Added: Jul 19, 2008 2:55 pm
THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
RESPONSE DATE: July 28, 2008
NAICS Code: 511210
POINT OF CONTACT: Charisse.James@irs.gov and Leona M. Brown@irs.gov
This is a Sources Sought Notice. This is not a Request for Proposals, no solicitation document exits. Responses to this sources sought notice will not serve as proposals, bids or offers, which could be accepted by the government to form a binding contract. Any information provided to the Government is strictly voluntary and will be provided at no cost to the Government. Responses are due no later than 2:00 p.m. (EST) July 28, 2008.
The main purpose of this sources sought notice is to conduct market research information about vendors who are capable of providing desktop and web-based commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) electronic tax preparation and transmission software and support, compliant with the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) electronic e-file and security requirements. Additional information is being sought to assist the Government in determining the availability of compliant electronic and information technology (E&IT); products/ services and comparing such to meet the Government s requirement for accessibility.
The market research information resulting from this sources sought will be used to assist in determining the acquisition strategy for the upcoming competition.
The IRS invites all interested parties to submit a written response to this sources sought notice. Specifically, the written response needs to address if a potential offeror/s product/service is capable of providing an electronic return preparation and transmission software and support. In addition, the written response needs to address whether or not a potential offeror/s product/service conforms to Section 508 Access Board standards as they apply to the Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requirement for Electronic Payment Services as described herein. Section 508 requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities.
No Solicitation document is currently available. The government will consider the responses to this sources sought notice and issue a formal solicitation in the Fall of 2008. Responses to this notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After review of the responses to this announcement, a solicitation announcement will be published in the Federal Business Opportunity for the respective electronic return preparation and transmission software and support. All interested offerors will have the opportunity to respond to solicitation announcements.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 511210 and the size standard is $23 Million. Small businesses shall indicate if they are: 1) small business; 2) 8(a) business; 3) HUBZone small business; 4) small disadvantaged business; 5) woman-owned small business; (6) veteran-owned small business; or (7) service-disabled veteran-owned small business.
Project Description:
Please Note: The description provided herein is a summary of anticipated product and services and is not intended to be all-inclusive.
This is a FY 2009 action. The primary objective of the Government s requirement will encompass focusing on procuring an electronic tax preparation and transmission software and support. This software will support the IRS organizations tax assistance programs, Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE), Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), IRS Employees (Employee e-file), and Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TAC). Support shall include software maintenance; help desk assistance, classroom, web-based, and web-site operation training; receipt and processing of transmissions from licensees to contractor and from contractor to IRS; return of acknowledgement files to IRS licensees; and management reports.
The IRS requires both desktop and web-based Commercial Off-the-shelf (COTS) electronic tax preparation and transmission software and support, compliant with IRS electronic e-file and security requirements. Both the desktop and web-based software will be used by the IRS tax assistance programs listed above, to provide free electronic federal and state tax return preparation and transmission for taxpayers. The software is expected to be used by tax professionals and non-tax professionals, who are IRS partners, volunteers, and employees.
IRS further anticipates the award of a contract for a one year base period and four one-year option periods.
Effective June 25, 2001, the Federal government implemented Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Amendments of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 794(d)). Section 508 requires that the federal government only acquire electronic and information technology goods and services that provide for access by persons with disabilities.
The following standards have been determined to be applicable in supporting the Governments requirement for Electronic Return Preparation and Transmission Software and Support.
1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems
The vendor shall use the following criteria, in accordance with 1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems, in determining software applications and operating systems compliance with Section 508.
1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems
(a) When software is designed to run on a system that has a keyboard, product functions shall be executable from a keyboard where the function itself or the result of performing a function can be discerned textually.
(b) Applications shall not disrupt or disable activated features of other products that are identified as accessibility features, where those features are developed and documented according to industry standards. Applications also shall not disrupt or disable activated features of any operating system that are identified as accessibility features where the application programming interface for those accessibility features has been documented by the manufacturer of the operating system and is available to the product developer.
(c) A well-defined on-screen indication of the current focus shall be provided that moves among interactive interface elements as the input focus changes. The focus shall be programmatically exposed so that assistive technology can track focus and focus changes.
(d) Sufficient information about a user interface element including the identity, operation and state of the element shall be available to assistive technology. When an image represents a program element, the information conveyed by the image must also be available in text.
(e) When bitmap images are used to identify controls, status indicators, or other programmatic elements, the meaning assigned to those images shall be consistent throughout an application s performance.
(f) Textual information shall be provided through operating system functions for displaying text. The minimum information that shall be made available is text content, text input caret location, and text attributes.
(g) Applications shall not override user selected contrast and color selections and other individual display attributes.
(h) When animation is displayed, the information shall be displayable in at least one non-animated presentation mode at the option of the user.
(i) Color coding shall not be used as the only means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element.
(j) When a product permits a user to adjust color and contrast settings, a variety of color selections capable of producing a range of contrast levels shall be provided.
(k) Software shall not use flashing or blinking text, objects, or other elements having a flash or blink frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz.
(l) When electronic forms are used, the form shall allow people using Assistive Technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues.
1194.22 Web-based intranet and Internet information and applications.
The vendor shall use the following criteria, in accordance with 1194.22 Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications, in determining web site compliance with Section 508.
1194.22 Web-based intranet and internet information and applications.
(a) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (e.g., via "alt", "longdesc", or in element content).
(b) Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be synchronized with the presentation.
(c) Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup.
(d) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet.
(e) Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-side image map.
(f) Client-side image maps shall be provided instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape.
(g) Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables.
(h) Markup shall be used to associate data cells and header cells for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers.
(i) Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation.
(j) Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz.
(k) A text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, shall be provided to make a web site comply with the provisions of this part, when compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way. The content of the text-only page shall be updated whenever the primary pages changes.
(l) When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to create interface elements, the information provided by the script shall be identified with functional text that can be read by assistive technology.
(m) When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with 1194.21(a) through (l).
(n) When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, the form shall allow people using assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues.
(o) A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links.
(p) When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required.
1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria
(a) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user vision shall be provided, or support for assistive technology used by people who are blind or visually impaired shall be provided.
(b) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require visual acuity greater than 20/70 shall be provided in audio and enlarged print output working together or independently, or support for assistive technology used by people who are visually impaired shall be provided.
(d) Where audio information is important for the use of a product, at least one mode of operation and information retrieval shall be provided in an enhanced auditory fashion, or support for assistive hearing devices shall be provided.
(e) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user speech shall be provided, or support for assistive technology used by people with disabilities shall be provided.
(f) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require fine motor control or simultaneous actions and that is operable with limited reach and strength shall be provided.
1194.41 Information, documentation and support.
(a) Product support documentation provided to end-users shall be made available in alternate formats upon request, at no additional charge.
(b) End-Users shall have access to a description of the accessibility and compatibility features of products in alternate formats or alternate methods upon request, at no additional charge.
(c) Support services for products shall accommodate the communication needs of end-users with disabilities.
Potential offeror/s possessing the capability of providing these services are invited to submit, on a voluntary basis, in writing, sufficient information that demonstrates the ability to fulfill this requirement. Documentation submitted should include specific experience with and working knowledge of Electronic Payment Services.
All responses to this Request for Information (RFI) shall include Company Name and address, business size and type (1) small business; 2) 8(a) business; 3) HUBZone small business; 4) small disadvantaged business; 5) woman-owned small business; (6) veteran-owned small business; (7) service-disabled veteran-owned small business, or (8) large business), business and technical points of contact including e-mail addresses and telephone numbers, and whether the offeror/s product/service conforms to Section 508 Access Board standards. Registration in the Central Contracting Registration database www.ccr.gov is required.
Any questions regarding this posting must be submitted by July 23, 2008 in order to allow answers to questions to be publicly posted before the required response date of 28, July 2008. Please do not call the Contracting Office for information. We hope to eliminate duplicate questions by posting any and all questions on the www.fbo.gov website. If any questions contain proprietary information such information must be identified. Additional information or updates will be posted at the www.fbo.gov website. It is the responsibility of interested parties to check this website regularly for any changes or updates. Responses must be provided no later than July 28, 2008. No extensions will be granted.
This notice is to assist the Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Office of Procurement in determining potential sources on a proposed Request for Proposals. This sources sought announcement is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information solicited. The responses to this Sources Sought synopsis must be in writing and are to be forwarded via email to Charisse.James@irs.gov and Leona.M.Brown@irs.gov on or before 2:00 p.m. (EST) July 28, 2008. No telephonic inquiries will be accepted.
