DRAFT SF1449 Electronic Tax Preparation Software

This Special Notice is a draft solicitation issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a civilian agency under the Department of the Treasury, for commercial off-the-shelf electronic tax preparation software and related support services. The notice was posted on April 26, 2026, with a current due date of May 15, 2026, though the government explicitly states this is for informational purposes only and is not a request for proposals or bids. The IRS will not accept responses to this notice, and no award will be made as a result of this posting. The government is providing this draft solicitation to inform industry of a forthcoming requirement while internal procurement review processes are being completed. A formal solicitation, if issued, will be synopsized separately on SAM.gov at a later date, and interested parties must monitor that platform for future updates.

The IRS seeks to procure tax preparation software to support its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs, operating across approximately 12,000 domestic volunteer sites and 70 international locations. The contract is structured as a single-award, firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicle with a 12-month base period beginning August 17, 2026, and four one-year option periods, requiring a minimum guarantee of 8,500 software licenses annually. Key requirements include software operating in three versions (web-based, desktop, and self-preparer modes), comprehensive help desk support during filing season with 95 percent first-contact resolution rates, integrated intake sheet processing, secure data handling, and user training materials in English and Spanish. Contractors must submit technical documentation (25-page maximum), fully functional software samples, detailed pricing, three past performance references, and a small business subcontracting plan targeting specific participation goals including 40 percent Small Business participation. Award will be made on a best-value basis considering technical capability, past performance, software testing results, small business participation, and price; however, interested firms should note that this draft is for industry review only and they should await the formal solicitation announcement on SAM.gov before submitting any proposals.