GovCon Mission Effectiveness Index

The Quarterly GovCon Benchmark

GovCon Mission Effectiveness Index (GMEI)

Government contracts are the primary way agencies meet their missions — yet GovCon is measured by speed, volume, and dollars obligated, not by whether contracts actually achieve their intended outcomes. The GMEI measures what those metrics miss.

The GovCon Mission Effectiveness Index (GMEI) answers that question by gauging the perceived effectiveness of the government contracting ecosystem at meeting the government's mission — based on input from professionals working in the ecosystem every day.

Skyway's mission is to "bring context to both sides of GovCon so we all do GovCon Well." The GMEI extends that mission with a consistent, system-level measure of how effectively government contracting supports agency mission execution. Each quarter, we survey a broad swath of GovCon professionals to gauge how effectively the government is meeting its mission through awarding and administering contracts.

The GMEI reflects the perspectives of professionals working within the GovCon ecosystem and measures system-level effectiveness — not specific policies, agencies, or programs. It uses a diffusion index methodology similar to widely used economic indicators. Skyway collects GMEI data each quarter, and its value grows over time as additional responses and trend data are incorporated.

Diffusion index: 100 = neutral effectiveness — modeled on the U. of Michigan Consumer Confidence Index ▲ Improved vs. prior quarter ▼ Declined vs. prior quarter

2026

Inaugural year · released quarterly

Q1 2026Survey window: Feb 9 – Mar 27, 2026

Published

GMEI Composite

65 Inaugural baseline

Meaningfully below neutral (100) — low near-term confidence

0100 · neutral200

Current conditions (past 12 mo)74

Expectations (next 12 mo)60

The inaugural reading suggests GovCon professionals view the ecosystem as operating well below neutral effectiveness, with even lower confidence in the year ahead.

19 respondents · inaugural sample (baseline)

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Latest

Q2 2026Survey window: May 2026

Published

GMEI Composite

75 ▲ +10 vs Q1

Still below neutral (100) — but a sharp rise in 12-month confidence

0100 · neutral200

Current conditions (past 12 mo)64 ▼ Q1 74

Expectations (next 12 mo)82 ▲ Q1 60

The ecosystem is still seen as below neutral, but confidence in its ability to support agency missions over the next 12 months rose sharply quarter over quarter.

Gov & industry professionals · both sides of GovCon

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Q3 2026Survey window: August 2026

Upcoming

Opens August 2026

Q4 2026Survey window: November 2026

Upcoming

Opens November 2026

About the methodology

The GMEI is a diffusion index of anonymous responses from professionals across government and industry, modeled on the University of Michigan Consumer Confidence Index. A reading of 100 represents neutral effectiveness; values above 100 indicate above-neutral effectiveness and values below 100 indicate below-neutral effectiveness. The survey opens for the full second month of each quarter — February, May, August, and November — and results publish shortly after each window closes. Add your voice to the next index ›