CONTINUING EDUCATION PROVIDER REGISTRATION AND TRACKING SYSTEM

THIS IS NOT A FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) AND DOES NOT COMMIT THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS) TO AWARD A CONTRACT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE to determine the availability of all responsible sources, including large, non-profit, and small businesses (e.g., 8(a), service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, veteran-owned small business, and women-owned small business) under NAICS code, 541512, that have the capability, experience, and expert knowledge in the area of implementation of annual Continuing Education (CE) requirements for all return preparers who are not attorneys, enrolled agents, enrolled actuaries, or enrolled retirement plan agents. The IRS intends to award a no-cost contract; the vendor(s) will not be reimbursed by the federal government for fees, costs, or any other charge or expense. The vendor is expected to cover its cost and any profit by charging reasonable provider fees. I. BACKGROUND In June of 2009, the IRS Commissioner launched a comprehensive review of return preparers in an effort to help the IRS better leverage this community with the twin goals of increasing taxpayer compliance and ensuring uniform and high ethical standards of conduct for preparers. The IRS Strategic Plan for 2009 - 2013 addresses the importance of return preparers in two objectives: 1) Strengthen partnerships with tax practitioners, tax return preparers, and other third parties in order to ensure effective tax administration , and 2) Ensure that all practitioners, tax return preparers, and other third parties in the tax system adhere to professional standards and follow the law. In December 2009, the IRS announced the results of the review and made multiple recommendations to increase the oversight of return preparers. Please refer to the IRS Return Preparer Report (dated December 2009) for a greater understanding of the context and detail of the IRS Return Preparer recommendations: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4832.pdf. Included in the recommendations was the implementation of annual Continuing Education requirements (hereafter, referred to as - CE) for all return preparers who are not attorneys, CPAs, enrolled agents, enrolled actuaries, or enrolled retirement plan agents. The Return Preparer program plans to begin reviewing and approving applications from continuing education providers no later than September 2011. Although individual courses will not be reviewed and approved, providers will be required to verify their qualifications as an educational provider. In addition, the IRS is considering requiring some applicants to provide a sample course for review. In order to manage this process effectively, the Return Preparer Office will need a system that includes the following: - Enables providers to submit requested information and upload documentation of proof when necessary [i.e. contact information, credentials or other status (e.g. academic institution)] upon registration and renewal. If approved by the IRS, generates appropriate outcome letter and provider identification number on behalf of the IRS; - Issues numbers (or range of numbers) for courses offered by each provider; - Accepts upload of records from providers, by PTIN, for all courses completed by a given PTIN holder; - Uploads these records via interface to the PTIN database that is housed and maintained by a vendor; - Accessible by IRS or, as needed, TIGTA and contractors for purposes of provider approvals, review, audit, analysis, and reporting; - Generates automated notices to a secure mailbox for providers who must renew their approvals; - Provides applicable information about approved CE providers to the IRS to display in a public format in order for tax preparers to determine approved IRS providers (i.e. web page and/or links to provider web pages); - Ability to add other CE provider types in later phases (Enrolled Agents, Enrolled Retirement Plan Agents, and Enrolled Actuaries); - Has a call center structure to handle questions from CE providers; - Meets IRS security and privacy requirements Explain which of these tasks you can perform and, to the extent possible based on the description above, provide an estimate or range of what you might charge per applicant for this service. Any responsible sources that currently possess such capabilities and have prior experience providing services using this expertise are encouraged to respond to this notice by providing the following information: 1. Narrative providing evidence of expertise in the above areas. The narrative should include: (1) description of services that align with the areas noted above; and (2) descriptions of similar projects worked on by your company as a prime contractor or as a significant subcontractor within the past five (5) years, including: (a) dollar amount of the contract; (b) detailed description of the technical AND schedule requirements of that project; (c) a copy of sample reports completed under that project (if releasable to IRS); (d) contract type used on that project; (e) indication of how long the project took/will take to complete from start to finish, and (f) name, address, point of contact, phone number and email address at customer organization for which the work was/is being done 2. Current socioeconomic status of your company including the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code. 3. Indication of whether your company currently has an active registration in the Central Contractor Registration at www.ccr.gov and Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) at https://bpn.orca.gov No telephone requests will be honored. All information provided will become property of IRS and will not be returned. The synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement and any follow-up information requests. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. All information submitted in response to this announcement must arrive on or before the closing date June 06, 2011; 4:00pm est. All capability statements and information requested above can be submitted via e-mail to angela.floyd@irs.gov and angie.L.taylor@irs.gov. Responses must be submitted not later than 4:00PM EST June 06, 2011. Responses shall be limited to 15 typed pages, including attachments.