Electronic Tax Preparation and Transmission Software/Maintenance

SOL #: 2043FY-26-N-00002Sources Sought

Overview

Buyer

Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

TAXPAYER FOCUSED SUPPORT

Washington, DC, 20224, United States

Place of Performance

Montgomery, AL

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210)

PSC

Hardware, Software, And Other Equipment Needed For Specialized High Performance Computing (Hpc) Systems Used In Solving Complex Computational Problems Through Massive Concurrent Use Of Computing Resources And Parallel Processing Techniques. (7B20)

Set Aside

No set aside specified

Original Source

https://sam.gov/opp/00321f15512247d38b08c8e44f3e07a3/view

Timeline

Posted

Jan 12, 2026

Last Updated

Jan 15, 2026

Response Deadline

Jan 19, 2026, 6:00 AM

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 conducting a Sources Sought for Electronic Tax Preparation and Transmission Software and Maintenance services. This effort aims to identify firms capable of providing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software and support for volunteer tax preparers, enabling accurate tax return completion and secure transmission to the IRS and state agencies. The software will support IRS tax assistance programs like VITA and TCE across approximately 12,000 locations worldwide. Responses are due January 23, 2026.

Scope of Work

The contractor shall provide user-friendly electronic tax preparation software and comprehensive support services. Key requirements include:

Software Functionality: Enable accurate tax return preparation and secure transmission to IRS and state agencies. Must be compliant with IRS e-file regulations, security, and privacy standards.
Technology: Utilize current, commercially proven technology, operating "out-of-the-box" with minimal configuration.
User Base: Support preparers with varying experience levels, including tax professionals and non-tax professionals, at approximately 12,000 diverse technical operating environments globally.
Key Tasks: Orientation Briefing, Software Production Environment, Reporting Capabilities, Help Desk Assistance, adherence to Regulatory/Security/Privacy Standards, Knowledge Transfer (Ramp-Up In/Out), Period of Performance Summary Report, Transition to Support, Site File Upload, and Direct Client Portal.
Special Requirements: Adherence to Section 508, compatibility with IRS Common Operating Environment (COE), support for multiple software versions (Web-Based, Professional Desktop, Self-Preparer Web-Based), and passing IRS security reviews for sensitive data access.

Contract & Timeline

Type: Sources Sought (for a potential single award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract).
Duration: Anticipated Base Year (June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027) plus four (4) consecutive twelve-month option periods, extending through May 31, 2031.
Set-Aside: None specified (market research stage).
Place of Performance: Primarily Contractor's site; task orders may be issued for VITA sites, TCE sites, IRS facilities, or Treasury facilities.
Response Due: January 23, 2026, by 6:00 AM EST.
Published: January 15, 2026.

Additional Notes

This notice is for market research purposes only to identify qualified sources and does not constitute a solicitation or guarantee future award. Responses will inform the IRS's acquisition strategy.