Pilot IRS- EST Code Free Automation Tool

PILOT IRS - Request for Information (RFI) 2032H5-20-N-0010

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Enterprise Systems Testing (EST) domain

Code Free Test Automation Tool

Description

This RFI is part of the Pilot IRS Program. Enterprise System Testing (EST)  Domain (the Domain), under the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Treasury is seeking to expand and scale automated testing across EST’s test system portfolio per technical model or category (i.e. Web UI, Mainframe, Database, API Web Service, etc.). EST is requesting information about potential automation approaches/tools that will help it analyze and automate multiple data sets for testing various tax-related forms and applications without the need for extensive programming/coding. We are primarily interested in addressing three broad questions::

1) Are we on the right page / are we missing anything in our pursuit of solutions for improving our testing process and methodologies?

2) Are there any existing examples of tools deployed and in use in this space?

3) What's a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM)  of how much tools would cost, relative to their ROI?

Goals of our RFI

Our goal with this RFI is to gather information on potential automation tools that exist in the industry which will help EST achieve its five main automation initiative goals:

• Automate more testing using existing staff without programming skills.
• EST is looking for code free automation tool to improve testing coverage
• Focus on legacy mainframe applications that have traditionally been a hard area to automate.
• Reduce test redundancy and increase regression testing, to encompass the entire application
• Accurately and precisely complete testing, within less time frame, as requirements are being released later in the year, due to governmental processes, but our end of test date remains the same
   
• Specific Areas of Input Requested
   
  The Domain respectfully requests input from industry partners and other parties regarding the following questions/topics:
   
  1. Provide summary background on any existing instances of automation tools/ solutions in the federal space that you have deployed to support comparable data sets to improve testing processes. In particular, address instances of automation tools/solutions relevant to various testing methodologies and covering all aspects of test lifecycle. Also address implementation strategies used, challenges and impediments encountered, project timelines, and performance metrics.
  2. Provide recommendations on process improvement. Also offer any overarching recommended approaches for test data management technologies in this space, if available as an integrated feature of potential tool sets.
  3. Identify  a ROM for contract cost to support this initiative on an annual basis, with any notations for development, hosting, and operations and maintenance.
  4. Provide potential ROI summary information that the Domain could reasonably expect to attain with the adoption and implementation of automation in this space.

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, April 17, 2020.  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_EST_Domain_Code Free Test Automation Tool” in the subject line of their response as well as in the subject line of any other e-mail correspondence referencing this notice.

** 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:

Brian Welch

Brian.J.Welch@irs.gov

240-613-1232