Which type of market research looks for information about capabilities in the commercial marketplace?

The correct choice focuses on external market research, which is designed to gather information on the commercial marketplace and its capabilities. This type of research typically involves analyzing external factors, trends, competitors, and industry dynamics to understand the market landscape better. Organizations use external market research to inform decision-making, identify new opportunities, evaluate customer needs, and assess competition.

By collecting data from outside the organization, this approach allows businesses to benchmark their offerings against industry standards and capabilities of other entities in the market. The insights derived from this research can be critical for strategic planning, product development, and market entry strategies.

The other options do not directly address the need for information specifically about the capabilities in the commercial marketplace. While a Request for Information (RFI) is a tool used to solicit information from suppliers or contractors, it is more specific in scope and context rather than broadly assessing the market capabilities. Internal market research focuses on gathering data from within the organization, which would not provide insights about external market capabilities. Single-source negotiation pertains to a procurement strategy and does not pertain to research methods for understanding marketplace capabilities.