2032H8-22-N-00001 e-Payment QA Responses.pdf

e-Payment Services Sources Sought #2032H8-22-N-00001

Q&A

1. Could you please share any timeline specific information. Award date, RFP release and due date?

Response – The milestones are currently being developed. However, the IRS intends on issuing the RFP within the next couple of months.

2. The phase in period is stated to be March 1 – December 31, 2022. I assume the

IRS expects the contractor to be ready Jan for tax filing January 1, 2023?

Response – The dates provided above are tentative. Yes, the IRS expects the contractor to be ready Jan 2023.

3. The chart near the end of the document states Contractor to Implement

Electronic Payment Services FS 2022 - January 1st. Is this correct?

Response – The IRS expects the contractor to be ready Jan 2023.

4. For item #7 on page 2, we understand the IRS, Wage and Investment Division, is requesting a general statement of capability in response to the bulleted list of 5 items on page 1, correct? If not, is the IRS looking for individual responses to the scope of work attachment at this time?

Response – If the vendor’s capability statement addresses all questions on page 2 of the Sources Sought Notice, the capability statement will suffice. If not, the vendor shall complete the questions in addition to their capability statement. The IRS is not looking for bid proposals at this time, the notice is seeking potential sources.

5. We’ve noted the phase-in period is from March 1, 2022 through December 1, 2022. Can the IRS please advise vendors regarding the overall timeframe for the solicitation process?

Response – The phase-in period within the draft PWS are tentative dates. The milestones are currently being developed. However, the IRS intends on issuing an RFP within the next couple of months.

6. For the requirement C.2.22: The contractor shall provide a payment card application to be available on IRS mobile devices only to be used by IRS authorized [personnel] (e.g., Revenue Officer) during their field visit to individuals/business taxpayer.

a. Can you clarify what the IRS Mobile Devices/software are? Android, iOS, etc.?

Response - The IRS employees have iOS mobile devices, however if we allow this to be done on IRS authorized ‘Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) we would want it to work on Android and iOS.

b. Is the IRS providing the equipment for the IRS mobile devices?

Response - Yes.

c. Will pin debit be a requirement on the IRS mobile devices?

Response - Pin debit is not a requirement. However, any additional options the offeror can provide in their proposal that is of benefit to the taxpayer will be taken into consideration.

d. Will swiping cards be a requirement on the IRS mobile devices?

Response - No.

e. Is a downloadable application required or just a mobile friendly website that will work on the devices?

Response – A mobile friendly website that will work on the devices is required. Any additional options the offeror can provide in their proposal that is of benefit to the taxpayer will be taken into consideration.

f. Does the IRS require payment data to be stored in an offline mode in areas with limited connectivity?

Response - Payment transactions should be able to be saved/stored if limited connectivity doesn’t allow them to be completed. However, the card information should not be stored separately for future transactions.

7. When will cash payments be required? Is it a mandate for the beginning of the contract term or will the IRS work with vendors on a phase in plan?

Response - The vendor will be required to accept cash payments once performance commences, which will be Jan 1st.

8. For cash payments, is the IRS willing to hear from or meet with potential vendors to discuss solutioning prior to the award of the E-Payments RFP (once issued)?

This would allow for solutioning discussions to begin so cash payments can be offered earlier in the contract cycle.

Response - Solutioning discussions aren’t required as the cash payment option will be required once performance commences, which will be Jan 1st.

9. In C.1.5, the IRS lists the phase-in period as March 1, 2022 through December 1, 2022. Does this mean the IRS intends to issue an RFP and make an award by the March 1 phase in date?

Response – The dates provided above are tentative. However, the IRS intends on issuing an RFP within the next couple of months.

10. Since E-File/EPay are outside of the scope, are these payments without an associated form? Will this be processing only payment data (returning confirmation to the IRS), or does this include transmitting both payment data and form data?

Response - the contractor will only be collecting and processing payment data, not form data.

11. Is a potentially new requirement or are there any incumbent contracts? If it’s the latter, may I ask for the contracts’ details?

Response - This is an existing requirement. The current contractors are:

Link2Gov Corporation (2032H5-21-C-00012); ACI Payments (2032H5-21-C- 00013); and WorldPay (2032H5-21-C-00014).

12. Is the IRS interested in smaller government payment processing companies to respond?

Response - This SS notice requests responses from small business concerns.

13. Is Crypto Currency part of the scope of the project?

Response – Crypto Currency is not part of the scope of the project.

14. In Section C.2.28: Is there a marketing fund for this Marketing Plan or is it the IRS’s expectation that the vendor will pay for this Marketing Plan expense?

Response – The contractor will be response for all expenses associated with developing a Marketing Plan.

15. When is the IRS intending to release the full RFP?

Response - The IRS intends on issuing the RFP within the next couple of months.