When conducting market research, agencies should aim to:

When conducting market research, agencies should aim to encourage commercial or non-developmental items. This approach helps agencies identify and leverage existing products or services that can meet their needs without extensive development efforts, resulting in cost savings, reduced risk, and faster procurement timelines. By focusing on commercial items, agencies can access innovations and solutions already available in the market, which can enhance efficiency and effectiveness in fulfilling their requirements.

Moreover, encouraging the use of commercial or non-developmental items fosters a competitive marketplace, inviting more suppliers to engage without unnecessarily limiting potential sources. It aligns with public policy goals of promoting competition and efficiency in government contracting.

The other options, while relevant to the broader context of market research and procurement practices, do not align with the primary objective of enhancing agency acquisition strategies through effective use of available market offerings. Limiting competition fundamentally contradicts the goal of market research, as does focusing exclusively on past performance without considering current and innovative solutions. Excluding industry feedback overlooks essential insights that can shape better-informed decisions and strategies for procurement.