Electronic Tax Preparation and Transmission Software/Maintenance

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To provide commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Tax Preparation Software, which may be customized to meet IRS regulatory, security, and privacy standards, and to provide software services including maintenance, report generation, customer support, Help Desk support, training for software users, and training materials for IRS use.

• Provide electronic tax preparation software and support services for volunteer tax preparers.
• Software must enable accurate tax return completion and secure transmission to the IRS and state agencies.
• Support IRS tax assistance programs (VITA and TCE).
• Utilize current and commercially proven technology.
• Operate "out-of-the-box" with minimal configuration for IRS regulatory, security, and privacy standards.
• Support a wide variety of user experience levels, including tax professionals and non-tax professionals.
• Operate in diverse technical environments at approximately 12,000 locations nationwide.

1. Orientation Briefing
2. Software Production Environment: Software
3. Reporting Capabilities: User Generated, Recurring Contractor Generated Management Reporting, and Ad Hoc Contractor Generated Reporting
4. Help Desk Assistance and Technical Problem Resolution Support
5. Regulatory, Security and Privacy Standards
6. Ramp-Up Knowledge Transfer-In
7. Ramp-Up Knowledge Transfer-Out
8. Period of Performance Summary Report
9. Transition to Support
10. Site File Upload to the Tax Software
11. Direct Client Portal

• Base Period: Date of Award – May 31, 2027

• Four (4) consecutive twelve-month option periods.

• Place of Performance: Primarily Contractor's site. Task orders may be issued for performance at VITA sites, TCE sites, IRS facilities, or Treasury facilities.

• Contractor must pass all IRS security reviews for access to sensitive taxpayer data.

• Software must comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (accessibility).

• Support for multiple software versions (Web-Based, Professional Desktop, Self-Preparer Web-Based).

• Provide user guides accessible online.

• Maintain compatibility with newer systems.

• Adhere to IRS Common Operating Environment (COE) standards.

• Provide a Knowledge Transfer Plan (KTP) and conduct knowledge transfer activities.

• Provide a Quality Control Plan (QCP).

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To establish a single award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Tax Preparation Software and support.

• Provide COTS Tax Preparation Software and support services for volunteer tax preparers.

• Software must enable accurate tax return preparation and secure transmission to the IRS and state agencies.

• Support IRS tax assistance programs (VITA, TCE).

• Software must operate out-of-the-box with minimal configuration to meet IRS regulatory, security, and privacy standards.

• Support approximately 12,000 volunteer sites nationwide.

• Tasks include: Orientation Briefing, Software Production Environment, Reporting Capabilities, Help Desk Support, Regulatory/Security/Privacy Standards, Ramp-Up Knowledge Transfer, Ramp-Up Knowledge Transfer-Out, Period of Performance Summary Report, Transition to Support, Site File Upload, and Direct Client Portal.

• Software availability: 99% of the time each week (excluding scheduled maintenance).

• System response/refresh time: 3 seconds or shorter.

• Help Desk: 95% of callers receive successful resolution on first contact; 95% of emails answered within 1 business day.

• Reporting: 90% of reports provided timely per month.

• Base ordering period: Date of Award – May 31, 2027.

• Four (4) consecutive twelve-month option ordering periods through May 31, 2031.

• Place of performance will primarily be the Contractor's site, but task orders may be issued for VITA sites, TCE sites, IRS facilities, or Treasury facilities.

• Contractor must pass all IRS security reviews for access to sensitive taxpayer data.

• Adherence to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act for accessibility.

• Software must be compatible with the IRS Common Operating Environment (COE).

• Contractor personnel requiring staff-like access must undergo background investigations and meet eligibility requirements.