demonstrate that there are people — at least one but I think a lot more — willing and excited to help out on meaningful, civic-minded initiatives," he said in an interview with Federal Times. "I love working on little web projects in my free time. This is $1 more than I make on those and this one actually helps people."

http://www.federaltimes.com/story/government/acquisition/gsa...

https://18f.gsa.gov/2015/11/06/micro-purchase-lessons/

https://github.com/18F/calc/pull/256

Re: 18F Is Testing Micro-Purchase Auctions

#10
post #2

Can anyone explain why an otherwise very forward-looking, user-experienced focus got stuck with an incomprehensible name like "18F?"

I actually think 18F is pretty distinctive and thus a great name.

+1 for 18F. I'd even dig "18F Labs".
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