II_1 - RFQ No. 2032H8-24-Q-00054 - IRS Technical Integrations Support.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

WASHINGTON, DC 20224

To: Eligible GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) SBA-Certified Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Concerns

Subject: Request for Quotations (RFQ) No. 2032H8-24-Q-00054 - Technical Integrations Support Services

Date: September 13, 2024

The Department of Treasury (Treasury), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Office of Business Solutions Acquisition (OBSA), on behalf of the Technology Strategy Management (TSM), a division in The Enterprise Services (ES) organization of the IRS, proposes to issue a single award Task Order to an SBA-Certified Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) entity under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541611 – Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. The size standard is $24.5M. The PSC is R408 Support–Professional: Program Management Support.

This Request for Quotations (RFQ) is soliciting responses only from SBA-Certified Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) entities under the aforementioned NAICS Code. GSA Schedule: Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Special Item Number (SIN) 541611 – Management and Financial Consulting, Acquisition and Grants Management Support, and Business Program and Project Management Services. Such entities are hereby invited to submit a quotation in response to this notice. Quotes from Other Than Small Business entities or from Small Businesses that are not SBA-Certified Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSB will not be considered. Quoters are strongly encouraged to provide any additional discounts and/or price reductions from their GSA MAS Schedule pricing. If you are interested in this acquisition, you may participate by submitting your response in accordance with the instructions that follow.

Contractors are requested to submit a firm fixed price quote to provide the services outlined within the RFQ. In responding to this RFQ, it is the contractor’s responsibility to provide current, relevant, complete and accurate information in their quotation.

Your quotation response to this solicitation request must be provided by 5:00 PM EDT on Monday, September 23, 2024. Late quotations will not be evaluated.

Questions concerning this requirement should be directed to Mathew Nelker at Mathew.Nelker@irs.gov no later than 5:00 PM EDT on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.

mailto:Mathew.Nelker@irs.gov

Technical Integrations Support Services Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION PAGE NUMBERS

SECTION I PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS) ………………………3 - 15

SECTION II CONTRACT CLAUSES & PROVISIONS ………………………....…16 - 71

SECTION III INSTRUCTIONS TO QUOTERS ……………………………….……72 - 76

SECTION IV BASIS OF AWARD and EVALUATION CRITERIA ………………77 - 79

SECTION I

PEFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

TECHNICAL INTEGRATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES

1.1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Technology Strategy Management (TSM) is a division in The Enterprise Services (ES) organization of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). ES mission is to architect, design and test enterprise solutions, balancing efficiency and fit to connect into the tax ecosystem in a seamless and leading-edge manner. ES sets enterprise technology direction by translating business priorities into an effective enterprise technical framework, setting architecture guidance, and establishing technology standards. The ES organization actively works with IRS business units and IT suppliers to collaboratively define and institutionalize the enterprise level process and standards needed to successfully deliver IT solutions and to comply with cross-cutting internal and external IT mandates and requests.

IRS-IT-ES-TSM has a requirement for technical and management support services to assist the organization with technical strategy, integration, and delivery management services. The services will include executive level advisory and consultation services on TSM-wide technical strategies, roadmaps, innovation, and appropriate content creation to achieve TSM program goals and objectives. The requirement also includes the following: supporting program management, strategic communication, business analysis, performance assessment, process improvement, data analytics, stakeholder engagement, public affairs, digital media, graphics, and multimedia. The Contractor shall coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to develop sophisticated briefing material for upper management. The Contractor is required to create for IRS leadership exceptional PowerPoint slide decks and roadmaps that provide concise visual representation of key messages and recommendations expressed in meetings by leadership. In addition to preparing executive-level reports and briefing material, the Contractor should perform expert-level review, analysis and validation of management and business practices and products to develop and apply analytic methodologies and principles resolving complex problems while helping define objectives and contributing to strategic direction.

Moreover, the Contractor is expected to apply operations research, mathematics, and statistics to build databases, reports, and surveys. Statistical data and analyses shall be developed, and deviations reported. The Contractor shall lead the development of and use measures of effectiveness and measures of performance development and analysis. Analysis of the data shall include, but is not limited to, grouping by rank, component, service, information, range scores, means, and measures of variability.

Policy and Guidance Drivers

Description

DTAP-FY22: 1017.7101 (b) It is Treasury’s policy to prioritize equity while leveraging buying power, reducing acquisition administrative costs, making the acquisition process more efficient, lowering barriers to entry for underserved communities, and developing long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with providers of supplies and services from a diverse array of socio-economic designations while meeting its mission requirements.

IRS Strategic Plan FY21-26 Community of Partners: The IRS interacts with numerous stakeholders to serve taxpayers and enforce tax law.

Stakeholders include, but are not limited to, Congress, the Executive Branch, tax professionals, international organizations, state tax agencies and various non-profit organizations who are all valued members in our journey to execute effective taxpayer administration and serve taxpayers

IRS Integrated Modernization Business Plan (IT Mod Plan)-SG3

Collaborate with external partners proactively to improve tax administration.

Figure 1-1 Policy and Guidance Drivers for Technical Integrations Support

1.2 Technical Integrations Support Program

“A picture is better than a thousand words.” IRS leadership requires support in producing representations and graphics that visually summarize important information and key messages.

The Contractor must demonstrate expertise to transfer oral or written input from leadership to expressive graphic illustrations and drawings. As an example, the Contractor must be able to hear the leader talk then whip out a deck or a roadmap that articulates their message.

The Contractor shall be responsible for guiding and assisting IRS leadership through a wide range of management, organizational and business improvement, and modernization initiatives by applying continuous process improvement strategies, methodologies, and principles.

Consequently, the Contractor is required to develop business methods for problem solving, process change and solution implementation ensuring enterprise-wide integration. The Contractor shall identify best practices, assess performance measurement and research, collect, and verify data then translate it into strategic and operational guidance. After that, the Contractor is expected to provide group facilitation, interviewing, training, and other forms of knowledge transfer. Areas of focus include but are not limited to business transformation, business process redesign and modeling, quality improvement and lean six sigma.

In this regard, the Contractor is required to serve as an expert on a range of complex program activities requiring application of a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods for assessment of complex management processes, systems, and mission support programs. The Contractor should analyze actual and predictable interacting operational activities of an organization to obtain a quantitative, rational basis for decision making. The Contractor should devise modeling and measuring techniques, utilizing statistical methods, and operational mathematics techniques. The Contractor is expected to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of analysis principles, theories, and techniques to solve specific problems and formulate solutions.

The Contractor should develop procedures and protocols for conducting analyses, evaluating complex data, and preparing reports of results. The Contractor should possess experience in the development and implementation of criteria for the collection, compilation and recording of data that allows verification and replication of outcomes through experimentation. The Contractor should prepare regular and special-purpose reports, maintain historical records, analyze trends, and determine rationale for variances. Also, the Contractor should serve as a lead in coordinating activities between stakeholders while ensuring mission alignment. In addition, the Contractor should incorporate stakeholder needs and objectives into custom tailored solutions designed to optimize business practices.

1.3 Technology Strategy Management Office

Technology Strategy Management provides executive leadership in shaping and implementing the overall IT agency strategy while identifying high-return technological investments for potential use within IRS. The Technology Strategy Management (TSM) PMO operates as a “prime integrator” of IT delivery partners in the organization across the enterprise. TSM organization plays a unique, differentiated role in IT and promotes integration management as a function that helps translate strategies to the execution level. TSM is comprised of 5 groups and 3 Sub-groups: Enterprise Infrastructure Currency (EIC), Infrastructure Platform Strategy and Services (IPSS), Large Program Implementation Services (LPIS), Managed Technology Shared Services (MTSS) and Common Services & Integration (CS&I).

2.0 OBJECTIVES

The IRS requires contractor support to do the following responsibilities:

1. Offer technical strategy and integration support services for TSM Organization.

2. Prepare executive level briefing material with graphics and illustrations to include but not limited to: PowerPoint slides, road maps, meeting minutes, and different report types.

3. Engage Stakeholders. Liaise between internal and external stakeholders to understand requirements and solve problems.

4. Facilitate various kinds of interviews and meeting sessions with minimal supervision.

5. Manage projects to accomplish goals. Coordinate tasks, people and resources to achieve successful completion while monitoring quality, cost, time, scope and risk.

6. Analyze Processes. Identify waste and remove roadblocks to improve performance.

7. Strategize Efficiency. Lead long-term planning to determine priorities and achieve goals.

8. Manage Quality. Build metrics to assess operational quality and track improvements.

9. Achieve Customer Satisfaction. Measure success by stakeholder satisfaction with

Contractor performance and work results.

10. Conduct Lessons-Learned to identify challenges and share best practices.

11. Document current processes and compile a register of new processes with roles and responsibilities.

12. Perform administrative management, operations, logistics and strategic planning consulting services.

13. Perform Management Consulting Services to include all services related to the practice of helping organization improve their performance, primarily through the analysis of existing organizational problems and development of plans for improvement.

3.0 SCOPE OF WORK AND DECSRIPTION OF TASKS

The Contractor shall support engaging in strategic communication with IRS leadership and stakeholders. The Contractor shall be responsible for preparing executive-level PowerPoint decks and complex briefing material that contain well-made graphics and clarifying illustrations.

The Contractor shall demonstrate high level expertise to translate to accurate pictures the oral and written messages from IRS leadership. The Contractor shall coordinate with IRS employees and other vendor human resources on the following tasks:

• Program Management Support: Provide necessary program management and administrative support to carry out the objectives of the contract successfully, provide periodic executive briefings, meeting minutes, quad charts, work requests, report the progress on key metrics, and manage time and resources for timely and cost-effective deliverables.

• Project Management Support: Provide necessary project management and administrative support to carry out the objectives of the contract successfully, provide periodic executive briefings, meeting minutes, quad charts, work requests, report the progress on key metrics, and manage time and resources for timely and cost-effective deliverables.

• Operational Support: Provide necessary support to develop and maintain all factors and components impacting successful deliverables.

• Strategy Support: Provide necessary support to analyze, develop, update, and document the Technical Integrations Support Program strategy. Provide technical strategy support for TSM programs and initiatives.

• Technical Integration Support: Provide technical support for integrations for various programs and support within TSM required documentation to proceed with a successful implementation of Technical Integrations Support.

• Transition Support: Provide support for transition that includes documentation of requirements, scope, risks and issues, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), guidelines and step-by-step instructions on implementations and integrations screenshots, and necessary training.

3.1 Task Area 1. Program Management Support

The Contractor shall provide and maintain program management expertise and shall use proven and mature program management practices and processes to effectively manage resources to meet the delivery expectations on time and budget while executing Technical Integrations Support. The Contractor shall support each program workstream with project planning and management, milestone status tracking and reviews, risk, and issue identification, tracking and resolution.

Program Management support shall include the following:

• Develop and update and maintain project management plan, risk management plan, issues tracker, communication plans, maintain processes and operating procedures and Contingency Management as required.

• Record and communicate dependencies, constraints, risks, impediments to program leadership in a timely manner and track them to either resolution or mitigation.

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

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

• Develop and maintain to include IMS, quad charts, road maps, lessons learned and executive briefs.

• 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 program.

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

• Provide necessary project management and admin support to carry out objectives of the task order successfully.

• Provide periodic executive briefings, report progress on key metrics, deliver documents in timely manner and record documents at the IRS specified repository.

• Identify, record and address program risks, issues, concerns, and action items according to IRS standards and Internal Revenue Manual (IRM)

• Facilitate and support demo sessions, meetings and working sessions with IRS/ Technical

Integrations Support leadership, and stakeholders to include road map, Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), Implementation Plan, risk, issues, concerns, and executive briefs.

• Coordinate with Technical Integrations Support program stakeholders to conduct program management activities.

• Respond to work requests issued under this contract to address unforeseen circumstances, as needed for the program to achieve its stated goals and objectives.

Desired Outcome: Development and application of program management practices and controls that allow the Technical Integrations Support program to effectively establish and maintain control of program status, execution, risks, costs, and schedule.

3.2 Task Area 2. Project Management Support

The contractor shall support the project with project planning and management, milestone status monitoring and reviews, risk and issue identification, tracking, and resolution.

Project Management support shall include the following:

• Develop and record the schedule for deliverables and activities.

• Conduct and facilitate meetings, workshops, provide timely meeting minutes, and capture action items.

• Provide project planning and management, milestone schedule and status tracking, and reviews.

• Produce weekly, monthly, and ad-hoc reports on the progress and status of the effort:

o Monthly Status Reports are due no later than the seventh (7th) day of the new work month. The IRS and the Contractor shall agree to a format within 14 business days of award of the order. All electronic submissions of the monthly status reports shall be provided using Microsoft Office products in accordance with Section 508 compliance requirements. The IRS anticipates no more than 2 (two) ad-hoc reports will be requested during the period of performance.

o The Contractor shall coordinate monthly meetings with the IRS Task Manager, to be fulfilled by a conference call. The Contractor shall be prepared to present the monthly status report. The report shall be shared with all meeting attendees at least three (3) business days prior to the meeting.

o The Contractor shall provide the IRS detailed monthly invoices for the services being billed in the prior period. At a minimum, the invoice report must detail: Dollar amount billed to the IRS by CLIN, task, labor category, and service incident, and the dollar amount exercised versus overall order period total amount obligated.

• Provide periodic executive/stakeholder briefings on progress.

• Conduct biweekly integrated project team meetings, weekly action items, IMS, stakeholder coordination, quad chart reviews, and risk forums.

• Store and maintain developed or updated documents on the IRS-Technical Integrations

Support SharePoint site.

Desired Outcome: Development and application of project management practices and controls over integration, scope, schedule, cost, quality, resources, communications, risk, procurement and stakeholder management.

3.3 Task Area 3. Operational Support

The Contractor shall support performing administrative management, operations, logistics and strategic planning consulting services for IRS leadership. These services will include but are not limited to the following: preparing briefing material with advanced graphical illustrations, doing data analytics, leading process improvement, and heading strategic communication and stakeholder engagement.

Some of the requirements for Operational Support are the following:

• Monitor and analyze patterns and trends.

• Deliver Technical Integrations Support Road Map to include Project Plan / Integrated Master

Schedule (IMS)

• Develop, update, record and get alignment on Technical Integrations Support Road Map

• Develop, update, record and get alignment on Technical Integrations Support Project Plan/

IMS

• Continuous maintenance and treatment as living documents of: Road Map, High level Timeline and IMS

• Identify all known potential failure modes.

• Document testing results and recovery processes.

• The business contingency plan o Establishes what will happen when business activities halt.

• Notifications o Respond to Inquiries o Develop slide decks to leadership on problem statement, root cause analysis and possible solutions.

• Filing Season (FS) Support o Develop, update, record and get alignment on FS support plan.

o Conduct FS 24/7 support during Filling season o Report to leadership on Filing Season Support status and escalate when necessary.

Desired Outcome: Quality performance defined by Customer Satisfaction with processes and results.

3.4 Task Area 4. Strategy Support

The Contractor shall demonstrate innovation in strategizing to meet stakeholder needs by consistently engaging them to understand their requirements and successfully achieve their expectations. Provide technical strategy, roadmaps, and guidance on TSM programs and initiatives.

Some of the requirements included in strategy support are the following:

• Leverage business practices and strategies. Develop a view of existing business practices, patterns, guidelines, and inventories then document the strategy vision and roadmap.

• Establish Technical Integrations Support management and ownership. Assign ownership for different roles or assignments.

Desired Outcome: Systematic, coherent overview of all resources within Technical Integrations Support to ensure efficiency and accountability.

3.5 Task Area 5. Technical Integration

The Contractor shall provide technical integration services and continuous monitoring, management, and response to anticipate and mitigate associated hindrances to successful delivery. Contractor is expected to coordinate with stakeholders and other vendors to conduct technical integration and demonstrate successful performance.

Technical Integration shall include the following:

• Deliver an integration implementation plan and project plan and schedule:

o Develop, record, and align with stakeholders for the implementation of the technical integration plan to include scope, level of effort, success criteria, and high-level timeline.

o Update, record and align the project plan or schedule.

o Continue maintaining and treating all documents as living documents.

• Identify, integrate, and manage dependencies and constraints including security, privacy, availability, reliability, and performance.

• Conduct research, analysis, and assessment to establish or confirm accuracy, completeness, sufficiency, appropriateness, and/or effectiveness of IRS-selected elements of the Technical Integrations Support program including program solutions, products, data, frameworks, processes, practices, and documentation.

• Outline the processes and procedures for managing Technical Integrations Support throughout the contract time.

Desired Outcome: Successful performance of Technical Integrations Support meeting all customer needs and aligned with IRS goals and mission.

3.6 Task Area 6. Transition Support

The Contractor shall plan, schedule, prepare, and conduct transition tasks to provide for the successful transition of services to IRS before contract expiration. The Contractor shall develop a comprehensive well-organized training program to help IRS perform Technical Integrations Support on their own.

Transition activities shall include the following:

• Provide documentation of the following:

o Requirements and Scope o Risks and Issues o SOPs, guidelines and step-by-step instructions with screenshots

• Provide necessary training.

o Training plan and Curriculum o Integration documented training materials o Step by Step instructions in paper and audio/ video formats o Video/ Audio training materials o Virtual classroom sessions o Conduct Training to include hands-on and over the shoulder training

• Coordinate with IRS selected Vendor and conduct transition activities o Follow IRS transition process including planning and preparation

• Conduct Transition Planning

• Engage and Manage Stakeholders

• Execution o Transfer Managed Risks and Issues o Facilitate Knowledge Transfer

• Closure

• Complete Transition

Desired Outcome: Plan, schedule, prepare and conduct transition tasks to include documentations and training to IRS or selected vendor to give them the skills to carry out Technical Integrations Support independently.

4.0 DELIVERABLES

The contractor shall be responsible for the following deliverables that will be measured for success against timeliness and quality.

4.1 Task Order Kickoff Meeting

Within five (5) business days of task order award, the contractor shall meet with Government representatives at a mutually agreed upon location or via teleconference. The intent of this meeting is to initiate the communication process between the IRS and the contractor by introducing key task order participants, explaining their roles, reviewing communication ground rules, and assuring a common understanding of task order requirements and objectives.

The completion of this briefing shall result in the following:

• The IRS may show the applicable facilities to the contractor if work will be performed on at an IRS site.

• The Government may provide Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) and/or Government Furnished Information (GFI)

• Any issues concerning the contractor employee security clearances will be discussed.

• The contractor shall demonstrate confirmation of their understanding of the work to be accomplished under this Performance Work Statement

• The contractor shall provide meeting notes (inclusive of any follow-up actions) to the

Government within five (5) business days after the meeting.

4.2 Schedule of Deliverables

The Contractor shall provide the deliverables as described in Table 1 below during the performance of this contract. All contractor deliverables or work products shall remain categorized as "Official Use Only.” The release of any portion must be authorized in writing by the Government. The deliverables and work products will be provided in electronic format and shall comply with all applicable standards of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The final format and content requirements, if not stated in the Performance Work Statement (PWS), may be mutually developed, and agreed upon among the IRS Program Manager (PM), the Contractor and the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

Table 1: Schedule of Deliverables

Task Area 1. Program Management Support

Deliverable No. Deliverable Due Date/Frequency

1 Project Management Plan 30 days after Award

2 Risk Management Plan 30 days after Award

3 Risk and Issue Register Weekly

4 Communication Plan 30 days after Award

5 Processes and Procedures As required

6 Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) Weekly

7 Road Maps 30 days after Award

Task Area 2. Project Management Support

8 Schedule for the Deliverables and Activities Within 2 weeks of Award

9 Meeting Agendas, Presentations, and Minutes As Required

10 Briefings including Executive Briefs As Required

11 Lessons Learned Report As Required

12 Quad Charts Weekly

13 Status Reports including Schedule Updates and Metrics

7th of Month and Ad- Hoc

14 Milestone Schedule and Status Tracking Report 7th of Month and Ad- Hoc

15 Monthly Program Meeting 10th of Month

16 Weekly Program Review Weekly

17 Monthly Invoicing Report 10th of Month

Task Area 3. Operational Support

Deliverable No. Deliverable Due Date/Frequency

18 Filing Season Support Plan 30 days after Award

19 PowerPoint slide decks with complex graphics and illustrations As Required

Task Area 4. Strategy Support

20 Program Strategy Documentation and Presentation Per IMS

Task Area 5. Technical Integration

Deliverable No. Deliverable Due Date/Frequency

21 Provide analysis, recommendations, and documentation

As Required

22 Performance Impact Analysis Report As Required

23 Standard Operation Procedures As Required

Task Area 6. Transition Support

24 Documentation of requirements, scope, risks, issues and solutions Per IMS

25 Documentation of details standard operating procedures Per IMS

26 Documentation of step-by-step instructions of implementation and integrations with screenshots Per IMS

Training plan and curriculum from start to finish with documented training materials and Video/ Audio training aids

Per IMS

28 Conduct training actives to include presentations and hands-on training sessions Per IMS

29 Successfully Conduct Transition Activities Per IMS

30 Transition Plan 60 days after award

Section 5.1. Kickoff Meeting

Deliverable No. Deliverable Due Date/Frequency

31 Kickoff Meeting 5 days after Award

32 Kickoff Meeting Notes Within 5 days after the meeting

4.3 Submission of Deliverables

Any deliverable that does not comply with the acceptance criteria outlined in the contract or the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) shall be considered rejected. Unless otherwise agreed upon by the Contractor and the COR or otherwise specified in contract, the COR shall provide written feedback on deliverables within ten (10) business days. The Contractor shall provide revisions within five (5) business days of receipt of the COR’s feedback. The number of days allotted to the contactor for re-submission of deliverables may be adjusted if agreed upon by both parties. If the vendor has not been notified of any discrepancies within ten (10) business days after submission of the deliverable or successful completion of a task, the deliverable or task shall be considered accepted.

Unless otherwise specified in the contract, all deliverables/ work products shall be provided no later than 4:00 p.m. EST on the applicable due date(s).

4.4 Documentation Requirements

The Contactor shall provide all documentation in Section 508 compliant electronic format and, upon request by the Government, in hard copy format. The Government will have the right to request suppression of hard copy deliverables in cases where security and privacy concerns are a factor, or to reduce paperwork burden. All deliverables resulting from work executed under this contact shall convey to the Government. In addition to the requirements set forth in the QASP, all documentation shall be provided in accordance with the criteria set forth below:

1. Completeness: The document demonstrates sufficient level of detail to show understanding of the requirements, technology and design, customers, and operating environment

2. Feasibility: The document defines information, which is formatted properly, contains valid information in support of this task order and provides a deliverable within time constraints

3. Understandability: The document is to be clean, clearly written, all printed words are legible, and the outline is easy to follow. All diagrams are easy to understand and relevant to the supporting narrative.

4. Accuracy: The document is accurate in presentation exhibiting clear and concise information, technical content, and adherence to accepted elements of style, operational content, and consistent within itself and with other documents

5. Practicality: The document provides information and guidance that is practical for implementation within the IRS environment and appropriate given the subject organization’s level of maturity.

5.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

The contractor’s performance under this contract shall be measured against and monitored by the performance standards, acceptable quality levels and surveillance methods contained in the QASP (RFQ Attachment 1).

The QASP provides a means for evaluating the contractor's performance to ensure that the Government receives the level of service required to achieve the objectives of this requirement.

In addition, the Contractor shall implement and maintain the strategies, mechanisms and standards established in their individual Quality Control Plan (QCP) that was submitted in response to the QASP.

6.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance of the Base Period shall be from date of award through Twelve (12) Months. One (1) 12-Month Option Period is also included. The anticipated period of performance is as follows:

Base Period: September 30, 2024 – September 29, 2025 Option Period 1: September 30, 2025 – September 29, 2026

7.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

All work under this contract shall be performed at the contractor’s site, IRS location- the New Carrollton Federal Building, 5000 Ellin Road, Lanham MD 20706, IRS facilities Martinsburg- Enterprise Computing Center Martinsburg (ECC-MTB), 250 Murall Drive, Kearneysville, WV 25430 and Memphis- Enterprise Computing Center – Memphis (ECC-MEM) 5333 Getwell Road, Memphis, TN 38118.

Expenses incurred traveling to IRS facilities will be reimbursed.

Any and all other travel must be within 50 miles of the designated IRS facility the contractor is supporting in order to be considered local travel.

8.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY (GFP) AND INFORMATION (GFI)

Government furnished property (to include material, equipment, and/or information) shall be provided in the performance of this contract. The IRS will provide the following property:

ITEMS QUANTITY

Contractor Identification Badge TBD

Laptop Computer with Local Area Network Access and standard office automation software

TBD

Office Space (if requested) TBD

Government furnished information (to include manuals, notes, memos, instruction materials, and other information) shall be provided during the performance of this agreement. The IRS will provide the following information:

ITEMS QUANTITY

Manuals, directives, instructions, and other printed/electronic media required for the performance of duties including IRM and other official use only publications

TBD

Access to standards and guidelines and any other documentation that is required for the satisfactory performance of this requirement will be made available to the contractor no later than five (5) business days after request.

The issuance, handling, and disposition of GFP shall be conducted in accordance with FAR 52.245-1, Government Property, Alternate I, 52.245-9, Use and Charges and the requirements set forth in Section 11, Security Requirements. All GFP/GFI shall be returned to the Government upon contract completion, as appropriate.

9. TRAVEL

During the period of performance, there is a need for the Contractor to travel to attend meetings and/or provide technical SME support. Some work under this PWS will be performed onsite.

Only local travel will be reimbursed. All travel shall be at the lowest cost to the Government as to not exceed the FFP amounts indicated in Section B of the order. Any travel within 50 miles of a designated IRS facility is considered local travel. All travel shall be in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) and Joint Travel Regulations (JTR). Additionally, before travel is taken, the Contractor shall obtain written authorization from the COR.

10. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

In accordance with Title III of the E-Government Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-347), also known as the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA), which requires each federal agency to provide security for the information and information systems that support the operations and assets of the agency and Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) 10.8.1, which provides overall security control guidance for the IRS.

SECTION II – CONTRACT CLAUSES AND PROVISIONS

The terms and conditions of the Quoter’s Federal Supply Schedule (GSA MAS SIN 514611) shall be applicable to this Task Order.

A. FAR Clauses & Provisions

This RFQ includes the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses and provisions that are in addition to, but do not supersede any FAR or General Services Administration (GSA) Acquisition Regulation clauses contained in the contractor’s Federal Supply Schedule contract.

1. 52.252-2, Clauses Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at:

http://www.acquistion.gov/far.

FEDERAL ACQUISTION REGULATION (48 CFR 52) CLAUSES INCORPORATED

BY REFERENCE

NUMBER TITLE DATE

52.203-12 Limitation on Payments to Influence Certain Federal Transactions

JUN 2020

52.203-17 Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights and Requirement to Inform Employees of Whistleblower Rights

NOV 2023

52.203-18 Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements - Representation

JAN 2017

52.203-19 Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements

JAN 2017

52.204-23 Prohibition on Contracting for Hardware, Software, and Services Developed of Provided by Kaspersky Lab and Other Covered Entities

DEC 2023

52.204-27 Prohibition on a Bytedance Covered Application JUN 2023

52.209-10 Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations

NOV 2015

http://www.acquistion.gov/far

52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Products and Commercial Services

NOV 2023

52.216-31 Time-and-Materials/Labor-Hour Quotation Requirements – Commercial Item Acquisition

NOV 2021

52.217-5 Evaluation of Options JUL 1990

52.223-22 Public Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Reduction Goals - Representation

DEC 2016

52.227-1 Authorization and Consent JUN 2020

52.227-2 Notice and Assistance Regarding Patent and Copyright Infringement

JUN 2020

52.232-23 Assignment of Claims MAY 2014

52.232-39 Unenforceability of Unauthorized Obligations JUN 2013

52.243-1 Changes - Fixed-Price, ALT I APR 1984

52.245-1 Government Property SEP 2021

2. FAR 52.216-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1984)

The Government contemplates award of a Fixed-Price Task Order resulting from this solicitation.

[End of provision]

3. 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services (NOV 1999)

The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor not later than 7 days before end of performance.

(End of clause)

4. 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (MAR 2000)

(a) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor within 30 days prior to the end of performance; provided, that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 60 days before the contract expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension.

(b) If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause.

(c) The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed 30 months.

(End of Clause)

5. 52.203-2 Certificate of Independent Price Determination (APR 1985)

(a) The Quoter certifies that –

(1) The prices in this offer have been arrived at independently, without, for the purpose of restricting competition, any consultation, communication, or agreement with any other Quoter or competitor relating to-

(i) Those prices;

(ii) The intention to submit an offer; or

(iii) The methods or factors used to calculate the prices offered.

(2) The prices in this offer have not been and will not be knowingly disclosed by the Quoter, directly or indirectly, to any other Quoter or competitor before bid opening (in the case of a sealed bid solicitation) or contract award (in the case of a negotiated solicitation) unless otherwise required by law; and

(3) No attempt has been made or will be made by the Quoter to induce any other concern to submit or not to submit an offer for the purpose of restricting competition.

(b) Each signature on the offer is considered to be a certification by the signatory that the signatory-

(1) Is the person in the Quoter’s organization responsible for determining the prices being offered in this bid or quotation, and that the signatory has not participated and will not participate in any action contrary to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this provision; or

(2)

(i) Has been authorized, in writing, to act as agent for the following principals in certifying that those principals have not participated, and will not participate in any action contrary to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this provision ____________________ [insert full name of person(s) in the Quoter’s organization responsible for determining the prices offered in this bid or quotation, and the title of his or her position in the Quoter’s organization];

(ii) As an authorized agent, does certify that the principals named in subdivision (b)(2)(i) of this provision have not participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this provision; and

(iii) As an agent, has not personally participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this provision.

(c) If the Quoter deletes or modifies paragraph (a)(2) of this provision, the Quoter must furnish with its offer a signed statement setting forth in detail the circumstances of the dis-closure.

(End of provision)

6. FAR 52.204-24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (NOV 2021)

The Quoter shall not complete the representation at paragraph (d)(1) of this provision if the Quoter has represented that it "does not provide covered telecommunications equipment or services as a part of its offered products or services to the Government in the performance of any contract, subcontract, or other contractual instrument" in paragraph (c)(1) in the provision at 52.204-26, Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services—Representation, or in paragraph (v)(2)(i) of the provision at 52.212-3, Quoter Representations and Certifications- Commercial Items. The Quoter shall not complete the representation in paragraph (d)(2) of this provision if the Quoter has represented that it "does not use covered telecommunications equipment or services, or any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services" in paragraph (c)(2) of the provision at 52.204-26, or in paragraph (v)(2)(ii) of the provision at 52.212-3.

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision—

Backhaul, covered telecommunications equipment or services, critical technology, interconnection arrangements, reasonable inquiry, roaming, and substantial or essential component have the meanings provided in the clause 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.

(b) Prohibition.

(1) Section 889(a)(1)(A) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on or after August 13, 2019, from procuring or obtaining, or extending or renewing a contract to procure or obtain, any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system.

Nothing in the prohibition shall be construed to— https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-26#FAR_52_204_26 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.212-3#FAR_52_212_3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-26#FAR_52_204_26 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.212-3#FAR_52_212_3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-25#FAR_52_204_25

(i) Prohibit the head of an executive agency from procuring with an entity to provide a service that connects to the facilities of a third-party, such as backhaul, roaming, or interconnection arrangements; or

(ii) Cover telecommunications equipment that cannot route or redirect user data traffic or cannot permit visibility into any user data or packets that such equipment transmits or otherwise handles.

(2) Section 889(a)(1)(B) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on or after August 13, 2020, from entering into a contract or extending or renewing a contract with an entity that uses any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. This prohibition applies to the use of covered telecommunications equipment or services, regardless of whether that use is in performance of work under a Federal contract.

Nothing in the prohibition shall be construed to—

(i) Prohibit the head of an executive agency from procuring with an entity to provide a service that connects to the facilities of a third-party, such as backhaul, roaming, or interconnection arrangements; or

(ii) Cover telecommunications equipment that cannot route or redirect user data traffic or cannot permit visibility into any user data or packets that such equipment transmits or otherwise handles.

(c) Procedures. The Quoter shall review the list of excluded parties in the System for Award Management (SAM) (https://www.sam.gov) for entities excluded from receiving federal awards for "covered telecommunications equipment or services".

(d) Representation. The Quoter represents that—

(1) It □ will, □ will not provide covered telecommunications equipment or services to the Government in the performance of any contract, subcontract or other contractual instrument resulting from this solicitation. The Quoter shall provide the additional disclosure information required at paragraph (e)(1) of this section if the Quoter responds "will" in paragraph (d)(1) of this section; and

(2) After conducting a reasonable inquiry, for purposes of this representation, the Quoter represents that—

It □ does, □ does not use covered telecommunications equipment or services, or use any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services. The Quoter shall provide the additional disclosure information required at paragraph (e)(2) of this section if the Quoter responds "does" in paragraph (d)(2) of this section.

https://www.sam.gov/

(e) Disclosures.

(1) Disclosure for the representation in paragraph (d)(1) of this provision. If the Quoter has responded "will" in the representation in paragraph (d)(1) of this provision, the Quoter shall provide the following information as part of the offer:

(i) For covered equipment—

(A) The entity that produced the covered telecommunications equipment (include entity name, unique entity identifier, CAGE code, and whether the entity was the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or a distributor, if known);

(B) A description of all covered telecommunications equipment offered (include brand; model number, such as OEM number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number;

and item description, as applicable); and

(C) Explanation of the proposed use of covered telecommunications equipment and any factors relevant to determining if such use would be permissible under the prohibition in paragraph (b)(1) of this provision.

(ii) For covered services—

(A) If the service is related to item maintenance: A description of all covered telecommunications services offered (include on the item being maintained: Brand; model number, such as OEM number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number; and item description, as applicable); or

(B) If not associated with maintenance, the Product Service Code (PSC) of the service being provided; and explanation of the proposed use of covered telecommunications services and any factors relevant to determining if such use would be permissible under the prohibition in paragraph (b)(1) of this provision.

(2) Disclosure for the representation in paragraph (d)(2) of this provision. If the Quoter has responded "does" in the representation in paragraph (d)(2) of this provision, the Quoter shall provide the following information as part of the offer:

(i) For covered equipment—

(A) The entity that produced the covered telecommunications equipment (include entity name, unique entity identifier, CAGE code, and whether the entity was the OEM or a distributor, if known);

(B) A description of all covered telecommunications equipment offered (include brand; model number, such as OEM number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number;

and item description, as applicable); and

(C) Explanation of the proposed use of covered telecommunications equipment and any factors relevant to determining if such use would be permissible under the prohibition in paragraph (b)(2) of this provision.

(ii) For covered services—

(A) If the service is related to item maintenance: A description of all covered telecommunications services offered (include on the item being maintained: Brand; model number, such as OEM number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number; and item description, as applicable); or

(B) If not associated with maintenance, the PSC of the service being provided; and explanation of the proposed use of covered telecommunications services and any factors relevant to determining if such use would be permissible under the prohibition in paragraph (b)(2) of this provision.

(End of provision)

7. FAR 52.204-26 Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services-Representation (Oct 2020)

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision, "covered telecommunications equipment or services" and "reasonable inquiry" have the meaning provided in the clause 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.

(b) Procedures. The Quoter shall review the list of excluded parties in the System for Award Management (SAM) ( https://www.sam.gov) for entities excluded from receiving federal awards for "covered…