2Bobs—with David C. Baker and Blair Enns How to Get $500M to Build a Website
20 snips
Sep 10, 2025 Dive into the intriguing world of web development where a $500 million website isn't just a dream. Discover the compelling story of recreation.gov and its performance pay model that benefits all parties involved. Learn innovative contracting strategies that improve government service delivery, resulting in impressive growth metrics since 2019. Explore the dynamics of performance-based payments and the critical role of trust in client relationships. Plus, uncover valuable lessons in procurement strategies and the impact of events like the COVID pandemic on project success.
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Seamless Park Pass Purchase
- Blair describes using recreation.gov to buy a park pass and enter Joshua Tree with Apple Pay in a few taps.
- He contrasts the smooth experience to typical government sites and felt it was like a well-run private enterprise.
Payment Model Drives Experience
- Recreation.gov feels un-government like because of the incentives behind its procurement and payment model.
- Blair attributes the exceptional UX directly to how Booz Allen was paid for the project.
Offer Performance-Pay With Transaction Fee
- Do consider offering a performance-pay bid that shifts upfront costs to your firm and charges a small transaction fee to users.
- Blair explains Booz Allen bid to build and operate the site for no client upfront cost while taking a roughly $6 transaction fee.
