Retail Food Store Location and Characteristics Data

SOL #: 1232SA26Q0414Sources Sought

Overview

Buyer

Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
USDA ARS AFM APD
BELTSVILLE, MD, 20705, United States

Place of Performance

Washington, DC

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910)

PSC

Data Collection Services (R702)

Set Aside

No set aside specified

Timeline

1
Posted
Apr 7, 2026
2
Response Deadline
Apr 14, 2026, 8:00 PM

Qualification Details

Fit reasons
  • NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
  • Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
  • Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
  • Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps

Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.

Quick Summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), specifically the AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE, has issued a Sources Sought notice for Retail Food Store Location and Characteristics Data. This market research aims to identify sources capable of providing detailed, individual store-level data to support USDA's research and data analytics activities concerning food availability and household shopping impacts. Responses are due by April 14, 2026.

Scope of Work

The USDA requires comprehensive data on food retailers, including supermarkets, superettes, mass-merchandisers, wholesale clubs, drug stores, and convenience stores. Key data points for each outlet include:

  • Identification: Store name, address, telephone number, location (longitude-latitude, state, county, census tract), market area identifiers.
  • Operational Details: Annual sales, selling area, full-time equivalent employees, number of checkout registers, store type, store type sub-channel, annual commodity volume/sales, store size, ID linking to firm ownership.
  • Program Participation: Store categories (food, pharmacy, gasoline, tobacco, alcohol sales), MSA, SNAP and WIC authorized store identifiers.
  • Dynamic Changes: Data on new stores, store closures, and changes of ownership.

Data is required for June 15th of each year from 2026 through 2030 and must be compatible and consistent across all years.

Period of Performance

The data collection and delivery span five years: a Base Year 1 (2026) and four Option Years (2027-2030). Deliveries are due by July 1st of each year for the preceding year's data.

Special Requirements

  • Data Format: Microsoft Excel 2007 or later, or a text file.
  • Documentation: Data documentation (sources, collection procedures, estimation methods, data dictionary, variable description, data quality, limitations) must be delivered in Microsoft Word Document format.
  • Collaboration: A one-week turnaround is required for reviews during third-party collaboration.
  • Security: All information must be UNCLASSIFIED material.

Contract & Timeline

  • Type: Sources Sought (Market Research)
  • Product Service Code: R702 (Data Collection Services)
  • Set-Aside: None specified
  • Response Due: April 14, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
  • Published: April 7, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT

Additional Notes

This notice is for market research purposes only to identify potential sources and does not constitute a solicitation or commitment by the Government.

People

Points of Contact

Frank PalmerPRIMARY

Files

Files

Download

Versions

Version 1Viewing
Sources Sought
Posted: Apr 7, 2026
Retail Food Store Location and Characteristics Data | GovScope