Research and Development Services Acquisition Planning Package

Government buyers can use this APP to develop and release a solicitation for Research and Development Services. Leverage the instructional content below, along with the linked sample, template, and reference documents, to better understand the subcategory and obtain needed products, services, or solutions.

Acquisition Lifecycle Overview

Use the following overview to gain a high-level understanding of pre-solicitation lifecycle stages and quickly navigate to relevant resources

  1. Discovery: Learn about the current Research and Development Services acquisition environment and review critical resources before beginning your acquisition
    • Relevant documents: Buyer's Guides and other critical resources
  2. Requirements Definition: Document your needs and estimate associated costs to set the foundation for a successful acquisition
    • Relevant documents: SOO, PWS, SOW, IGCE, Buying Tips / Tools
  3. Market Research and Planning: Inform your acquisition strategy by collecting information on the supply base, available contract vehicles, and key regulations
    • Relevant documents: RFI, Sources Sought Notice, Market Research Report, MRAS Report, Policy and/or Guidance
  4. Solicitation Development: Develop solicitation documents to help clearly express your business requirements and invite private sector contractors to compete for your work
    • Relevant documents: RFQ, RFP, Other Solicitation Resources and Templates

Learn about the current Research and Development Services acquisition environment and review critical resources before beginning your acquisition

Research and Development Services Acquisition Overview

  • Please email professionalservices@gsa.gov with questions, general feedback, and suggestions on additional documents to be included. Request immediate procurement support from your local Customer Service Director here.

Critical Resources

Gain a broad understanding of acquisitions in this subcategory using the resources below. Please note that certain resources are also listed within the other stages

Buyer's Guides

High-impact reference documents that overview the subcategory across lifecycle stages

Document your needs and estimate associated costs to set the foundation for a successful acquisition

Relevant Documents

Use these samples and templates to develop a requirements document for your acquisition. If you expect your acquisition to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, use the IGCE resources to develop a cost estimate to supplement your requirements document. Additional Buying Tips and Tools have also been provided to help inform requirements and estimate costs / pricing.

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

A requirements document for performance-based acquisitions that clearly describes performance objectives and standards expected of the contractor

Statement of Work (SOW)

A requirements document that clearly and specifically describes the work to be done in developing or producing the products and/or services delivered by the contractor

Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE)

An assessment / estimate of the contract's potential costs based on industry standards. Please use this link to access GSA's standard IGCE creation tool

Inform your acquisition strategy by collecting information on the supply base, available contract vehicles, and key regulations

Relevant Documents

Use templates or the MRAS resource to conduct your own market research. Alternatively, review sample documents to understand existing capabilities to meet your business / acquisition needs. Additional Policy and/or Guidance has also been provided to help identify key regulations or processes for existing contract vehicles.

Request for Information (RFI)

A process / document used by government agencies to gauge industry interest and gather information on contractor capabilities and other general market information. Responses are used for information only and are not considered part of an official proposal

Sources Sought Notice (SSN)

A request used to identify small businesses that would be interested in fulfilling a government solicitation, helping to improve small business contracting opportunities

Market Research Report (MRR)

A type of market research report outlining available commercial capabilities, vendors, and contract vehicles to meet business / acquisition needs. These reports can be produced independently or through MRAS (detailed below)

Market Research as a Service Report (MRAS)

A type of market research report developed by GSA's internal Market Research as a Service (MRAS) offering. Please use this link to request a MRAS report

Develop solicitation documents to help clearly express your business requirements and invite private sector contractors to compete for your work

Relevant Documents

Use samples and templates to develop your own solicitation and request responses from contractors capable and interested in fulfilling the requirements. The formats below provide different ways to structure your solicitation depending on the complexity of your needs.

Request for Quotation (RFQ)

A solicitation type used to obtain pricing information for clearly defined products or services (e.g. COTS). RFQs are typically used to meet the business needs listed in a requirements document

Other Solicitation Resources and Templates

Additional resources to support the development and release of your solicitation


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Last Reviewed: 2023-01-03