First Class Presort Services for IRS National Distribution Center (NDC)

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

To provide the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) National Distribution Center (NDC) with contracted First-Class Mail and postcard services, including Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) marking and mail presort services, to achieve the most cost-effective postage rates.

• Collect outgoing mail from the IRS NDC location and contractor's facility.

• Presort, mark, and post mail pieces.

• Provide IMb marking on each mail piece to qualify for Commercial Base and Commercial Plus pricing rates.

• Deposit all IRS First-Class Mail and postcards with the USPS within two (2) business days of pickup.

• Handle special mailings which may increase daily quantities and require additional collection service coverage.

• Cycle mail trays with the contractor and the NDC to ensure availability.

• Mail pickup at a minimum of three weekly intervals during Standard Business Hours (no earlier than 10:00 AM local time).

• Presort and IMb marking must comply with the latest USPS regulations and the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM).

• Mail deposit with USPS within two (2) business days of pickup.

• Notification to COR/CO within two (2) hours of any weather conditions that may adversely affect performance.

• Contractor must provide a weekly, written Service Report to the COR within 5 business days following the previous week's services.

• Not explicitly stated, but implies ongoing service related to IRS NDC operations in Bloomington, IL.

• Contractor must ensure mail is handled securely, especially during special mailings which may contain Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

• Contractor vehicles must be closed and secured during transport.

• Lost or stolen mail must be reported immediately.

• Undeliverable or mutilated mail pieces must be returned to the NDC.

• Contractor must provide all necessary facilities, equipment, materials, and labor.

• Contractor must carry liability insurance.

• Contractor must devise and maintain a Quality Control Plan, mutually agreed upon by the COR and contractor.

• Contractor personnel must be able to read and understand PWS requirements, wear identification, maintain decorum, and park in designated areas.

• Contractor must follow safety and security guidelines, including check-in/out procedures and applicable CDC/IRS guidelines.

• Contractor is responsible for all charges, fees, applications, and permits.

• "Lowest-priced technically acceptable" approach.

• Evaluation based on Past Performance, Experience, and Operations.

• Proposals must receive an "Acceptable" rating in every non-price factor to be considered for award.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0002) to solicitation 2043FY-26-Q-00012 makes the following changes:

• Attaches questions and answers.

• Attaches a revised line-item table.

• Attaches a revised Statement of Work (SOW).

• Extends the amendment due date to Friday, April 10, 2026, at 12:00 PM.

• Questions and Answers

• Line-Item Table

• Statement of Work

• Proposal submission deadline

The proposal deadline has been extended to Friday, April 10, 2026, at 12:00 PM. Bidders must acknowledge receipt of this amendment.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document consolidates questions submitted by potential bidders regarding the "2043FY-26-Q-00012 1st Class Mail" opportunity and provides official answers from the government.

• Incumbent Contractor: Quicksilver Mailing Services LLC is the current contractor.
• Contract Period of Performance: The base period was 03/01/2021-02/28/2022, with options extending to 02/28/2026. A two-month extension (03/01/2026 – 04/30/2026) is currently in effect.
• Pricing Structure: Offerors should refer to Amendment 0002 for the updated pricing structure, which clarifies whether a firm-fixed price per CLIN or a per-piece rate is required.
• Postage Costs: Postage costs are included and covered under the terms of the contract.
• Mail Deposit Location: Mail does not need to be deposited with USPS in Bloomington, IL; deposit in another city is acceptable as long as all required timeframes are met.
• Personnel Requirements: Contractor personnel are not required to undergo background investigations, obtain security clearances, or receive IRS facility access badging, as they do not physically access the main facility (only the Mail Room).
• Facility Provision: The contractor is responsible for providing and maintaining a facility at their own location.

This Q&A document clarifies several aspects of the solicitation, including pricing, operational requirements, and personnel qualifications. Bidders should review these answers carefully to ensure their proposals accurately address the government's needs and requirements. Specific details regarding pricing structure are referenced in Amendment 0002.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides the "Revised Line Item Table" which details the specific services, quantities, and estimated pricing for "PRESORT MAIL" services over a five-year period. It is intended to outline the structure for pricing under a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract.

• Contract Structure: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) with pricing based on fixed unit rates.
• Service: "PRESORT MAIL" First Class Mail Presort Service for the IRS National Distribution Center (NDC).
• Services Include: Pick-up, processing, and commingling of 1st class mail pieces and postcards per the Statement of Work (SOW).
• Line Items: Five distinct line items (0001 through 4001), each representing a one-year period of service from May 1st of one year to April 30th of the following year.
• Pricing Breakdown: Each line item includes placeholders for estimated price breakdown per piece for Letters and Post Cards. Specific unit rates are not provided in this table.
• Delivery Schedule: A schedule is provided detailing the delivery address (IRS Internal Revenue Service, ALUS) and the delivery date for each item number, corresponding to the end of each service year (e.g., 04/30/2027 for item 0001).

This document is crucial for bidders as it defines the scope of services to be procured, the duration of each service period, and the contract's pricing structure. Bidders will need to use this information to understand the volume and type of mail presort services required annually and to develop their pricing proposals accordingly. The delivery schedule also indicates the expected timeline for service completion each year.

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

This Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) has been developed to outline the guidelines for evaluating the technical performance of the contractor for the IRS' First-Class Mail Presort Services. The QASP is contractually binding.

• Mail Pick up Procedures
• Mail Processing Services
• Services Reports, Sections, Deliverables

Performance will be assessed in accordance with the performance standards set forth in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

Not specified in this document.

• Government Officials:
  • Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) (TBD): Overall responsibility for monitoring contractor performance.
  • Contracting Officer (CO) (Patricia Brown): Overall responsibility for contract compliance and administration.
• Primary Methods of Surveillance:
  • 100% Inspection
  • Unscheduled Inspections
  • Customer Complaints
• The Government reserves the right to change surveillance methods.
• Definitions provided include: Customer Complaint, Surveillance Activity Checklist, Inspection, Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC), Standard of Performance, and Surveillance.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0001) to solicitation 2043FY-26-Q-00012 provides the Quality Assurance Assessment Plan. No other changes to the solicitation are made as a result of this amendment.

This amendment primarily adds the Quality Assurance Assessment Plan. No specific sections of the original solicitation are explicitly stated as changed or replaced, other than the addition of this plan.

This amendment does not alter proposal deadlines, requirements, or evaluation factors. The contractor is required to sign and return 1 copy of this amendment to the issuing office.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items for First-Class Mail presort services and Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) marking for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) National Distribution Center (NDC) in Bloomington, IL. The contractor will be responsible for collecting outgoing mail from the IRS NDC, presorting it, marking it with IMb, and depositing it into the USPS mail stream.

• Provide a minimum of three weekly mail pickups during Standard Business Hours (no earlier than 10:00 AM local time).

• Process IRS mail to qualify for the lowest USPS Rates for presort mail.

• Apply IMb marking to each mail piece to ensure the lowest possible USPS Commercial First-Class Mail Rate.

• Deposit all First-Class Mail and postcards into the USPS within 2 business days of pick-up.

• Manage mail trays, returning an equal number of mail trays at the next scheduled pick-up.

• Notify COR and NDC representative within two (2) hours of any weather conditions that may adversely affect performance.

• Provide a Quality Control Plan.

• Submit weekly Service Reports.

• Provide an initial staffing plan within 30 days of award.

• Submit a monthly workforce report.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price.

• Period of Performance: One (1) 12-month base year with four (4) 12-month option years.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but NAICS code 541519 with a size standard of $21 Million is provided.

• Questions Due Date: April 2, 2026, 12:00 PM ET.

• Quotes Due Date: April 7, 2026, 12:00 AM ET.

• Submission Method: Electronic email to specified contacts.

• Evaluation Criteria: Lowest-priced technically acceptable (LPTA) approach, considering past performance, experience, and operations.

• Proposals must receive an "Acceptable" rating in every non-price factor to be considered for award.

• Total Small Business Set-Aside.

• NAICS Code: 541519.

• Size Standard: $21 Million.

• The solicitation number is 2043FY-26-Q-00012.

• Applicable provisions and clauses include FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-2, 52.212-3, and 52.212-5, along with an addendum to FAR 52.212-4.

• Cybersecurity requirements, including FISMA and NIST standards, are detailed.

• Mandatory IRS security training is required for all personnel.

• Offerors must complete representations and certifications electronically in SAM or complete the relevant sections of the solicitation.

• Attachments include templates for Initial Staffing Plan and Monthly Workforce Report.