Pilot IRS Update 2021

Pilot IRS – Informational Posting

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

1.0 High-Level Summary

This posting is part of the Pilot IRS Program. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in conjunction with the Bureau of Fiscal Service (BFS) is sharing information about impending Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 procurement needs with its industry partners.  This posting will highlight a use case that is expected to generate a solicitation in the immediate future (30 days or less).  Additional information on other potential use cases is expected no later than April 26th.

This posting is primarily designed to provide information to industry partners so that they are aware of and able to plan (if they so choose) to support the IRS’s requirements in this space.  We expect an aggressive timeframe for proposals, evaluations, and awards.  As a frame of reference, in the previous four instances of Pilot IRS, the approximate duration of solicitation release to contract award has been roughly 35 calendar days.

2.0 Background / High-Level Priorities

At its most fundamental level, we are working to 1) reduce reliance on paper or microfilm, 2) increase access to machine-readable data, and 3) manage digital data to shift from low-value to high-value work and improve the taxpayer experience. 

At a near-term level, the first two goals (reduce reliance on paper/microfilm and increase access to machine-readable data) result in a focus on dramatically increasing the number of IRS/BFS forms and correspondence that are digitally available. The increase can be accomplished in at least three different ways: digital intake, machine-readable data, and digital storage.  It is important to note that, far more often than not, these first two goals address existing/legacy images and paper documents/microfilm, as well as new sets of images and paper/microfilm that come to or are generated by the IRS/BFS during its normal course of business.

The third goal (shifting from low-value to high-value work and improving the taxpayer experience) includes both improving existing efforts and establishing new efforts to engage with the taxpayer and improve the efficacy and efficiency of Treasury operations. For instance, improving the intake method for processing paper documents submitted to the IRS/BFS would likely pertain to digital intake or machine-readable data.  However, focusing on providing a different method of responding to taxpayer inquiries via a chatbot, or providing an analysis of cryptocurrency transactions for enforcement purposes, would not focus on existing paper processes. 

3.0 Extracting Machine-Readable Data from Low-Resolution and Poor-Quality Images (Digital and Paper / Hard Copy) Use Case

The IRS and BFS retain certain records in microfilm format.  Due to the nature of the format, it is difficult to extract information in a manner that is not high-touch and manual.  Retail Securities Services (RSS) is housed within BFS and issues, services, and redeems United States Savings Bonds in both electronic and paper form, as well as marketable Treasury securities sold in electronic form directly to retail investors. One of BFS’s priorities for Treasury is to help owners cash matured, unredeemed savings bonds or confirm there are open bonds associated with their social security numbers (SSN) or their name.  A complicating factor for this use case is its scope: there are more than 2 billion records in microfilm format, contained within roughly 177,000 reels, spanning a period of roughly two decades (1974-1993).  Ultimately, the intent of this use case would be to extract machine-readable data from the microfilm so that owners can be identified and contacted. 

4.0 Disclaimer

This notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes and is NOT a request for information (RFI). It is not requesting comment on the information contained within it, nor is it requesting meetings, documents, or questions at this time.  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.

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