SD-5 Market ResearchThe purpose of this document is to provide DoD and other Federal personnel involved in the acquisition process with practical guidance on using market research to ensure the acquisition of products and services that will best serve the government??s needs. Specifically, this document is designed for personnel involved with establishing requirements for products or services, such as engineers, technical specialists, project officers, and customers; personnel involved with purchasing products or services, such as contracting officers, contract specialists, and cost analysts; and personnel who support the acquisition process, such as logisticians, testing and quality assurance specialists, and legal counsel.

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Cost Analyst

The cost analyst can use market research to review and compare the affordability aspects of var- ious alternative solutions to meeting a DoD requirement.The cost analyst may perform market research on cost or price factors in order to assist the contracting officer with evaluating offers.

Legal Counsel

Legal counsel can perform market research to determine whether commercial business practices (such as the Uniform Commercial Code) conflict with Federal Government contract laws and regulations. Counsel may also be called on to investigate trade-related issues, export practices, patents and intellectual property rights, corporate ownership and merger issues, labor practices, and other legal developments in the market that may affect the acquisition.

Contracting Officer

The contracting officer can use market research to identify information on market conditions, general business practices, company information, pricing, and the contract terms and conditions needed to successfully carry out the acquisition. For many smaller acquisitions, the contracting officer may be the only one who performs both the strategic and tactical market research.

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