D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 27, r. 50-5017
Before issuing a solicitation or making a purchase, OAG shall:
Market research is designed primarily to familiarize OAG with the market for the goods or services it seeks to acquire and to assist OAG in the development of an appropriate strategy for conducting a prompt and efficient procurement in accordance with these rules. The extent of market research may vary depending on the urgency, size and complexity of the proposed procurement, and on OAG's existing knowledge of the market based on its past experience in procuring similar goods or services.
Market research, to the extent it is relevant to the particular procurement and not already known to OAG, generally should focus on obtaining information such as the following:
In conducting market research, OAG may solicit information from prospective sources on matters such as their interest in the potential procurement, the characteristics and costs of their products or services, their customary practices, and their knowledge of the industry generally. Such information may be solicited by requesting interested parties to submit written information (for example, by posting a notice on the Internet seeking information pertinent to the proposed procurement), through meetings or telephone contacts, by distributing and seeking comments on a draft solicitation, or through other prudent means.
In addition to soliciting information from prospective contractors, OAG may also obtain information from other sources. For example, price information, which can assist in estimating the likely cost of the procurement and evaluating price reasonableness, is frequently available from sources such as catalogs, Internet sites, or records of past procurements.
OAG may conduct market research for sole source, competition exempt, and other non-open source procurements by issuance of a market survey. Responses to such market surveys may be used only for informational purposes.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 27, r. 50-5017