FAR 10.001 Policy

(a) Agencies shall—

(1) Ensure that legitimate needs are identified and trade-offs evaluated to acquire items that meet those needs;

(2) Conduct market research appropriate to the circumstances–

(i) Before developing new requirements documents for an acquisition by that agency;

(ii) Before soliciting offers for acquisitions with an estimated value in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold;

(iii) Before soliciting offers for acquisitions with an estimated value less than the simplified acquisition threshold when adequate information is not available and the circumstances justify its cost;

(iv) Before soliciting offers for acquisitions that could lead to consolidation or bundling (15 U.S.C. 644(e)(2)(A)) and 15 U.S.C. 657q);

(v) Before awarding a task or delivery order under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) contract (e.g., GWACs, MACs) for other than a commercial product or commercial service in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold (10 U.S.C. 3453(c)); and

(vi) On an ongoing basis, take advantage (to the maximum extent practicable) of commercially available market research methods in order to effectively identify the capabilities of small businesses and new entrants into Federal contracting that are available in the marketplace for meeting the requirements of the agency in furtherance of-

(A) A contingency operation or defense against or recovery from cyber, nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack; and

(B) Disaster relief to include debris removal, distribution of supplies, reconstruction, and other disaster or emergency relief activities (See 26.205); and

(3) Use the results of market research to–

(i) Determine if sources capable of satisfying the agency’s requirements exist;

(ii) Determine if commercial products or commercial services, or, to the extent commercial products suitable to meet the agency’s needs are not available, nondevelopmental items are available that-

(A) Meet the agency’s requirements;

(B) Could be modified to meet the agency’s requirements; or

(C) Could meet the agency’s requirements if those requirements were modified to a reasonable extent;

(iii) Determine the extent to which commercial products, or nondevelopmental items could be incorporated at the component level;

(iv) Determine the practices of firms engaged in producing, distributing, and supporting commercial products or commercial services, such as type of contract, terms for warranties, buyer financing, maintenance and packaging, and marking;

(v) Ensure maximum practicable use of sustainable products and services (as defined in 2.101) in accordance with subpart 23.1;

(vi) Determine whether consolidation is necessary and justified (see 7.107-2) (15 U.S.C. 657q);

(vii) Determine whether bundling is necessary and justified (see 7.107-3) (15 U.S.C. 644(e)(2)(A));

(viii) Determine whether the acquisition should utilize any of the small business programs in accordance with part 19; and

(ix) Assess the availability of supplies or services that meet all or part of the applicable information and communication technology accessibility standards at 36 CFR 1194.1 (see subpart 39.2).

(b) When conducting market research, agencies should not request potential sources to submit more than the minimum information necessary.

(c) If an agency contemplates consolidation or bundling, the agency—

(1) When performing market research, should consult with the agency small business specialist and the local Small Business Administration procurement center representative (PCR). If a PCR is not assigned, see 19.402(a); and

(2) Shall notify any affected incumbent small business concerns of the Government's intention to bundle the requirement and how small business concerns may contact the appropriate Small Business Administration procurement center representative (see 7.107-5(a)).

(d) See 10.003 for the requirement for a prime contractor to perform market research in contracts in excess of $7.5 million, other than contracts for the acquisition of commercial products or commercial services (section 826 of Pub. L. 110-181).