The requirement supports the procurement software and associated support services for use by volunteer tax preparers under the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Electronic Tax Software Application (ETSA) project. The objective is to ensure reliable, secure, a

The Internal Revenue Service seeks commercial-off-the-shelf electronic tax preparation and transmission software and integrated support services for volunteer tax preparers under the ETSA project, with proposals due May 28, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET. The procurement is unrestricted with mandatory small business subcontracting goals: 25% Small Business, 5% Small Disadvantaged Business, 5% Women-Owned Small Business, 3% HUBZone, and 3% Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business.

Place of performance is Montgomery, AL. The solution must support federal, state, and local individual income tax return preparation and transmission for up to 8,500 licenses across approximately 12,000 domestic and 70 international VITA and TCE program sites. The incumbent contractor is Rhodes Computer Services, Inc. (Contract No. 2032H5-21-D-00002).

The contractor must deliver commercial-off-the-shelf software with Tier 1–3 help desk support during extended filing season hours, web-based and instructor-led training, comprehensive reporting, system maintenance and updates, and knowledge transfer. Software must achieve 99% monthly accuracy in processing tax returns, maintain 99% weekly web-based availability excluding scheduled maintenance, and resolve 95% of help desk calls on first contact. All contractor personnel with staff-like access to IRS systems and sensitive but unclassified information must complete mandatory security training and comply with IRS Publication 4812, NIST SP 800-53, NIST SP 800-61, and ATS efile testing certification within two weeks of award. Software capability demonstrations are required; offerors may submit USB flash drives to the Atlanta, GA address.

The base ordering period runs June 30, 2026 through June 29, 2027, with four consecutive 12-month option periods through June 29, 2031. The NAICS code is 541511, Computer Systems Design Services, with a $34 million annual receipts size standard. Evaluation uses a Best Value Tradeoff approach, weighing Technical Capability and Past Performance combined more heavily than Price. Three past performance references are required; CPARS reports are optional. The contract is Firm Fixed Price with annual option years priced individually. Amendment 0001, issued May 20, 2026, incorporates vendor questions and government answers; no additional questions will be accepted.