Market survey

U.S. government
A market survey is

"[a]ttempts to ascertain whether other qualified sources capable of satisfying the government's requirement exist. This testing of the marketplace may range from written or telephone contacts with knowledgeable federal and non-federal experts regarding similar or duplicate requirements and the results of any market test recently undertaken, to the more formal sources-sought announcements in pertinent publications (e.g., technical/scientific journals, the Commerce Business Daily), or solicitations for information or planning purposes."