This is not unique to government. Private Corporations are really, really good at wasting money as well.

Is there a realistic approach to this that doesn't require changing a fundamental aspect of humanity?

The solution to that problem in many places is currently to have lists of approved suppliers.

And once you're on the list it's basically a license to print money so the last thing you want is changes to the system.

Well that clearly doesn’t work. Montreal is a perfect example. So much corruption on that list.

Right, so my point is that we need a solution to that corruption which itself is not an avenue for corruption.

The better alternative is forcing supplier to get an insurance.

e.g. we want a road that will be X feet wide and will last Y years provided no earthquakes. Maintenance cost + Z dollars per day closed comes from insurance.

Want to use old boring tech - you insurance cost is lower. Want to try something new and shiny. Your insurance rate is higher at first, but may go down in the future.

And then they get comfy and loosen their standards... and when someone new comes along with a better technique it takes forever to hire them. As anybody with industry experience should know, that does not work.

Yea, that's called gsa.