QA_Updated_RFP4383154.docx

Q&A -1

1. Are you able to provide an estimate of how many scientist are expected to participate in the seminars?

NIH has about 1,231 non-resident taxpayers and about 2,551 non-immigrants who are liable for paying taxes. We have had an average of 26 participants in each tax seminar (morning and afternoon session each). We have many (70?) tax residents who are still claiming the tax treaties.

1. Approximately, how many DIS staff members will participate in the DIS presentations/ One observer, who can answer questions appropriate to NIH (Immigration, what we consider when making an initial tax treaty determination), and one program support to come in the beginning to lay out the sign-in sheet and pass out evaluations. The observer has not been able to come every time in the past, but it’s our goal to come as often as possible.

1. Regarding the Income Tax Handbook, are you expecting the contractor to update an existing handbook or create a new handbook?

The new contractor can build upon the existing tax handbook and tax preparation guide. It has to be 508 compliant at the time it’s delivered.

4. Although it seems that tax preparation is a part of the contractor from reading the SOW, could you please confirm that tax preparation is part of the contract for clarity?

The contract does not include individual tax form preparation. It does include creating key sample forms to explain to a group (usually 4-5). Individuals are expected to hire their own tax consultants or use non-resident tax software if they do not wish to complete their own returns.

5. Is there a particular format that you require the proposal, other than completing the excel sheet and answering the questions/statements on the MS Word Statement of word document?

No, there is no required format for the business proposal.

6. What equipment and facilities would NIH provide? Would NIH provide conference rooms and projector equipment or are these solely the responsibility of the contractor?

The Division of International Services arranges conference rooms for the tax seminars. The rooms standardly come with projectors for PowerPoint presentations. Occasionally one of the rooms requires the presenter to bring a self-provided laptop to attach to the projector.

7. In the section of the SOW the discuss requirements relating to tax treaties, there is reference to tax opinions. Could you please provide some additionally clarity as to the NIH expectations relating to tax opinions?

Immigration Specialists in the Division of International Services make initial determinations about whether someone qualifies for a tax treaty or not based on where the individual last lived and where the person worked or paid taxes. Occasionally there is a lack of clarity based on a few months travel back to a home country, when the person worked or paid taxes in a tax treaty country (example: Citizen of India does a Ph.D. in Germany, where he works and pays taxes for 5 years, but then goes back to India for four months before coming to NIH). Often we have enough information to make the determination ourselves, but when there’s a dispute, we ask for our tax contractor to weigh in with an informed determination. We look at treaties for stipend income, wages, and contractors performing independent personal services. The majority of our tax treaties are with stipend income.