The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires contractor support to provide procurement software and associated support services for use by volunteer tax preparers under the IRS Electronic Tax Software Application (ETSA) project.
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
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 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is seeking proposals for a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract to provide Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) tax preparation software and associated support services. This software will be utilized by volunteer tax preparers under the IRS Electronic Tax Software Application (ETSA) project, supporting programs like VITA and TCE. This is an Unrestricted Acquisition. Questions are due May 18, 2026, and quotes are due May 28, 2026.
Scope of Work
The contractor will provide COTS tax preparation software licenses and comprehensive support services. Key requirements include software capable of preparing and filing federal, state, and local income tax returns for all tax situations, supporting multiple operating environments (web-based, desktop, self-preparer), and complying with IRS security standards. The scope also covers tasks such as orientation briefings, software production environment setup, reporting capabilities, help desk assistance, regulatory compliance, knowledge transfer, and transition support. Deliverables include software licenses, user guides, final desktop versions, disaster recovery plans, management reports, help desk metrics, and training materials.
Contract & Timeline
- Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), single-award.
- Period of Performance: One base period (August 17, 2026 - August 16, 2027) and four (4) consecutive 12-month option periods.
- Minimum Order: 8,500 software licenses guaranteed for the base period and each option period.
- Set-Aside: Unrestricted Acquisition. Small Business Participation goals are included as goals only (SB 40%, SDB 12%, WOSB 5%, HUBZone 3%, SDVO 3%).
- NAICS: 541511 – Custom Computer Programming Services (Size Standard: $34M).
- Place of Performance: Primarily Contractor’s facility; may include IRS, Treasury, VITA, or TCE sites.
- Questions Due: May 18, 2026, 12:00 PM (ET).
- Quote Due Date: May 28, 2026, 12:00 PM (ET).
Submission & Evaluation
Quotes must be submitted via email to patricia.e.brown@irs.gov and ladoris.r.tuck@irs.gov by the closing date. Submissions must include a Technical Section, a fully functional copy of the software for COE testing, a Pricing Section, and a Past Performance Section. Evaluation will be based on Technical Capability, Relevant Work Experience, Software Capability, Past Performance, Subcontracting Plan, and Price, utilizing best value source selection procedures. Offerors must provide a detailed price/cost breakdown for each contract line item.
Additional Notes
The solicitation incorporates numerous FAR clauses and IRS-specific publications related to security, privacy, records management, and IT requirements. Past performance will be assessed using CPARS and other sources.