Client personality match
Your government client is the main person you have to make happy.
But to do that, you have to have a compatible personality.
If you're not a detail oriented person, and the client is extremely detail focused, you probably need to get a new project.
All your small errors will just annoy them and eventually you'll be asked to leave the project.
The worst type of client for me is the "mid-level manager" personality. They require things to be done according to procedure and are fundamentally uncreative people.
The best type of client for me is someone who is technically competent and thinks like an executive. It allows me to exercise my creativity and "big picture" thinking while not getting bogged down in irrelevant details. Of course, the downside of this client is they can be demanding and require you to be "on call." I dislike that very much.
I'd make sure to get a sense of the primary client's personality before you take on a project. It could be the difference between a project that you love and one that you dread.
Want the full playbook? Check out Going 1099.