Pilot IRS Augmented Reality

Pilot IRS –Request for Information (RFI)

Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Enterprise Digitalization and Case Management Office

Digitalization Technology Pilot – Augmented Reality

1. High-Level Summary/Future State

This RFI is associated with a Pilot IRS Enterprise Digitalization and Case Management Office (EDCMO) program and is the last of three planned Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 efforts.  The IRS EDCMO seeks information on service providers and associated solutions capable of generating information which improves the taxpayer experience when a mobile device is directed at IRS images, forms, etc.  We are primarily interested in solutions that:

1. Generate information which improves the taxpayer experience when a mobile device is directed at IRS images, forms, etc., based on publicly available information.  Additionally, solutions which provide multiple sets of information via a single interface (i.e., augmented reality); for instance, solutions which superimpose computer-generated images of submission instructions, phone numbers, deadlines, translated versions of forms, etc.
2. Interface appropriately and efficiently with IRS websites and information (i.e., do not create lag for other users of IRS.gov).  Adhere to any cybersecurity requirements and Section 508 for IRS websites.
3. Provide immediate feedback on and improve the taxpayer experience (i.e., satisfaction metrics, additional sets of information that are desirable, unique users, etc.), by being able to rapidly include additional/new publicly available information or additional IRS images, forms, etc.

1. Background/Current State

The mission of the IRS is to provide America’s taxpayers top quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and enforce the law with integrity and fairness to all.  This mission statement describes our role and the public’s expectation about how we should perform that role.  In the past decade, the number of Americans using a mobile device as the primary way to access the web has increased dramatically. Providing additional methods and opportunities to access the information on IRS.gov will allow the over 500 million taxpayers a year that visit this site an improved taxpayer experience.

1. Specific Areas of Input Requested/Questions

EDCMO respectfully requests input from industry partners and other parties regarding the following inquiries/topics:

1. 1. 1. Provide summary background on any existing solutions that you have deployed in government or industry that addresses this type of requirement. Include any pertinent metrics, customer satisfaction scores, or return on investment (ROI) measures.
      2. Identify any known or potential infrastructures/interface issues that will make this effort more difficult (i.e., does restricting the solution to information contained on IRS.gov change what is available to the IRS/taxpayer?).
      3. Is it possible to/are there any significant performance impacts of utilizing paper documents versus electronic images on a screen?  If there is any substantive distinction, what are the relative pros and cons of each approach?
      4. Explain how comparable augmented reality solutions in government or industry measure ROI, improved user experience, etc.
      5. The IRS presumes that 30-60 days would be sufficient for multiple industry partners to generate a rough proof of concept based exclusively on publicly available information and feedback from IRS personnel.  Please confirm or correct this presumption, providing details or recommended timeframes.
      6. The IRS has approximately 1,500 forms.  What is an approximate cost per form that the IRS should reasonably expect from industry?  Less than $50K, more than $50K but less than $100K, or more than $100K per form?
      7. Provide commentary on / analysis of this potential effort.  For instance, agencies/companies who pursue this type of solution cannot reasonably expect to generate any quantitative benefit; in order to be successful in any potential endeavor in this space, the IRS must take these specific steps; by focusing on publicly available information, the IRS can expect to learn these specific things about American taxpayers.
      8. Provide business size status and existing government contract vehicles, if any.
      9. If your firm has no government contract vehicles, what are your primary concerns regarding / impediments to contracting with the federal government?
          
2. Disclaimer

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. This notice should not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose other than market research.  This announcement does not commit the Government to any contractual agreement. The Government is not seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests.

Respondents will NOT be notified of the results of the analysis. All data received in response to this Sources Sought synopsis that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary information will be fully protected from release outside the Government. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly identified.  Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with all applicable Government regulations.  All documentation shall become the property of the Government and will not be returned.

The deadline for responses to this RFI is 08:00AM EST, Monday August 2, 2021.  Responses should be forwarded via email to both the primary and secondary points of contact below.  Responses shall not exceed 5 pages and shall not contain any brochures, advertising or any other type of extraneous, graphic literature or documents that have not been requested and are not relevant or essential in demonstrating the company’s ability to provide the required services.  Vendors may provide links to relevant websites, as appropriate.

Vendors shall reference “RFI_EDCMO IRS Digitalization Technology Pilot Augmented Reality” in the subject line of their response as well as in the subject line of any other e-mail correspondence referencing this notice. Please continue to monitor https://www.sam.gov for updates. The IRS and EDCMO appreciate your interest in our mission and look forward to engaging with you.

** THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT RESPOND TO PHONE CALLS. **

Thank you for your interest.

Contracting Office Address:

IRS, 1111 Constitution Ave. NW

Washington, District of Columbia 20024

Primary Point of Contact:

Marcy Almeida

marcela.a.almeida@irs.gov

202-317-4087

Secondary Point of Contact:

Douglas “Marty” Graham     

douglas.m.graham@irs.gov

202-317-3338