The government does not buy from "whomever has the best product', as every manufacturer will tell you he has the 'best product' and back it up with biased reports by testing companies that are paid by the manufacturer to report on their product. (You may have seen that expose on all the oil additives that are advertised on TV). The government sets its own MilSpec standards which bidders are required to comply with, before they bid on the contract.  The lowest bidder complying with MilSpec standards gets the bid.  There are federal watchdog agencies whose job it is to make sure that the lowest bidder who complies, gets the contract.  Favoritism is illegal and if uncovered, (and it is, from time to time) is a federal crime.  So yes, I would buy a car from the lowest bidder as long as he met my specifications.  As for Amsoil being a superior product, why isn't the world using it?  If it was that superior, by now after all these many years the truth would have gotten out and it would be a major player.  I may well be wrong, but the only places I ever saw it being pushed was by home based salesmen trying to sell it out of their garages and occasionally as a side display in a small privately owned auto parts store where the owner is also distributor.