GAO said Thursday that such an effort could help strengthen competition and inform current and future acquisitions by using fundamental market research techniques to find out how and when the data was collected or achieved and what this data means in relation to the contract.
The agencies should âclearly document the basic elements of the market research that was conducted⦠[specifically in the areas of] the market research methods used, the timeframes when staff used them, an analysis of the capabilities of potential sources and a conclusion based on this analysis,â GAO says in its report to the Senate subcommittee on financial and contracting oversight.
GAO also encouraged the Transportation Department to review its agency guide on market research.
âDOTâs market research guidance did not require specific elements to be documented, which increases the risk that it would not be available to inform future procurements,â the office said.