The primary goal of conducting ongoing market research is to?

The primary goal of conducting ongoing market research is to identify the needs of the government effectively. This process involves gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data about the market to understand the requirements and preferences of the government as a procuring entity. By doing so, agencies can ensure that their specifications align with what is available in the market, leading to more efficient procurement processes and better fulfillment of governmental needs.

Effective market research allows the government to gain insights into trends, innovations, and the capabilities of potential suppliers. This understanding helps in designing solicitations that are clear and tailored to elicit the best possible responses from contractors. Therefore, identifying the needs of the government effectively is crucial, as it directly influences the quality of goods and services acquired and ultimately supports the achievement of program objectives.

The other options focus on aspects like cost control and contractor engagement, which, while important, do not encapsulate the foundational purpose of ongoing market research as directly as identifying government needs does.