The MDIA Way
Public sector procurement is not designed for speed, experimentation, or engagement with emerging technologies. Traditional RFPs can take 18 to 24 months from problem identification to vendor selection—often favoring the most compliant bidder over the most innovative solution. MDIA flips that model on its head.
By leading with problems, not pre-baked solutions, MDIA uses a pilot-first approach to shrink procurement cycles, unlock flexibility, and validate what works—before committing to long-term contracts.
“There is no way that the public sector can accelerate innovation. The public sector will always be implementing innovation, scaling innovation, but the public sector is not set up to come up with innovation. And so the magic of organizations like MDIA is that you allow entrepreneurs to do what they do best, which is create great, great products, and to be obsessed with those products. And you allow government to do what it does best, which is make sure that it is scaling solutions that meet the needs of its residents in the most cost efficient and productive way possible.”
Pilots Fast Track Future Procurement
“What I really loved about MDIA in the pilot process was how rigorous it was actually how you guys put together an entire infrastructure for us to just plug into.”
Private companies constantly inundate local governments with product pitches, yet departments often lack the frameworks and tools to effectively and efficiently evaluate opportunities. The MDIA leverages pilot demonstrations to replace years-long RFP cycles with agile, problem-driven open challenges.
Since inception, MDIA has reduced the time to pilot by 67% or two-thirds, in most instances moving from challenge launch to pilot demonstration within 6 months, and in some cases as fast as 4 months.
MDIA’s approach doesn’t just save time. It reduces costs, lightens the administrative burden on civil servants, and enables public agencies to rapidly assess whether a new solution meets their needs—before committing valuable resources.
This efficiency is not accidental. It’s the result of a structured “public innovation flywheel” that:
Identifies high-value challenge areas in partnership with departments
Sources and vets global startups through open innovation
Designs demonstration pilots that reflect real-world operational constraints
Provides implementation support to ensure a smooth pilot launch
Define the Problem, Not the Product
“MDIA is a unique organization. It is not a consultant, and it is not an organization that governments typically work with because it works with government to understand government’s problems from the inception and then validates what solutions can be had with third party partners.”
Traditional RFPs often come pre-loaded with rigid scopes that reflect internal assumptions—not community needs. They request a product instead of inviting a solution. This limits creativity, excludes newer entrants, and locks governments into outdated technologies.
MDIA’s approach reverses this dynamic. We work with departments to co-define the problem, creating space for startups to propose novel approaches we may not have imagined. This shift has proven to yield better solutions—and often, better outcomes.
Close The Gap From Challenge to Contract
“I think it’s a great blend of adopting some of the fundamental procurement processes that are out there and also adopting some of the methodologies from private to make it a faster, like the evaluation process adopted by MDIA is faster.”
Turning a successful pilot into a lasting solution requires more than proof—it requires a clear, flexible pathway to procurement. MDIA helps departments bridge that gap with alternative contracting methods that accelerate adoption without compromising accountability.
What it is:
Alternative procurement pathways that allow public agencies to engage with startups and emerging tech providers without the rigidity of a traditional RFP.
Why it matters:
Many of the most promising solutions come from early-stage companies that don’t have the bandwidth, legal teams, or compliance histories to navigate outdated procurement systems. Challenge-based contracting removes those barriers while still preserving public accountability and transparency.
Practice Tip:
Design challenge-based procurement mechanisms that allow departments to seamlessly move from pilot success to contract award—such as pre-negotiated contracting vehicles, multi-phase challenge awards, or piggybacking on countywide master agreements.