Marketbaskets are long-term contracts for large groupings of multiple items with National Stock Numbers (NSN) that are lumped together based on manufacturing processes. Due to the variety and size of these buys, they are evaluated on a line-item basis, enabling a vendor to respond to one, few or all of the items needed. Most of these buys contain competitive item descriptions and are solicited as some type of set-aside (SB, HUBZone or 8(a)).
Vendors interested in these buys must be careful to consider the volume of items they quote, the impact on their production lines, the ability to meet delivery of multiple items at the same time, the impact of surge requirements as well as the normal impact of packaging and delivery order requirements. Careful attention must be paid to detail in the solicitation. Marketbaskets are highlighted on the DSCR Business Opportunities page, under Corporate Contracting/Special Acquisitions and Small Business Acquisitions.
Hopefully this has provided you with a better understanding of the variety of contract situations the government uses to assure its needs are met.