2. Market Research & Vendor Discovery
What it does:
Conducts comprehensive market research, identifies qualified vendors, benchmarks pricing, and generates audit-ready market research reports.
Use Cases:
- Build compliant market research reports (Federal, State, Local)
- Discover new vendors and teaming partners
- Analyze competition and set-aside feasibility
- Support acquisition planning and strategy
Market Research & Vendor Discovery
Make Smarter Acquisition Decisions with Confidence
Market research is the foundation of every successful and compliant acquisition. ACE’s Market Research & Vendor Discovery capability helps contracting professionals and vendors understand the marketplace, identify qualified sources, and document decisions in a way that is defensible, auditable, and easy to validate.
ACE automates the most time-consuming parts of market research while ensuring alignment with federal, state, and local procurement requirements.
What This Feature Does
ACE conducts comprehensive market research by combining structured analysis, vendor discovery, and pricing insights into a single, guided workflow. It helps you:
- Identify capable and compliant vendors
- Analyze competition and market maturity
- Benchmark pricing using available historical and market data
- Generate audit-ready Market Research Reports with clear assumptions and documentation
All outputs are designed to support human review, approval, and compliance validation.
Key Capabilities
Comprehensive Market Research Analysis
ACE evaluates the marketplace using structured acquisition logic, helping you understand:
- Market availability and vendor capacity
- Commercial vs. non-commercial solutions
- Competitive landscape and risk factors
Vendor Discovery & Qualification
ACE helps identify qualified vendors and potential teaming partners by:
- Researching vendor capabilities and offerings
- Supporting eligibility and compliance checks
- Highlighting small business and socioeconomic participation opportunities
Pricing & Market Benchmarking
ACE supports acquisition planning by:
- Comparing indicative pricing across vendors and markets
- Supporting price reasonableness considerations
- Clearly documenting assumptions, limitations, and data sources
Audit-Ready Documentation
ACE produces structured Market Research Reports with:
- Clear headings and plain-language explanations
- Regulatory alignment (Federal, State, and Local as applicable)
- Built-in reminders for human CO and legal review
Common Use Cases
Build Compliant Market Research Reports
Generate professional, well-structured Market Research Reports that meet:
- Federal acquisition requirements
- State and local procurement standards
- Internal audit and review expectations
Discover New Vendors and Teaming Partners
Identify capable suppliers you may not already know and support:
- Competitive acquisitions
- Strategic sourcing decisions
- Small business participation goals
Analyze Competition and Set-Aside Feasibility
ACE helps assess:
- Market competition levels
- Small business availability
- Feasibility of set-asides or partial set-asides
Support Acquisition Planning and Strategy
Use ACE insights to:
- Inform acquisition strategies
- Reduce procurement risk
- Strengthen justification and planning documentation
Who This Is For
- Contracting Officers and Specialists
- Program and Project Managers
- Small Business Professionals
- Vendors and Business Development Teams
- State and Local Government Buyers
Why Use ACE for Market Research?
- Save time by automating research and documentation
- Improve accuracy with structured analysis and compliance awareness
- Reduce risk with clear, defensible assumptions
- Be audit-ready from day one
Note: All outputs require human expert validation and do not constitute legal advice.
ACE Market Research Question Playbook
Example: USAF – Rugged Laptops with CAC Readers
PHASE 1 — Define the Requirement Clearly
(FAR 10.001(a)(2))
Ask ACE:
- “Help me refine a clear, functional requirement for 500 rugged laptops with integrated CAC readers for USAF operational use.”
- “Translate this mission need into plain-language technical requirements suitable for market research (not a solicitation).”
- “What performance, durability, and security attributes are most commonly required by DoD for rugged laptops?”
- “Which requirements should be marked as mandatory vs. desirable for market research purposes?”
PHASE 2 — Identify the Commercial Market
(FAR 10.002(b)(1))
Ask ACE:
- “Identify the types of vendors that typically provide rugged laptops with CAC readers (OEMs, resellers, small businesses).”
- “What NAICS and PSC codes are commonly associated with ruggedized laptops and secure computing devices?”
- “Is this requirement typically met by commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products?”
- “Are there existing government or commercial product categories that already meet most of these requirements?”
PHASE 3 — Availability & Capability Assessment
(FAR 10.002(b)(2))
Ask ACE:
- “Based on market norms, how many vendors are likely capable of delivering 500 rugged laptops within standard timelines?”
- “What are common production lead times for rugged laptops at this quantity?”
- “Do vendors typically offer integrated CAC readers, or are they add-on configurations?”
- “What durability standards (MIL-STD, IP ratings) are commonly supported in the commercial market?”
PHASE 4 — Security & Compliance Alignment
(DoD & NIST Context)
Ask ACE:
- “What security features are standard or expected for DoD-use rugged laptops?”
- “How do commercial vendors typically support CAC, PKI, TPM, and secure boot?”
- “What security requirements should be referenced but not over-specified at the market research stage?”
- “What risks exist if security requirements are too restrictive during market research?”
PHASE 5 — Pricing & Cost Drivers
(FAR 10.002(b)(2)(iv))
Ask ACE:
- “What are the major cost drivers for rugged laptops with CAC readers?”
- “Provide a rough order of magnitude (ROM) price range per unit for this type of equipment.”
- “How does quantity (500 units) typically affect unit pricing?”
- “What optional features significantly increase cost (warranties, certifications, accessories)?”
PHASE 6 — Small Business & Competition Analysis
(FAR 10.001(a)(3))
Ask ACE:
- “Is this requirement likely suitable for small business participation?”
- “How do small businesses typically participate (OEM vs. reseller vs. integrator)?”
- “What risks or benefits exist in pursuing a small business set-aside for this requirement?”
- “Would competition be considered robust, moderate, or limited based on the market?”
PHASE 7 — Acquisition Strategy Insights
(Planning Support)
Ask ACE:
- “Based on market research, what acquisition strategies are commonly used for rugged laptops (e.g., RFQ, GSA Schedule, BPA)?”
- “What contract type is typically appropriate (firm-fixed-price, IDIQ task order)?”
- “What risks should be addressed early in acquisition planning?”
- “Are there existing contract vehicles that agencies commonly use for this type of purchase?”
PHASE 8 — Market Research Report Construction
(Deliverable Assembly)
Ask ACE:
- “Draft a complete Market Research Report for this requirement in FAR-aligned format.”
- “Summarize findings for market availability, competition, pricing, and risks.”
- “Provide a clear recommendation on commercial availability and acquisition approach.”
- “Add a conclusion suitable for Contracting Officer review.”
PHASE 9 — Validation & Audit Readiness
(Defense-in-Depth)
Ask ACE:
- “Check the Market Research Report for FAR Part 10 compliance.”
- “Identify any gaps or assumptions that should be documented for audit defensibility.”
- “Create an executive summary suitable for leadership briefing.”
FINAL OUTPUT YOU’LL GET FROM ACE
By asking these questions, ACE will produce:
✔ FAR-compliant Market Research Report
✔ Vendor landscape analysis
✔ Pricing & ROM estimates
✔ Competition assessment
✔ Small business analysis
✔ Acquisition strategy insights
✔ Audit-ready documentation trail