Subscription Database PWS Template 6.8.2026.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

Internal Revenue Service Subscription Database

C.1 INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Central Withholding Agreement (CWA) program requires access to a commercially available entertainment industry subscription database solution to support compliance analysis involving nonresident alien (NRA) artists and athletes performing in the United States.

The Government seeks a commercial subscription database solution equivalent in capability to Pollstar. The referenced brand name product is intended to describe the level of quality, functionality, integration, and operational capability required by the Government. Equivalent commercial solutions will be considered if they satisfy the salient operational and functional characteristics identified in this Performance Work Statement (PWS).

C.2 BACKGROUND

The Central Withholding Agreement (CWA) program conducts research on nonresident alien (NRA) artists and athletes performing in the United States to support compliance with U.S. tax withholding and reporting requirements.

CWA staff rely upon accurate historical and projected performance data to evaluate CWA applications and support compliance analysis involving NRA performers and withholding agents associated with U.S.-source personal service income.

Historically, analysts were required to compile information from multiple public and commercial sources to validate touring activity, identify venues and withholding agents, estimate revenue exposure, and support tax compliance determinations. Market research determined that integrated commercial subscription platforms significantly improve research efficiency, reduce manual data aggregation, and provide more reliable and timely access to entertainment industry information.

Due to staffing reductions and increased workload volume, the CWA program requires a centralized, commercially available subscription database solution capable of supporting timely compliance analysis, improving operational efficiency, and reducing administrative burden associated with manual research processes.

C.3 DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

The Contractor shall provide a commercially available, web-based entertainment industry subscription database solution equivalent in capability to Pollstar that delivers comprehensive entertainment industry data and analytical functionality to support IRS compliance activities.

Equivalent commercial solutions will be considered if they satisfy the Government’s salient operational and functional characteristics identified in this PWS.

The Contractor shall provide the following capabilities:

1. Performance Data: Search and filter by artist, date, and location to identify historical and upcoming performances and tours, with data coverage dating back to at least 2015 and continuously updated to include the latest available tour and performance data.

2. Box Office Reporting: Generate commercially available customizable reports containing ticket sales, gross revenue, and attendance data updated regularly and consistent with commercial availability.

3. Industry Directory: Provide access to a searchable entertainment industry directory (“route book”) with filtering by location and radius, including booking agents, promoters, venues, and related industry contacts.

4. Industry News: Provide regularly updated online news covering touring activity, entertainment industry developments, and business transactions.

5. Trend Analysis: Provide commercially available analytical tools and reporting capabilities that identify trends in touring, regional performance activity, and industry patterns.

6. Data Export: Allow users to export reports and datasets in standard formats compatible with Microsoft Office applications for further Government analysis.

7. Integrated Platform: Provide commercially available integrated access to performance data, box office reporting, industry contacts, and reporting tools within a unified commercial platform.

8. Access: Provide full access to all database features included in the subscription level offered to commercial customers without functional limitations.

C.3.1 SALIENT FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

To be considered acceptable for award, proposed products must provide the following salient characteristics, which reflect commercially available operational capabilities necessary to support the Government’s minimum mission requirements: :

1. Historical and current touring/performance data coverage dating back to at least 2015 and continuously updated to include the latest available tour and performance data;

2. Integrated box office reporting including ticket sales, attendance metrics, and gross revenue analytics;

3. Searchable entertainment industry contact databases including agents, promoters, venues, and related industry contacts;

4. Advanced search, filtering, and trend analysis capability;

5. Structured reporting and export functionality;

6. Regularly updated entertainment industry reporting and news;

7. Integrated datasets within a unified commercial platform;

8. Continuous web-based availability;

9. Functionality suitable for non-technical Government personnel; and

10. Commercially available training and customer support services.

C.3.2 EQUAL PRODUCT SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Offerors proposing products other than the referenced brand name product shall clearly demonstrate how the proposed solution satisfies each salient operational and functional characteristic identified in this Performance Work Statement (PWS).

The Government may evaluate commercial literature, technical documentation, demonstrations, trial access, customer support information, and other supporting materials to determine whether the proposed equal product provides functionality substantially equivalent to the referenced brand name solution.

Failure to clearly demonstrate equivalency with the identified salient characteristics may result in the proposal being determined technically unacceptable.

C.4 REQUIRED DATA

The Contractor shall provide authorized users with full access to all data, tools, and features included within the proposed subscription solution offered to commercial customers.

The system shall:

• Allow users to save searches, reports, and datasets

• Provide consistent data formatting for export and reporting

• Maintain data accuracy and completeness consistent with commercially available industry standards

• Provide integrated access to entertainment industry information through a unified platform interface

• Support efficient research and reporting workflows for non-technical Government personnel

PERFORMANCE STANDARD – REQUIRED DATA

• Data shall be updated at a frequency consistent with or equal to that provided to the Contractor’s commercial customers.

• System availability shall maintain at least 99% uptime excluding scheduled maintenance periods.

• Data queries and report generation shall return results within five (5) seconds under normal operating conditions.

• Exported reports and datasets shall maintain consistent formatting and usability within Microsoft Office applications.

C.5 INFORMATION ACCESS

The Contractor shall provide secure, web-based access to the subscription database solution through username and password authentication.

The system shall:

• Be accessible twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week

• Be compatible with current versions of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft 365 applications

• Allow export capability to Microsoft Excel, Access, and Word

• Comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

• Operate through standard web browsers without requiring specialized Government-installed software

• Provide functionality accessible to non-technical Government personnel

PERFORMANCE STANDARD – INFORMATION ACCESS

Requested information is provided to authorized IRS users as follows:

1. Compatible with Windows 10 and can link and export data to Microsoft Office 365 version of Microsoft Excel, Access, and Word. In addition to the preceding operating system and applications, the Contractor shall:

a) Maintain compatibility with the latest version of the Microsoft Operating System and Excel, Access, and Word applications,

b) Complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and

c) Available online using high-speed network and modem connections, as well as through the IRS Intranet using a Web Browser on http port 80 only.

2. Website access is by use of ID and password.

3. Account issuance is restricted to the IRS point of contact.

C.6. HELP/SUPPORT IN USE OF DATABASE

The Contractor shall provide commercial user support services for the subscription database solution, including:

• Help desk support during standard business hours, Monday through Friday excluding Federal holidays

• Response to user inquiries within one (1) business day

• Resolution or status updates within two (2) business days

Support services shall include assistance with:

• System access and authentication

• Data interpretation

• Report generation

• Export functionality

• General system functionality and troubleshooting

C.7. DATABASE TRAINING UPON REQUEST

The Contractor shall provide commercially available training and onboarding support for authorized Government users upon request.

Training support shall include:

• Initial onboarding training through virtual, recorded, or instructor-led sessions

• Additional training sessions as requested by the Government

• User guides, training materials, and instructional documentation

• Instruction regarding search functionality, reporting capability, export capability, and analytical tools

C.8 AUTHORIZED USERS

Authorized users under this contract are select CWA program staff of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS Point-of-Contact are TBD, TBD. The IRS Contracting Officer’s Representative, COR, is TBD.

C.9 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The estimated period of performance for services under this contract requirement will be:

Base Year Period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 Option Year 1 Period: July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028 Option Year 2 Period: July 1, 2028 – June 30, 2029 Option Year 3 Period: July 1, 2029 – June 30, 2030 Option Year 4 Period: July 1, 2030 – June 30, 2031 mailto:Rehan.Chaudhry@irs.gov mailto:Danny.J.Gardier@irs.gov

The vendor will be ready to commence work under the contract after receipt of contract award of the Base Year Period.

C.10 QUALITY ASSURANCE

The Government will monitor Contractor performance against the performance standards identified in this PWS.

The Government may evaluate system functionality, reporting capability, export capability, accessibility, and operational usability throughout the period of performance to ensure continued compliance with the PWS requirements and salient functional characteristics.

Failure to meet required performance standards may result in corrective action, service remediation, performance documentation, or other remedies as determined appropriate by the Contracting Officer.

C.10.1 DEMONSTRATION OF FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITY

The Government reserves the right to require vendors proposing equal products to demonstrate system functionality using representative operational scenarios relevant to the CWA program mission.

Demonstrations may include:

• Historical performance searches

• Box office reporting exercises

• Industry contact searches

• Trend analysis functionality

• Report export capability

• General workflow usability for non-technical Government users

Demonstrations may be required to validate whether proposed equal products satisfy the salient functional characteristics identified in this PWS.

C.11 DELIVERY

The Contractor shall provide full system access to authorized users no later than the first day of the Period of Performance.

C.12 INVOICES

Contract Number must be on all future invoices. Invoices must be submitted annually in advance to the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) at www.ipp.gov.

Duplicate Copy of electronic Invoices will be delivered to:

http://www.ipp.gov/

TBD

CONTRACTING OFFICER REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

Internal Revenue Service

C.13 CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

TBD, CONTRACTING OFFICER REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

Phone:

Email:

C.14 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

N/A. There will be no Government furnished property provided under this contract requirement.

C.15 SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

N/A.

mailto:Danny