What is “market research” and how do I go about doing it?
The Federal requiring official of a Federal agency is responsible for conducting market research to identify if any EIT products are available in the commercial marketplace that best meet the applicable technical provisions. Federal requiring officials can use a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) to assist in determining which of the technical provisions is the most applicable to the EIT product being procured. Some methods for conducting market research include using the Internet to review catalogs and other product literature published by manufacturers; obtain source lists from other agencies, trade associations and other sources; query government databases relevant to agency acquisitions; publish formal requests for information; and contact knowledgeable government agencies.
