The requirement supports the procurement software and associated support services for use by volunteer tax preparers under the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Electronic Tax Software Application (ETSA) project. The objective is to ensure reliable, secure, a

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment 6, a Past Performance Questionnaire, designed to collect feedback on a contractor's performance. It is intended for use by clients or customers who have previously contracted with an offeror.

• Offeror Information: Fields for Offeror's Name, Client/Customer Company, Respondent Name & Title, Respondent's Phone Number, E-mail Address, Project Name, Contracting Officer (CO), and Contract Period of Performance.
• Evaluation Criteria: Questions are categorized into areas such as quality, timeliness, cost control, business relations, and customer satisfaction.
• Rating Scale: Respondents rate the contractor on a scale of Acceptable, Unacceptable, or Neutral for each question.
• Comments Section: Space is provided below each question for detailed comments to support the rating.
• Definitions: Clear definitions are provided for 'Acceptable,' 'Unacceptable,' and 'Neutral' ratings.
• Submission Instructions: Completed questionnaires should be emailed to Ladoris.R.Tuck@irs.gov, Joan.B.Estelly@irs.gov, and Patricia.E.Brown@irs.gov.

This questionnaire is crucial for potential bidders as it outlines the specific performance areas the government will evaluate. Understanding these criteria will help bidders prepare their past performance narratives and identify relevant projects to highlight. The feedback collected through this form will directly impact the government's assessment of an offeror's ability to successfully perform the contract.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document contains two attachments related to staffing and workforce reporting for the opportunity. Attachment 1 is the Initial Staffing Plan, a proposal deliverable. Attachment 2 is the Monthly Workforce Report, a post-award contract deliverable.

Attachment 1: Initial Staffing Plan (Proposal Deliverable)

• Requires offerors to complete and certify a table detailing staffing for the base and option periods.
• Includes fields for Line #, Period of Performance, Employer Company, Labor Category, Labor Type (Technical/Non-Technical), Employee Name (Last, First), Employee Unique ID (PIV/Employee ID), Estimated LoE (Hours or FTEs), Work Location (On/Offsite), Work Email Address, Work Phone Number, and Work Address.
• Level of Effort (LoE) can be expressed in hours or FTEs as specified by the solicitation.
• Must be marked "CUI//SP-PRVCY."

Attachment 2: Monthly Workforce Report (Post-Award Contract Deliverable)

• Contractors must submit one report per contract/order, aggregated across all subcontractors.

• A certified report is due within five business days after the end of each monthly billing cycle.

• Requires a certification by an authorized company officer affirming that the small business prime and its similarly situated subcontractors collectively performed at least 51 percent of the total contract cost for personnel during the reporting period.

• Includes fields for Line #, Billing Period Start and End Dates, Employer Company, Labor Category, Labor Type (Technical/Non-Technical), Employee Name (Last, First), PIV No. (Unique ID), Work Hours (F/T, P/T), Work Location (On/Offsite), Status Date on Contract, Employee Work Email Address, Employee Work Phone Number, and Employee Complete Work Address.

• Must be marked "CUI//SP-PRVCY."

• Attachment 1 is critical for proposal preparation, as it requires bidders to detail their proposed staffing plan. Failure to complete this accurately may impact proposal evaluation.

• Attachment 2 outlines post-award reporting requirements for workforce composition and small business subcontracting performance, which will be a compliance obligation for the selected contractor.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 2 - Deliverables," outlines the specific deliverables required under the contract. It details the nature of each deliverable, its expected format, the period of performance or delivery timeline, quantity, and unit.

• Software Licenses: 8,500 perpetual software licenses (Internet and CD/DVD) for one year.
• Distribution/Shipping: Software distribution and shipping, priced separately, with specified domestic and international delivery times.
• User Guides: Printed user guides accompanying software packages, also accessible online.
• Software Updates: Final desktop version of software with tax year updates.
• Optional Licenses: Optional perpetual software licenses and user guides in increments of 500.
• Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity: Draft and finalized disaster recovery and business continuity plans/procedures, including results of disaster recovery tests.
• Reporting: Various reports including Weekly Management Reports, Monthly Management Reports, Ad Hoc Management Reports, Deployment Metrics Reports, and Helpdesk Support Metrics.
• Training: Training materials, recordings of webinars, practice environments, and updates to training materials.
• Transition: Program office access to software and user guides for transition activities, and an optional Transition Phase Out deliverable.

This attachment is critical for bidders to understand the full scope of work and the specific products and services they will be expected to provide. It details the quantity, format, and delivery timelines for each required item, directly impacting proposal development, resource allocation, and pricing strategies.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a glossary of terms and acronyms used within the context of the opportunity. It serves to define specialized terminology, ensuring clear understanding for all parties involved.

• Provides definitions for terms such as AARP, AGI, COE, COR, CSIRC, DTAR, EFIN, EFT, EIN, EITC, FAQ, and FAR.
• Defines specific reports like the "Deployment Metrics Report for Ordering and Shipping" and concepts like "Professional Desktop Version" and "Facilitated Self Assistance."

Bidders should review this glossary to understand the specific language and acronyms used in other opportunity documents (e.g., SOW, PWS, Solicitation). Familiarity with these terms is crucial for accurately interpreting requirements, deliverables, and submission instructions.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 4 - Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)", outlines the methods the IRS will use to monitor the Contractor's performance under the contract. It defines the roles and responsibilities of the government team, performance objectives, monitoring methodologies, quality assurance documentation requirements, and the analysis of monitoring results.

• Purpose: To ensure the Contractor meets performance standards and quality levels, and that the government pays only for services received.
• Authority: FAR 46.4, Government Contract Quality Assurance.
• Scope: The Contractor is responsible for the quality of all work performed, including subcontractors.
• Roles and Responsibilities: Defines roles for Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), Program Manager (PM), and Contracting Specialist.
• Performance Standards & Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs): Outlines desired outcome levels and the acceptable quality thresholds for various services/tasks.
• Incentives: Positive performance leads to full payment and good ratings; failure results in deductions or negative ratings.
• Methodologies: Surveillance techniques include COR Monitoring, Inspection, Testing, Random Sampling, Reports, and User/Customer Complaints.
• Documentation: COR will maintain a QA file and provide reports to the CO.
• Performance Requirements Summary Matrix: Details specific services/tasks, performance standards, surveillance methods, AQLs, and potential deductions.
• Monitoring Forms: A "Quality Assurance Monitoring Form" is provided for documenting assessments.

This QASP is crucial for bidders as it details the performance expectations and quality standards that will be used to evaluate their work. Understanding these requirements, AQLs, surveillance methods, and potential consequences (deductions, negative past performance ratings, termination) is essential for developing a compliant and successful proposal and for managing contract performance effectively.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 3 - Applicable IRS Publications," lists the latest available versions of IRS publications relevant to the opportunity. It serves as a reference for bidders to access specific guidelines, handbooks, and controls.

• Publication 1075: Tax Information Security Guidelines for Federal, State and Local Agencies (Rev. 11-2021)
• Publication 5683: VITA/TCE Handbook for Partners and Site Coordinators (Rev. 10-2025)
• Publication 4012: VITA/TCE Volunteer Resource Guide (Rev. 09-2025)
• Publication 1345: Handbook for Authorized IRS e-file Providers of Individual Income Tax Return (Rev. 12-2025)
• Publication 1436: Assurance Testing System (ATS) Guidelines for Modernized e-File (MeF) Individual Tax Returns for Tax Year 2018 Revenue Procedure 2007-40, Authorized IRS e-file Provider Responsibilities (Rev. 10-2025)
• Publication 3112: IRS e-file Application and Participation (Rev. 11-2025)
• Publication 4164: Modernized e-File (MeF) Guide for Software Developers and Transmitters (Rev. 12-2025)
• Publication 4812: Contractor Security & Privacy Controls (Rev. 12-2025)

Bidders should review these publications to understand specific IRS requirements, guidelines, and controls that may be applicable to the services or products being procured. This attachment ensures bidders are referencing the most current versions of relevant IRS documentation.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 1 - Roles and Responsibilities," outlines the permissions assigned to various user roles within a system, likely related to tax return processing or a similar financial management application. It serves to clarify who can perform specific actions.

The document presents a table detailing different user roles (Administrator, Super User, Return Preparer, Template Manager, Interviewer, Reviewer, E-File Manager) and their corresponding permissions for various tasks. These tasks include:

• Marking returns as complete/ready for e-file
• Sending returns to the IRS
• Deleting/deactivating returns
• Opening existing returns
• Printing returns
• Performing return queries
• Managing templates
• Adding/editing users
• Creating new returns
• Moving returns between users
• Viewing/accessing all returns
• Resetting user passwords
• Viewing/receiving acknowledgements

Bidders should review this document to understand the system's user access controls and the distinct responsibilities assigned to different user types. This information is crucial for understanding the operational workflow and potential system administration requirements if the opportunity involves managing or interacting with this system.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for Electronic Tax Preparation and Transmission Software Support. The government is procuring commercial items to support the IRS VITA and TCE programs.

• Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Tax Preparation Software supporting VITA/TCE operations.

• Accurate preparation and transmission of federal and state tax returns.

• Reliable user support and training for successful filing season operations.

• Timely and accurate reporting to support IRS program oversight.

• Software must be web-based, self-preparer web-based, and desktop compatible.

• Support for 1040 Series Family Forms (including 1040, 1040SR, 1040NR, 1040NREZ, 1040PR, and 1040X).

• Must have passed IRS Assurance Testing System (ATS) and have permission to transmit returns.

• Capabilities include secure storage, upload/download, data transfer, e-file, acknowledgements, and error handling.

• Reporting capabilities for user-generated, recurring contractor-generated, and ad hoc reports.

• Help desk support via website, toll-free number, email, and chat.

• Compliance with IRS security, privacy, and regulatory standards.

• Contract Type: Not explicitly stated, but implies a contract with ordering periods.

• Period of Performance: Base Period (June 30, 2026 – June 29, 2027) with four (4) consecutive 12-month option periods.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but the NAICS size standard is $34M Annual Receipts.

• Questions Due Date: May 18, 2026, 12:00 PM ET.

• Solicitation Offer Due Date: May 28, 2026, 12:00 PM ET.

• Proposals to be submitted electronically via email.

• Evaluation will be based on Best Value source selection procedures, considering technical capabilities and price.

• Technical acceptability will be evaluated on an "acceptable" or "unacceptable" basis.

• Key evaluation factors include Technical Capability, Relevant Work Experience, Software Capability, Past Performance, Subcontracting Plan, and Price.

• This acquisition is Unrestricted.

• The document includes extensive FAR and IRS clauses incorporated by reference.

• Detailed software inventory and system requirements are provided.

• Section J lists various attachments including Roles and Responsibilities, Deliverables, IRS Publications, QASP, Glossary, Past Performance Questionnaire, and Mandatory Staffing Plan.