"But it takes two to tango [so] don't sell me salt and pepper shakers," he said, adding it's possible to be in government and remain a human being. "We want the innovative potential of open source and it's not just about saving money -- sometimes it can cost you more but you get more value."

AGIMO is already using open source with its MySource Matrix CMS, and has championed greater adoption by other agencies by publishing an open-source procurement guide for federal government agencies last year .

"Think about new ways of doing business and be more business-like," he said. "Remember, we are the customers, so if you want to sell you need to put in more effort."

Callioni lamented the pressure put on government to expedite open source adoption. "We're constantly being told we could do more, but that's not our job [and] you need to convince us of the benefits," he said.

In addition to suppliers not doing enough, Callioni cited public spending accountability, existing lock-in, legacy infrastructure, an inherent tendency towards conservatism, and legal considerations as all hurdles to open source adoption at the government's end.