5000166421-SourcesSought.docx

Sources Sought- SMALL DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS for Digital Modernization Strategy Support Services

Pursuant to FAR 13.5, Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Products and Commercial Services, the IRS Enterprise Digitalization & Case Management Office (EDCMO) is looking for a small disadvantaged business to provide consulting services aimed at extending and amplifying the IRS’ modernization objectives. Specifically, research, advisory and assistance consulting services are needed to continue support for the development of IRS modernization strategy of the ED&CMO/ IRS Modernization Business Plan which includes; expanding the future of crypto-currency, fintech, quantum finance, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), and digital transformation for the IRS. These objectives will be accomplished by (1) bringing cutting-edge problem solvers and industry experts to the forefront, (2) addressing IRS needs by curating IRS and mission partner needs/ advocacy through think tank roadshow(s), (3) developing content and delivering workshops/secure intrapreneurship, fellowship programming and (4) delivering transformation sprints for digitization technologies and architecture. The projected period of performance consist of a 9 month base period (07/01/2023 – 03/31/2024) and a 3 month option period (04/01/2024 – 06/30/2024).

Performance requirements are based on three primary objectives: Specifically, The Contractor must possess the experience, qualifications and capability to extend and amplify the IRS’ modernization objectives by bringing cutting-edge problem solvers and industry experts to the forefront of the conversation, addressing IRS needs focused on the following technical objectives:

Curate IRS and Mission Partner Needs/Advocacy through Think Tank Roadshow.

Summary of tasks:

· Develop methods to curate IRS needs/advocacy through a “think tank roadshow.

· The “Roadshow” would bring together IRS policymakers, industry experts and cutting-edge problem solvers in an informal setting to examine issues as they relate to the themed topic.

· The roadshow would consist of a multi-city series of public-private partnership networking events during an initial 6 month period, with the option to conduct another series of network events during an additional 3 month period. These events would provide highly curated roundtables for intimate, off-the-record discussions about the IRS’s digitalization challenges with industry experts and contractor facilitators/analysts.

· The goal is to create the environment for policymakers and technologists to learn from these experts and push the boundaries of IRS innovation. Contractor would facilitate meaningful conversations, interactive learning environments and networking opportunities for the participants. These individuals would be hand-picked founders, practitioners, leaders, investors, technologists, and operators.

Deliverables: Strategic Planning Session (1) and Think Tank Roadshows (4)

Develop and deliver a fellowship program that cultivates IRS intrapreneurs:

Summary of tasks:

· Develop & deliver a Fellowship Program that cultivates IRS intrapreneurs.

· Create a fellowship program to cultivate fledgling intrapreneurs at the IRS and help scale their efforts to improve the agency. This fellowship will facilitate the development of 5-7 civil servants (Cohorts) into intrapreneurs and help them drive innovative projects to scale. It will help intrapreneurs incubate their ideas, accelerate ideas into products and policies and transition these to scale throughout the IRS.

· Ensure attendees are exposed to the best practices of successful startups. They will work to build a network of innovators who can support each other and learn experientially as they scale ideas into projects that can help transform the IRS.

· This fellowship will allow the IRS to invest in the career growth of its most innovative civil servants and help them to become the technologists and policymakers who will help build a more effective and efficient IRS.

· Task consist of a 120-day program that supports IRS intrapreneurs in a range of efforts like: digitization, Minimum Viable Products development, policy development, change management, contracting, budgeting, and scaling these solutions across the entire agency.

Deliverables: Outcome Assessment & Program Roadmap (1), Training content module (1) and Cohort training sessions for 5-7 participants (2)

Transformation sprints for digitization technologies and architecture.

Summary of Task

· The goal is moving IRS from identifying a problem to working on a solution to onboarding capabilities. This goal will be accomplished through “mini-transformation sprints”, using an “iterate to inform” as the anchoring philosophy, to promote outcomes with 3-5 person teams for approximately 16 weeks. Each sprint would ensure that the IRS is asking the right questions, solving the right problems, and developing the right approaches. Analysis of budgetary estimates for organizational prioritization, level of effort, and return on investment would be performed to identify which agency objectives are “best fits” for transformation sprints.

· Through Approach Analysis, sprints will develop an action-oriented analysis of routes to pursue, places to narrow the project’s scope, technology stacks to infuse, solutions architectures to engage, and the best ways to deliver value to your users. Each Approach Analysis shall be customized to the needs of the agency's objectives and may be formed from accelerating a current MVP and/or ongoing line of effort or re-thinking approaches because of the Thinktank Roadshow. This normally takes about 4-6 weeks and then leads to experimentation, bake-off, and/or interactions that accelerate user-centered solutions.

· Once the team has finished the Approach Analysis, the Transformation Sprints will begin iteration on solution(s) to the identified problem(s). The end of the Sprint can be a combination of building a working product, scaling an existing product, generating creative acquisition strategy and/or training an internal IRS team or contractor to take over development, operations, and sustainment.

· Assist the IRS team with exploring the challenges IRS users face and develop solutions to those problems using best-of-breed subject matter experts (SMEs), commercial technologies, and integration realities. Provide support by facilitating this process with subject matter experts to include solution architects, specific technical resources, and agile management professionals. Technical resources will be identified based on information gathered during the Approach Analysis.

· Pprovide the capability to support testing efforts with industry leading coaching and subject matter experts. This will allow the IRS to build confidence in solutions starting in the Approach Analysis phase and ensure large investments aren’t made in ineffective concepts.

Deliverables: Approach Analysis and Design Sprint Planning (1), Mini Transformation Sprints (3) and Scale up Planning (1)

Additional Information: The IRS is conducting this Sources Sought to identify small disadvantaged business contractors who possess the capabilities to provide services as specified above and to determine their availability, capability, and adequacy. If your company may be interested in this requirement and has performed similar projects, we request the information shown below. A company that is not considered a small, disadvantaged business under the applicable NAICS code 541611- Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services should not submit a response to this notice.

As permitted by FAR Part 10, this is a market research tool being utilized for informational and planning purposes. Your responses will assist the Government in the development of its acquisition strategy for a possible Request for Quote (RFQ), to be issued at a later date, and in determining whether the desired type of small business set-aside is possible for this procurement.

This notice shall not be construed as an RFQ or as any commitment or obligation on the part of the Government to issue a solicitation. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this request, so quotes will not be considered. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this synopsis or any follow-up information requests.

Response is strictly voluntary - it is not mandatory to submit a response to this notice to participate in any formal RFQ process that may take place in the future. However, it should be noted that information gathered through this notice will significantly influence our acquisition strategy. Submission Instructions: Responses via email are due on or before 5:00PM EST on May 03, 2023 to Darryl Mitchell at darryl.g.mitchell@irs.gov and must include the information requested below. Responses greater than 15 pages (including all attachments) will not be considered. This is strictly for Market Research and the Government will not entertain any questions.

Respondents will not be notified of the results of the sources sought evaluation. We appreciate your interest and thank you in advance for responding to the Sources Sought.

Qualified firms shall submit a statement of interest on company letterhead demonstrating the firm’s qualifications to perform the defined work. Responses must be complete and sufficiently detailed to address the specific information. The documentation shall address, at a minimum, the following:

A. Company Profile to include:

1. Company name and address;

2. Affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, and potential teaming partners;

3. Year the firm was established and number of employees;

4. Two points of contact (names, titles, phone numbers and email addresses)

5. SAM Unique Identifier and CAGE Code, as registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at http://www.sam.gov/:

6. Small Business designation(s)/status (must correlate with SAM registration)

B. Recent and Relevant Experience:

1. List at least 3 commercial/government contracts in the last 5 years of similar size and scope. Include a brief statement as to why each project is relevant to this source sought notice and other relevant information such as any teaming or joint venture partners, whether the company was responsible for selling the SRECs, responsibility for interconnection studies and/or agreement. The IRS Enterprise Digitalization & Case Management Office (EDCMO) is very complex with multiple divisions responsible for the management and security for a multitude of large applications and services. Address your company’s abilities or past experiences in providing services for companies that are large and complex. In addition, include proof of satisfactory past performance on the referenced projects.

C. Other Technical Info:

Question 1 Specify and explain your view of a holistic approach to expanding the future of crypto-currency, fintech, quantum finance, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), and digital transformation for complex organizations Question 2 Describe your experience curating mission partner needs/advocacy and conducting Think Tank Roadshow.

Question 3 Address your company’s experience/capability to recruit/access exclusive sets of talent/experts (practitioners, leaders, investors, technologists, and operators) throughout industry with experience building dual-use technology ecosystems across the United States Question 4 Address your company’s experience facilitating the development of civil servants into intrapreneurs and helping them drive innovative projects to scale under programs similar to the fellowship program described herein.

Question 5 Give an example of your company’s successful implementation of action-oriented strategies that moved an organization through the process of identifying a problem and working a solution (to include identifying onboarding capabilities) similar to the transformation sprints described herein.