IT SECURITY IMPLEMENTATION (ITSI) CONTRACTOR SUPPORT

Amendment #2 - 7/14/2023: Posted the Questions and Answers (Q&A) document. Amendment #1 - 6/26/2023: Corrected the document titles for both attachments: RFI and SOO Draft. Corrected the numbering in the technical info description. IT Security Implementation (ITSI) Contractor Support REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES 1. SOURCES SOUGHT/RFI: THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IS RELEASED PURSUANT TO FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) PART 10, MARKET RESEARCH. This RFI/Sources Sought is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as either a solicitation or the obligation on the part of Government. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts or quotations. This notice is for market research purposes only. 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. 2. BACKGROUND: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Information Technology (IT) Cybersecurity Organization has adopted an aggressive approach to overhauling major systems, platforms, applications, and networks in support of the Agency's mission and to achieve compliance with emerging federal information system security standards. Novel multi-year funding for long-term modernization initiatives provided under the historic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has enabled several critically needed transformation efforts for mission-essential systems following decades of underinvestment and constraints of short-iteration budgetary funding cycles. Broader Agency-wide endeavors to improve the taxpayer experience are dependent upon the advancement and security of IRS core infrastructure, which currently lacks standardization and hosts some of the oldest in-service legacy systems within the federal government. All modernization efforts are data-driven and enable excellence in customer service, enhanced compliance enforcement efforts, and adaptive tax administration capabilities while maintaining the security and privacy of taxpayer and Agency information. A robust IRS Cybersecurity Program rooted in cutting-edge technology, data, and analytics will ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information systems, services, data, and assets across the enterprise in support of the Agency mission. The purpose of this solicitation is to secure expert information technology, cybersecurity, and project management support required to scope, design, implement, operationalize, and maintain a wide range of new security systems, processes, applications, and other technology solutions for the IRS Cybersecurity organization; and to assist in the overhaul, enhancement, interoperability, augmentation, expansion, integration, retirement/decommissioning, and/or migration of existing IT assets into a streamlined operational environment. Improving the Agency's core infrastructure, technological architecture, and security capabilities as necessary to fulfill the Agency's mission and protect the sensitive information of every American taxpayer. 3. SUBMISSION INFORMATION: The IRS seeks to identify potential vendors with the skills and capabilities necessary to perform the requirements outlined in the attached draft SOO. The IRS is looking to identify: Small businesses that can perform the requirements outlined in the draft SOO. Large business capable of performing the requirements outlined in the draft SOO and able to incorporate a small business participation plan to subcontract a minimum percentage as required by the IRS (25%, 35%, etc.). The IRS is requesting vendors to submit the following information and answers to items below. General Info: Company name. Company address. Company points of contact, phone and email address. Current contract number and task area(s) appropriate for this notice; including the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number and list related North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code that you offer as it relates to this project. Size (small, large) and type of company (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, veteran owned, etc.). Best in Class (BIC) contract vehicles on which your company is a contract holder (if applicable). Provide associated contract number(s). Technical Info: Please identify all GSA Contracts your company holds that are relevant to this requirement. Please indicate all SINS, Pools or Constellations that are applicable to this requirement. Please indicate the size of your business. Please select all socio-economic categories that apply to your business. In your estimation what percent of this potential requirement would your company need to subcontract to other companies? Does your company have the capability to perform all required services in the draft SOO? Does your company have similar or previous experience with the type of work outlined in the draft SOO? Does your company have the capability to provide personnel with requisite security clearances? Please explain your ability to provide seamless support services as identified in the draft SOO? What is a realistic RFQ preparation response time for this type of solicitation? How much lead-time will your company need from notification of award to start of work? Does the draft SOO contain information that would enable you to adequately respond to an RFP? Does your company possess the expertise to ensure a successful contract transition within 30 days of award? Does your company have a current approved DCAA accounting system necessary for performing cost type contracts How long would it take for your company on average to identify and resource allocate personnel for the requirement What labor categories are applicable to the requirement? Does your company have experience developing software documentation, to include systems administration manuals and software code documentation? Does your company have experience developing, requirements documentation to include data dictionaries, data models, and the documentation of business rules? Do you provide configuration, customization, and enhancement services relevant to the draft SOO? Does your company have experience using Agile methodology in application development? 4. RFI QUESTIONS/DUE DATE: Questions in response to this Sources Sought/RFI may be submitted electronically on or before July 5, 2023, at 5:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The Government reserves the right to respond to some, all or none of the questions submitted. Vendors that meet the requirements described in this RFI and draft PWS are invited to submit their responses. The deadline for responses to this RFI is 5:00 PM EDT, July 24, 2023. Responses shall be sent via email to both the primary point of contact, kristen.r.healy@irs.gov and a copy to charles.c.bennett@irs.gov . Responses shall not exceed 10 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 - IRS ITSI Contractor Support in the subject line of their response as well as in the subject line of any other email correspondence referencing this notice. ** THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT RESPOND TO PHONE CALLS REGARDING NOTICE ** Thank you for your interest. Contracting Office Address: Internal Revenue Service 5000 Ellin Road Lanham, MD 20706 Primary Point of Contact: Kristen Healy, Cybersecurity Solutions Development, kristen.r.healy@irs.gov Secondary Point of Contact: Charles Bennett, Cybersecurity Solutions Development, charles.c.bennett@irs.gov Draft SOO attached.