The Agriculture Department wants access to comprehensive data across all America's food retailers—with specific details down to the individual store level—to assess issues around the viability and availability of the nation's nutritional resources and inform the agency's future research efforts.

"In recent years, concerns about the availability of healthful, affordable foods by households in low-income neighborhoods has resulted in the need for detailed information on the kinds and locations of retail food stores in relation to such vulnerable populations," agency officials said in a recently published sources sought solicitation. "More broadly, detailed store-level data and information are needed to assess the economic performance of the food retailing industry and its ability to serve the changing needs of consumers."

For deliverables, the agency wants data and an all-inclusive list of supermarkets that span the country, including those that have annual total sales of $2 million or more, "suprettes" or stores that make between $1 and $2 million in annual sales, mass merchandisers, wholesale clubs, drug stores and convenient stores that are not associated with gas stations.