I think your question touches on an important element of determining what should be done by everyone at the start of a procurement process. Before you decide that you want to issue a contract, you should figure out what you need this contract for. Is it to help with capacity issues? Is it to fill a skills gap, or is it because you want to go and get a different perspective, a different way of doing things? Once you've done that, then you figure out the right procurement vehicle to meet your needs.
I have said it before, and you're right. It isn't about creating more rules here. It's about applying the existing rules, but that really comes with making sure that everyone understands those rules and their individual accountability in a procurement process, and then documenting when you need to make justifications or exceptions. Issuing contracts on a non-competitive basis is an important exception that should be well justified and documented.