Statement of Objectives_DT Integration and Innovation Support.pdf

1 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

Digitalization Transformation (DT) Integration and Innovation Support

OBJECTIVE

The Digitalization Transformation (DT) Program Office needs Integration and Innovation Support is to expand digital services and digitalization (Taxpayers will be able to file all documents securely and exchange correspondence electronically), as part of the collective delivery of the IRS IRA vision. The DT Program Office requires support to identify the initiative outcomes, define and manage the portfolio of projects required to achieve impact, and measure and report up and out to the IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office, who in turns provides updates to the IRA Transformation and Strategy Office (TSO) and Treasury on progress. The implementation of long-term changes stemming from multiple strategic initiatives including the Taxpayer First Act (TFA), the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (IDEA), Privacy, Governmental Liaison and Disclosure (PLDG), OMB M-12-18, OMB M-14-16, OMB M-19-21, OMB M-23-07 [National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) 2022 mandate], Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), etc. have driven the direction change.

The Federal Government spends hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and thousands of hours annually to create, use, and store Federal records in analog (paper and other non-electronic) formats. Maintaining large volumes of analog records requires dedicated resources, management attention, and security investments that should be applied to more effectively managing electronic records. The processes that create analog records increase burden on citizens by requiring them to conduct business with the Government in person or by mail, rather than online, and trap valuable Federal data in paper records where it can only be extracted manually and at great expense.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) issued joint memorandums; establishing several requirements to move Federal agencies to a fully electronic environment, where appropriate. Agencies may have been delayed in their electronic records transition process during the COVID- 19 pandemic. Memorandum M-19-21, Transition to Electronic Records and memorandum M-23-07, Update to Transition to Electronic Records [this memorandum applies to “Federal agencies” as defined by 44 U.S.C. § 2901(14)], directs all Federal agencies to:

1. Ensure that all Federal records are created, retained, and managed in electronic formats, with appropriate metadata; and

2. Consistent with records management laws and regulations, develop plans to close agency-operated storage facilities for paper and other, analog records, and transfer

2 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support those records to Federal Records Centers operated by NARA or commercial storage facilities.

In memorandum M-19-21 and updated M-23-07, OMB and National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) reinforce the requirements established and reaffirms the underlying goal of the transition to electronic records, and updates the previous target dates described. NARA plans to issue updated guidance, as appropriate. By June 30, 2024, Federal agencies must manage all permanent records in an electronic format.

“These permanent records must be managed electronically to the fullest extent possible for eventual transfer and accessioning by NARA. As with the previous policy, permanent records accessioned into NARA or transferred for storage into Federal Records Centers before June 30, 2024, are not required to be managed electronically.”

After June 30, 2024, Federal agencies must transfer all permanent records to NARA in electronic formats and with appropriate metadata in accordance with NARA regulations and transfer guidance. Agencies may request a limited exception to this requirement from NARA in circumstances where replacing specific analog records with electronic systems would be burdensome to the public, the cost would exceed the benefit, statutory or regulatory barriers impede implementation, or there is exceptional intrinsic value in the original format.

NARA will issue guidance no later than December 31, 2023 on managing Federal records residing in collaborative working environments. The guidance will address ownership of content by multiple Federal agencies across multiple platforms and will support efforts already underway by the Chief Information Officer Council and the General Services Administration (GSA). NARA will establish Electronic Records Management (ERM) standards and requirements for Federal agencies procuring ERM solutions and services.

NARA will finalize ERM standards and requirements for ERM solutions and services under the Federal Electronic Records Modernization Initiative (FERMI), NARA’s comprehensive Government-wide strategy for procuring records management solutions and services. Agencies should use FERMI resources to comply with records management policies and mandates from NARA and OMB, including the requirements above.

OUTPUTS

The Digitalization Transformation (DT) Integration and Innovation Support in alignment with the IRS IRA Initiative 1.2 scope includes the oversight of expanding digital services and digitalization over the following ten (10) critical projects and 25 sub-projects:

1) Create digital forms. Create modernized forms that are dynamic, easy to use, and mobile friendly, working with business functions to develop requirements and procedures for electronic documents.

3 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support

2) Expand historical digitalization. Clear out historical forms and documents stored at physical sites in Kansas City, Austin, and Ogden through leveraging current scan & store program methodology to digitize forms currently stored in C-sites. Enable conversion of historical media archives (e.g., CDs, microfiche) for long-term digital storage.

3) Expand correspondence digitalization. Enable taxpayer notice recipients to respond with the requested documentation digitally through expanded DUT for quicker account-related interactions and minimizing internal paper-producing processes.

Onboard additional customers to the Digital Enablement Platform. Deliver solution to enable downstream system processing for correspondence, helping achieve desired service level across channels.

4) Expand tax return digitalization. Develop additional requirements, schemas and procedures to enable MeF to directly intake additional tax returns – by form and volume.

Digitalize incoming tax returns at point of receipt through 3rd party scanning, supporting operations to scale current managed-service programs. Explore alternative pathways and innovative solutions to digitalization (e.g., bypass MeF).

5) Expand information return digitalization. Digitalize incoming information returns at point of receipt, supporting operations to add this document type to current managed-service programs.

6) Expand payment digitalization. Define and deliver solution to intake digital methods of payments, re-engineering processes to improve capability for this electronic filing service.

7) Enable digital data delivery throughout the IRS. Integrate various intake methods and downstream systems with the Digital Enablement Platform, migrating to modernized platform that accounts for all functionalities. Deliver enhancements to the Digital Enablement Platform (e.g., enhanced search capabilities). Enable and enhance search and view capabilities in Document Clearance Record (DCR). Add and enhance capabilities for extracting data from images, barcodes, and other sources from all paper and electronic documents for processing.

8) Enable and implement digital processing. Secure long-term scanning contract (e.g., USPS) and procurement strategy, utilizing available data to drive business case for digitalization efforts; Operationalize strategy to scale with demand. Replace SCAMPS machines in Kansas City.

9) Evaluate which taxpayers are most burdened during filing and remove barriers to electronic filing. Define the technical journey map, outlining the user interactions with the IRS and associated data and system interactions. Prioritize creating and improving digital pathways for taxpayers who may be limited in their options for filing.

4 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support

10) Expand modernization of electronic filing. Develop modernized electronic filing capabilities, accelerating digital intake and enabling the retirement of MeF.

Digital Transformation (DT) will require contractor services to provide expertise in communications, program and project management, technical solutions and analysis, Digital Enablement Platform, records management experience, Cloud Design and Requirements Package (CDRP), Enterprise Lifecycle (ELC) Management, governance and system integration support required to integrate modernized business solutions into the IRS. Support services include communications, program, project, and release management; architecture and engineering; development and integration; agile coaching and scrum master support; cybersecurity; environments integration;

modernization, tools and technologies; and project scheduling support; all of which require interfacing with and supporting delivery partners and coordinating the deployment of newly developed capabilities.

BACKGROUND

Digitalization Transformation (DT) Integration and Innovation Support in alignment with IRS IRA Initiative 1.2 Office as part of the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) FY2023 – FY2031 Strategic Operating Plan. The Plan is structured to achieve five objectives, which will be accomplished through a series of initiatives and projects aligned to each.

Five Main Objectives:

1. Dramatically improve services to help taxpayers meet their obligations and receive the tax incentives for which they are eligible.

2. Quickly resolve taxpayer issues when they arise.

3. Focus expanded enforcement on taxpayers with complex tax filings and high-dollar noncompliance to address the tax gap.

4. Deliver cutting-edge technology, data, and analytics to operate more effectively.

5. Attract, retain, and empower a highly skilled, diverse workforce and develop a culture that is better equipped to deliver results for taxpayers.

Most taxpayers prefer to file IRS documents electronically when available, but the remaining paper-based filings have outsized effects on IRS operations. Paper filings take longer, cost more, and are more prone to errors, leading to a downward spiral in service quality. More issues create longer customer service wait times, which increase our support costs and the volume of issues we must work to resolve. The Agency will enable secure electronic filing and processing for IRS documents, which will allow us to enhance our support for taxpayers who continue to file on paper, reducing the frequency of delays and errors in processing.

5 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support

The Agency will provide taxpayers the option to file documents electronically and securely. The Agency will process all forms, returns, and certifications digitally regardless of how they are submitted, while maintaining paper submission options. The Agency will ensure that taxpayers claiming credits are able to securely file digitally and are not unduly burdened during filing. The Agency will scan and digitalize all incoming paper forms, returns, and communications to process them digitally. The Agency will modernize forms and other documents to make them mobile-friendly, shifting away from the structure of traditional paper forms toward easy-to-use, interactive forms that can be easily updated and improved in response to changes in customer needs and tax laws.

The Agency will redesign service delivery, business processes, enterprise scanning, data intake, legacy systems, and case management systems to fully enable digital processing. The Agency will become fully digital and modernize processes to improve the taxpayer experience and organizational efficiency; examples may include modernizing the Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) process, updating Tax Pro Account features to submit authorizations to assist clients, and fully digitalizing amended return processing.

Success for this initiative would include customers finding it easier to prepare and submit documents to the IRS. Processing times would fall for end-to-end digital processes. Backlogs in paper and manual processes would be eliminated. The accuracy of translation of return data would increase as we phase in digital (e-filed) and digitalized (paper converted to digital data) receipts. Digital tools would be accessible for people with disabilities and available in taxpayers’ preferred languages. Expanding digitalization would also lessen the environmental impact of the IRS by reducing paper usage internally and by taxpayers, reducing the need for shipping and minimizing the amount of paper storage required.

SCOPE

The Digitalization Transformation (DT) Integration and Innovation Support in alignment with IRS IRA Initiative 1.2 Office is seeking a contractor with program management office support competencies to provide and expand digital services and digitalization integration activities, including collaboration with business partners and IT delivery partners through continued Program Management and Strategy Planning support throughout the contract period. The contractor shall be able to, at the Government’s request, participate verbally and in writing in the preparation and staffing of Memorandums, Newsletters, Letters, Executive Summaries, Information Papers, Discussion Papers, Read-Ahead Packets, Concept of Operations, Site Surveys, and Trip Reports. Be able to prepare the following types of presentations: IT Strategic Technology Plan, Unified Digital Roadmap, Technical Journey Map, IT Governance Plan, Vendor Management, Business Process Analysis, Desk-Side, Course of Action, Town Halls, Introduction, Exit, and Decision briefs at all audience levels from user to the Commissioner of the IRS.

To ensure the Digitalization Transformation (DT) Program Office is in alignment with the IRS IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office to deliver the future state described above, 6 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support powered by the IRA investment and the initiatives outlined in the IRS IRA FY2023 – FY2031 Strategic Operating Plan; the IRS IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office will measure the overall progress of the transformation according to the following transformation two digital outcomes (1. World-class service experience - Improved customer satisfaction metrics, and 2. Digital-first organization - Digital options for all taxpayer interactions with the IRS, alongside the continued option for taxpayers to interact in their preferred mode, such as phone or in person) In addition, to these outcomes, the IRS IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office will monitor progress. We will define detailed performance metrics for initiatives during implementation.

Contractor services are needed to provide the following:

• Portfolio, Program & Project Management/Integration, Project Scheduling Support

• Planning (Strategic, Contingency, Performance Measurement, Management

Reporting)

• Organizational Management (Readiness and Cross-Organizational)

• Release Management

• Communications (Reporting

• Technical Solutions and Analysis

• Records Management Experience

• Cloud Design and Requirements Package

• Enterprise Lifecycle (ELC) and Risk Management

• Governance and System Integration Support

• Architecture and Engineering

• Development and Integration [Unified Work Request (UWR)]

• Agile Coaching and Scrum Master Support

• Cybersecurity Support

• Environments Integration

• Quality Management and Business Case Analysis and Assessment

• Modernization of Tools and Technologies

The activities and responsibilities of the contractor shall include but are not limited to the tasks identified under the task areas listed below. The contractor shall develop and deliver a multi-year modernization plan for Digitalization Transformation (DT) project areas including Digital Enablement Platform (DEP) (Mod Plan Deliverable), Integrate Authenticated Digital Intake Capabilities with the Digitalization System, Integrate Unauthenticated Documentation Upload Tool (DUT) with Digitalization System, Initiate E-Fax Digitalization Intake, Scale Scanning and Intake Capabilities to Additional Business Processes, Scanning as a Service (SCaaS), Scale Customer Use, Support Orchestration of Multiple Extraction Engines, Expand Distribution Services, Digital (DIG) Acceleration (Inventory Reduction Plan), Digital Mobile Adaptative Forms (DMAF)/ Forms Modernization, and Taxpayer Facing Employees (TPFE) Onboarding.

The contractor shall provide the Digitalization Transformation (DT) Program Office to support the collective alignment with the IRS IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office to deliver

7 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support the future state described above to ensure the following capabilities and others as assigned:

• Digital Enablement Platform (DEP) (Mod Plan Deliverable)

• Integrate Authenticated Digital Intake Capabilities with the Digitalization System

• Integrate Unauthenticated Documentation Upload Tool (DUT) with Digitalization

System

• Initiate E-Fax Digitalization Intake

• Scale Scanning and Intake Capabilities to Additional Business Processes

• Scanning as a Service (SCaaS)

• Scale Customer Use

• Support Orchestration of Multiple Extraction Engines

• Expand Distribution Services

• Digital (DIG) Acceleration (Inventory Reduction Plan)

• Digital Mobile Adaptative Forms (DMAF)/ Forms Modernization

• Taxpayer Facing Employees (TPFE) Onboarding

Functional Area 1: Program Management Support

Objective: The contractor shall provide strategic guidance and oversight, technical advisory support, architecture, requirements, agile methodology and development, and product management expertise by facilitating interactions with IRA Initiative 1.2, TSO, AD, EPMO, EOPS, ES, Business Partners (e.g., BODs, EDCMO) and other ACIO SMEs Digitalization Program and Project Architecture ensuring the Digitalization Transformation (DT) Program Office is in alignment with the IRS IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office.

The contractor shall support the program planning, management, and execution of program tasks that:

Tasks:

• Create digital forms flow awareness and tracking procedures. Assist in the modernize of forms so they are easier to use, mobile-friendly, and take advantage of digital capabilities and interactive features that paper forms lack. Through portfolio management/reporting/measuring progress against planned deliveries and expand digitalization. Digitalize paper-submitted forms, returns, applications, certifications, correspondence, or remittances at the point of receipt. This includes scanning and extracting data from forms, images, barcodes, and other sources. Support for IRA Initiative 1.2 Projects requires upfront analysis, prioritization and demand management and post-delivery change management and end user adoption.

• Enable digital data delivery throughout the IRS. Clean and deliver data and images to the appropriate workflows for processing. Provide support and recommendations for the amount of necessary resourcing the government intends to apply to various IRA Initiative 1.2 Projects.

8 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support

• Reinforce secure storage and archiving practices. Implement necessary data storage requirements and best practices to retain proof of receipt and of senders’ identities.

Archive materials as appropriate and required.

• Create viewable digitized data. Make an image or representation of the submitted content viewable after submission for employees and taxpayer Online Accounts, as appropriate.

• Enable and implement digital processing. Replace and streamline case, account, and payment systems to incorporate more automation and digitally process data received from any submission. Create and implement a prioritization plan to digitalize end-to-end processing across the IRS based on need, impact, and feasibility.

• Evaluate which taxpayers are most burdened during filing and remove barriers to electronic filing. Evaluate which taxpayers face barriers during filing, such as those who may be eligible for credits and deductions; those who need information quickly from the IRS, such as residency certificates; or those who are required to paper-file in certain circumstances. Prioritize creating and improving digital pathways for these taxpayers.

• Create and/or update plans for contingency planning and management.

• Create/Manage and maintain the program Integrated Master Schedule (IMS).

• Create, Manage, and maintain ELC Artifacts. Assist in the coordination and completion of Digitalization (to include delivery partner’s) change request, questionnaires, front-door processes/forms (cloud management office intake form) and other ELC related forms (such as cyber security, change management request

• Develop the Final Lite Plan Digitalization Transformation (DT) Program Office in alignment with the IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office objectives and guidance

• Develop a Draft Detailed Delivery Plan (DDP) for DT alignment with the IRA Initiative

1.2 Program Office objectives and guidance

• Develop a Final DDP of the DT alignment with the IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office

• Develop a Final DDP of the DT alignment with the IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office

• Documentation lowers overall Government risk and ensures the Government retains necessary knowledge base. As such, documenting is a guiding principle that needs to occur at all levels for all services requested. Key documents (e.g., Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) /Concepts of Operations (CONOPs), Key Performance Indicators (KPI), tools utilized, reports generated, white papers, presentations, process diagrams/documents, road maps, meeting minutes, business cases, use cases, models, etc.) will be documented in the Knowledge Management Repository. The Knowledge Management Repository is a consolidation point for all documentation as defined by the DT alignment with the IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office objectives and guidance.

• The Contractor shall support activities across all levels and workstreams. Examples of work products that will be required include ad-hoc reports, briefing materials, articles, white papers, and content for Enterprise Digitalization’s web presence (i.e., SharePoint, Knowledge Management, IRS Source). SharePoint functionality will be used throughout all areas of Contractor support with Contractor responsible for uploading and sharing documents, creating, and implementing workflows, collecting stakeholder feedback, facilitating document approvals, using metadata, version controls, and creating dashboards and reports while adhering to IRS records management standards.

9 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support

Functional Area 2: Project Management Support advisory support, architecture, requirements, agile and scrum methodologies and development, and product management expertise by facilitating interactions with IRA Initiative 1.2, TSO, AD, EPMO, EOPS, ES, Business Partners (e.g., BODs, EDCMO) and other ACIO SMEs Digitalization Program and Project Architecture ensuring the Digitalization Transformation (DT) Program Office is in alignment with the IRS IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office.

The contractor will perform, but not limited to, the following tasks:

Tasks:

• Support project planning and tailoring to refine application of paths, methodologies, and approaches to fit program needs.

• Provide coaching support to assist in IRS adoption and execution of incremental development and delivery approaches.

• Draft, review, and update project management documentation in accordance with IRS guidelines and templates.

• Develop and maintain project, program and/or IMS.

• Monitor, track, review, and update project status, and provide analysis to ensure that all impacts are identified early in the project planning.

• Develop and maintain a configurable set of project guidance, documents, and plans to be tailored to each project.

• Facilitate lessons learned reviews with continuous development, documentation, communication, and application of lessons learned.

Support ALL project-related reviews. Examples include Project/Release Readiness Reviews, Sprint/Stage Gate Reviews, and Project/Release Milestone Exit Reviews.

• Documentation lowers overall Government risk and ensures the Government retains necessary knowledge base. As such, documenting is a guiding principle that needs to occur at all levels for all services requested. Key documents (e.g., Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) /Concepts of Operations (CONOPs), Key Performance Indicators (KPI), tools utilized, reports generated, white papers, presentations, process diagrams/documents, road maps, meeting minutes, business cases, use cases, models, etc.) will be documented in the Knowledge Management Repository. The Knowledge Management Repository is a consolidation point for all documentation as defined by the DT alignment with the IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office objectives and guidance.

• The Contractor shall support activities across all levels and workstreams. Examples of work products that will be required include ad-hoc reports, briefing materials, articles, white papers, and content for Enterprise Digitalization’s web presence (i.e., SharePoint, Knowledge Management, IRS Source). SharePoint functionality will be used throughout all areas of Contractor support with Contractor responsible for uploading and sharing documents, creating, and implementing workflows, collecting stakeholder feedback, 10 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support facilitating document approvals, using metadata, version controls, and creating dashboards and reports while adhering to IRS records management standards.

Functional Area 3: Program Integration

Objective: The contractor shall provide strategic guidance and oversight, technical advisory support, architecture, requirements, agile and scrum methodologies and development, and program integration/product management expertise by facilitating interactions with IRA Initiative 1.2, TSO, AD, EPMO, EOPS, ES, Business Partners (e.g., BODs, EDCMO) and other ACIO SMEs Digitalization Program and Project Architecture ensuring the Digitalization Transformation (DT) Program Office is in alignment with the IRS IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office.

The contractor will perform, but not limited to, the following tasks:

Tasks:

• Conduct orientation/kickoff meeting with IRS, contract personnel, key stakeholders involved in this effort to establish ground rules, operating framework, roles and responsibilities for the execution of the plan. This meeting will discuss the key elements of the contract, timeline and deliverables and the expectations from the client. The contractor shall document the outcome of the meeting

• Develop the guiding principles and the approach for the modernization of legacy print notice systems, and digital systems.

• Conduct review sessions with the key stakeholders to validate the approach, guiding principles and obtain a buy-in

• Drive portfolio analysis and prioritization, based on all in-flight Digital efforts to create a unified digital roadmap for all IT produced digital taxpayer solutions

• Coordinate across ACIO areas (e.g., ES, EPMO, AD) and Business partners (e.g., BODs, EDCMO) to gain consensus on digital roadmap

• Document the recommended stakeholder engagement processes, as well as establish and develop a stakeholder interaction model to facilitate engagement between the PMO and IRS business and IT delivery partners.

• Create, coordinate and maintain the program IMS, capturing key program, release, project, stakeholder, and delivery partner activities, milestones, dependencies, and integration points including the schedules of the Program Office, multiple contractors, internal and external stakeholders, and delivery partners.

• Identify, specify, and communicate common or Agency-wide standards, processes, methodologies, and approaches.

• Provide coaching as needed to facilitate consistent and correct adoption or execution within and between EPMO programs.

• Establish, coordinate, and manage and/or facilitate technical sessions (ie IPT, RREs, etc.) Integrated Project Teams (IPTs) at regular cadence for all projects within the program, effectively tracking activities, tasks, status, blockers, risks, 11 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support mitigations. Communicating program and project status timely and ensuring constant progress against the established plan.

Functional Area 4: Technical Integration advisory support, architecture, requirements, agile and scrum methodologies and development, and program integration/product management expertise by facilitating interactions with IRA Initiative 1.2, TSO, AD, EPMO, EOPS, ES, Business Partners (e.g., BODs, EDCMO) and other ACIO SMEs Digitalization Program and Project Architecture. The contractor shall perform technical integration tasks to provide comprehensive support to ensure the Digitalization Transformation (DT) Program Office is in alignment with the IRS IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office. The contractor shall gather and develop the system boundaries and inventory of the current state of print notice system that supports SCDS and develop the target architecture and plan.

The contractor will perform, but not limited to, the following tasks:

Tasks:

• Identify gaps (if any) in the current state capabilities and target state implementation capabilities and provide a comprehensive report identifying the gap(s) and provide mapping of source to target components for each functionality

• Conduct workshops, review sessions with appropriate business and technical SMEs to review current and target state architecture and gain buy-in

• Conduct technical forums, workshops, discussions with appropriate business and technical SMES to gain understanding of other modernization initiatives, such as, Enterprise Data Platform (EDP), Information Returns etc., that impact the target architecture and document the necessary capabilities and dependencies

• Identify updates to enterprise Target State (TA) and/or Enterprise Technology Blueprint as an outcome of developing modernized Architecture

• Gain approval of the target architecture from appropriate governance board

• Provide business analysis and technical integration support to define the technical journey map, outlining the user interactions with the IRS and identifying gaps

• Host and prepare the CDO for facilitated discussions with IRS IT and Business executive leadership to gain agreement and consensus on path forward incorporating a Unified Digital Roadmap, Technical Journey Map, and Executive Briefings

Functional Area 5: Engineering and Architecture Support

Objective: The contractor shall provide technical expertise to ensure that Program/Project Delivery artifacts are developed for Notices Target State Architecture and for other prioritized digitalization projects ensuring the Digitalization Transformation

12 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support

(DT) Program Office is in alignment with the IRS IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office.

Tasks:

• Support in the Identification of the right set of projects that will implement foundational capabilities for the enterprise-wide digitalization initiative.

• Set up criteria for prioritization of projects, for example (but not limited to) logically grouping together based upon common functionality; grouping based upon providing end-to-end functionality; grouping projects based upon retiring/sunsetting legacy technologies; grouping based upon business/end-user preference; and so on. Get final approved criteria for prioritization (approval from

IRS).

• From the projects listing/backlog, prioritize projects based upon those approved prioritization criteria and provide finalized prioritized list of projects and sequencing order and gain approval from IRS.

• Conduct technology analysis and deliver recommended Digitalization technology stack.

• Support and Review Program level approved Solution Architecture provided by IRS. This document identifies required new systems, required modifications to existing systems and impacted organizations. Solution Architecture (SA) may describe:

o Business and technical capabilities that the Solution Architecture must support o Solution Boundary to define architecture scope that allow stakeholders to plan program/project initiative activities accordingly o Transition states to achieve the capabilities envisioned for a program o Current state and the associated limitations o Architectural principles that drive target-state architecture o Target-state functionalities through business processes, high-level capabilities and requirements, and conceptual technical architecture components o Architectural requirements that frame the requirements for the implementation of a program o Identify Solution Risk and recommended mitigations

Review this artifact to verify whether:

• Interface(s) between modernized target state system and other internal (IRS) and external (other agencies) systems are identified

• dependencies, sequencing of all the systems impacted to implement the target state architecture and the modernized technical functionality are identified

• Target State data flow between modernized components and the core systems are documented.

13 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support

• Perform Gap Analysis regarding anything that may be missing in the provided approved Solution Architecture artifact that may be required to feed into downstream project level artifacts’ development (e.g., VSA artifact described below, etc.) and submit a report of identified gaps.

• Perform remediation for addressing the identified gaps to capture required technical details that may be missing in the provided approved Solution Architecture artifact and submit those details as Gap Remediation deliverable against this sub task (if applicable). Also update the Solution Architecture artifact accordingly to fulfil the identified gap and submit as deliverable for approval.

• Present and gain approval of the updated Solution Architecture (SA) artifact based upon identified gaps, from appropriate approving authority/stakeholders (if applicable).

Functional Area 6: Development of ELC Artifacts

Objective: The contractor shall provide technical expertise to ensure that project level ELC artifacts for Engineering and Architecture are developed for the support of Digitalization projects ensuring the Digitalization Transformation (DT) Program Office is in alignment with the IRS IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office.

The contractor will perform, but not limited to, the following tasks:

Tasks:

• Support Development of Project level Business and Technical Requirements that captured for Solution architecture development- The activities may include (but not limited to):

• Support discovery sessions with system owner, SMEs, Stakeholders, Business/end-users to gather all the requirements that captures Solution architecture analysis and development needs (functional, non-functional, security, compliance – Section 508, retention, etc.)

• Support and concurrence the project requirements document which include capabilities, shall statements, epics, features, or user stories to set the requirements scope baseline for EA to conduct Architecture analysis and Solution Architecture development.

Develop Vision, Scope and Architecture (VSA) Artifact

• Develop Vision, Scope and Architecture (VSA) technical document for

Digitalization initiative - Defines the analysis and resulting outputs needed to capture the scope and characterize the system architecture solution for a Milestone 2 or Product Planning Review (PPR) exit in the Agile Path. A VSA:

• Provides a framework for verifying consistency between the vision and scoped capabilities, and the proposed high-level architecture.

14 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support

• Characterizes the system architecture within acceptable risk, sufficient to begin design and development.

• Verifies that the enterprise component allocations from the Project Charter are represented or traced in the system architecture context.

• Functions as a shell for electronic signoff of referenced materials including both requirements and architecture for exiting MS1/2 and the PPR.

• Develop Epics/Capabilities, Epics/Capabilities Decomposition, EA Allocations, and System Boundary and High-Level Flow

• Develop System Architecture, System Architecture Rationale and Alternative Analysis, System Architecture, Common Services, Infrastructure Architecture, Application Architecture, Data Architecture, Security Architecture, and Development Environment

Development of Architecture, Engineering and Cloud related ELC artifacts

• Support development of all architecture related ELC artifacts (for example, but not limited to - Project Charter creation to define project scope and what is expected)

• Prepare Briefing decks for leadership briefings as needed - Interactions with governance boards for approval on prioritized initiatives and communicate rationalization efforts

• Preparation of presentation deck(s) for governance boards.

• Provide support (as needed) during presentation.

• Facilitate buy-in from executives

• Support Architecture, Engineering and Cloud ELC artifacts for architecture alignment [e.g., Simplified Design Specification Report (SDSR) development done by Solution Engineering (SE)] o Support business architecture and design sessions (might have many updates from Agile path).

o Support and ensure breaks down user stores, application architecture and engineered architecture aligns with Solution Architecture, VSA and other ELC artifacts o Support and ensure SDSR design compliance within the IRS EA o Support and ensure SDSR will base its designs and traceability matrices on content provided in the VSA, including requirements traceability matrices and business process models o Provide architecture guidance and direction during federated team sessions o Provide Architecture, Engineering and Cloud project(s) team(s) on availability of cloud hosting infrastructure and service options o Provide connectivity approaches to support implementation and integration of the project(s) team(s) target state solution with other

15 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support application services and data sources across service and deployment models.

o Provide Architecture, Engineering and Cloud project(s) team(s) develop Cloud Readiness Assessments (CRAs) and Cloud Design and Requirements Package (CDRPs) through working sessions with project(s) team(s)

Functional Area 7: Organizational Readiness Support

Objective: The contractor shall provide PMO expertise to ensure organizational readiness support working across the technical programs, BODs (Business Operating Divisions), and FODs (Functional Operating Divisions) are aligned with the IRS IRA Strategic Operating Plan to ensure that the readiness work ties directly to the IRS’ goal of ensuring people, process and technology readiness to support development, delivery and operation of program capabilities that support the Digitalization projects ensuring the Digitalization Transformation (DT) Program Office is in alignment with the IRS IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office.

The contractor will perform, but not limited to, the following tasks:

Tasks:

• Identify, document, and communicate end-to-end technical and organizational readiness requirements throughout the lifecycle of the program.

• Provide support to facilitate increased use of tools and automation.

• Support definition and implementation of plans to address readiness requirements and to facilitate timely achievement of both technical and organizational readiness.

• Revise, review, and update program Organizational Readiness Plans to reflect changes and modifications in implementation planning.

• Monitor and track the plan for each project/release that ensures the PMO, the business and delivery partners are ready for deployment from a people and process perspective.

• Support PMO leadership and integration of multiple organizational readiness work streams including integrating with business and delivery partners for identification, analysis and resolution of gaps and action items, preparation for stakeholder meetings and best practice analysis.

• Coordinate organizational readiness activities with gaps identified and resolutions recommended for implementation across business and delivery partners for each program or project as needed.

• Develop an integrated plan and process for ensuring the Digitalization Transformation (DT) Program Office is in alignment with the IRS IRA Initiative

1.2 Program Offices organizational vision for the readiness of development, 16 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support deployment, and operation of each release from people, process, and technology perspectives.

Functional Area 8: Optional Support (Operational Readiness)

Objective: The contractor shall provide technical expertise to ensure that project level Operational Readiness for (Task 1: Program Management Support, Task 2: Project Management Support, Task 3: Program Integration, Task 4: Technical Integration, Task 5: Engineering and Architecture Support, Task 6: Development of ELC Artifacts, and Task 7: Organizational Readiness Support.) in support of Digitalization projects ensuring the Digitalization Transformation (DT) Program Office is in alignment with the IRS IRA Initiative 1.2 Program Office.

Tasks:

• The Government may require optional support during the base or any option period to support enablement of rapid response to legislations, mandates and executive orders. The contractor shall provide subject matter expertise in legislative analysis. Provide increased support as identified in the tasks 1-7 to proactively and strategically analyze and develop action plans to manage emerging priorities such as legislation (IRS IRA Strategic Initiatives), mandates, executive orders, and special projects (legislative and non-legislative). Due to the dynamic nature of the congressional landscape, this task option ensures preparedness and enablement of rapid response to legislations, mandates, and executive orders. The contractor shall provide subject matter expertise in legislative analysis and shall be able to clearly articulate impacts of pending and enacted legislative changes on existing IRS systems and applications.

Optional modifications will be in-scope to provide increased support for the defined task areas of a Task Order SOO. Optional support is not a guarantee. If the Government determines that an increased quantity of support is required for the task areas defined in the Task Order SOO, the Government reserves the right to exercise the Optional Support unilaterally. The Contracting Officer will provide written notice to the Contractor at least 30 calendar days prior to any unilateral exercise of the Optional Support. In the event the Government does elect to exercise the Optional Support, Optional support will be realigned under new or existing CLINs for the relevant task areas identified in the PWS, and an equal amount will be deducted from the Optional CLIN not-to-exceed (NTE) amount. Optional support will be provided at the same labor rates proposed and found fair and reasonable at time of award for the applicable ordering period. When optional support is realigned under cost-type CLINs, if actual, reimbursable labor rates exceed the labor rates originally proposed and found fair and reasonable at time of

17 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support award, the contractor is only entitled to a fee amount based on the originally proposed labor rates.

Key Personnel

Program Manager (PM) The Contractor shall provide a Program Manager who shall be responsible for all Contractor work performed under this SOO. The PM shall be a direct liaison to the IRS product team and shall be responsible for the supervision and management of all the Contractor’s personnel. The PM shall be the single point of contact for the Contracting Officer (CO) and the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and is responsible for program and schedule management. The PM also serves as the Transition Manager during transition-in and transition-out activities. The PM shall be available during normal hours of operation.

The PM shall have at least five (5) years of demonstrated experience managing programs and projects of similar size and possess a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in good standing (but not required), at the time of contract award and throughout the period of performance or have a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience.

It is desired that the PM have the following qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Project Management, or related field.

• Experience in organizing, directing, and managing multiple, complex, and interrelated project tasks.

• Experience in effectively communicating at senior executive levels within a customer organization.

• Experience in effectively communicating with leadership of other contractors.

• Experience in meeting with customer and contractor personnel to formulate and review task plans and deliverable items, and effectively execute in accordance with approved plans.

• Experience in implementing Taxpayer Experience Platform

Technical Lead The Contractor shall provide a Technical Lead who shall be responsible for technical contract delivery performed under this SOO. The Technical Lead shall have a full understanding of the technical approach to be used by the Contractor’s development team and shall be responsible for ensuring that the Contractor’s development team follows that approach. The Technical Lead is responsible for technical quality and

18 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support coordination with government technical leads throughout IT and shall be available during normal hours of operation.

The Technical Lead shall have at least five (5) years of demonstrated experience managing projects of similar size and possess a DevOps and Cloud certification in good standing, at the time of contract award and throughout the period of performance or have a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience.

It is desired that the Technical Lead have the following qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Project Management, or related field.

• Experience in organizing, directing, and managing multiple, complex, and interrelated application development and testing tasks.

• Experience in implementing Taxpayer Experience Platform

Project or Delivery Manager The Contractor shall provide a Project Manager who shall be responsible for:

• Delivering the project and product using the appropriate agile project management methodology;

• Working with the Product Owner and Product Manager to define the roadmap and developing epics, user stories and acceptance criteria;

• Leading the collaborative, dynamic planning process and prioritizing the work needed to be completed based on capacity and capability of the team;

• Ensuring the appropriate level of quality for each phases of the development lifecycle (development, test, performance, and production);

• Providing weekly status to IRS management.

It is desired that the Project Manager have the following qualifications:

• At least seven (7) years of demonstrated experience on agile methodology and principles

• Exceptional organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize

• Ability to thrive under pressure

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work well with others

• Superior critical thinking capabilities

• Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI) or

Scaled Agile Academy

• Familiar with acceleration steps or procedures in working with IT and business partners

Period of Performance The period of performance of this Task Order shall be from of award for a period of a

19 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support

Base and Three Option Years. The Base period will be Twelve (12) Months followed by Three Twelve (12) Month Option Years.

Projected Total Contract Period:

January 15, 2025 through January 14, 2029 (Base and 3 Options Years) Base Period: January 15, 2025 through January 14, 2026 Option Year 1: January 15, 2026 through January 14, 2027 Option Year 2: January 15, 2027 through January 14, 2028 Option Year 3: January 15, 2028 through January 14, 2029

Task Order Type The task order shall be Firm Fixed Price (FFP) using government approved labor categories and rates.

Place of Performance The work can be performed at alternate locations, however; the primary location will be at New Carrollton’s NCFB. For Key Personnel, the Contractor shall provide a matrix with location identified.

Primary Location

New Carrollton Federal Building (NCFB) Service 5000 Ellin Road Lanham, MD 20706

Alternate Locations Enterprise Computing Center 250 Murall Drive Martinsburg, WV 25430

Enterprise Computing Center 5333 Getwell Road Memphis, TN 38118

Submission Processing Center

3651 S IH-35

Austin, Tx 78741

IRS Office 4050 Alpha Rd Farmers Branch, Tx 75244

IRS Office 2484 S. Washington Blvd

20 | Statement of Objectives: DT Integration and Innovation Support

Suite 200 Ogden, UT 84401