VETS 2 Prime seeks DevOps partner to support IRS Application Program Interface (API) Management Platform support Opp

The Ask: OS AI recently received a request from a VETS 2 Small business Prime who is responding to an active Internal Revenue Service RFI which seeks Contractor support for development and maintenance of the AD production baseline to ensure ready to use life cycle environments with accurate software configuration management for multiple releases. The specific ask here is for a current IRS IT partner (mid-tier or large preferred) who can bring direct experience in areas such as Continuous Integration (CI), Automated Testing (AT), Continuous Delivery (CD), Software Define Infrastructure (SDI), Platform as a Service (Paas) and Configuration Management. 

This request is in response to an active RFI that is on eBuy. Potential teaming partners (large/small) with past performance and/or key relationships are welcome. 

Background 

“The AIB has numerous years in developing enterprise APIs and is the owner of the Enterprise API Gateway (EAG). The EAG serves as a vital solution to implementing the IRS API Strategy. With the experience in building enterprise APIs and owning the EAG, the AIB was the logical choice for the IRS to implement their strategy. AIB will collaborate efforts to support the IRS infrastructure and to transform the technology platform to one that is shared, lowers its total cost of ownership (TCO), and that enables the IRS to conduct environment planning, provide release management activities, manage technical integration, provide for secure coding integration practices and technical problem resolution. 

The work supported shall provide development and application integration services for new software releases to include, testing and deployment support for the IRS Integrated Enterprise Portal (IEP) environment as well as post-production deployment efforts in preparation for transition to production operations. Moreover, it shall provide technical support, development and testing for new software releases related to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form(s) capabilities and Reporting Data Delivery support and testing activities, which will define IRS requirements for the services that will provide enhancements for current development efforts as well as future legislation. 

OBJECTIVE – The objective of this Performance Work Statement (PWS) is to obtain contractor support for infrastructure management and design in-order-to support security protocols, firewalls, identity management tools, virus scanning, host-based intrusion detection, monitoring, and host-based scanning tools. The Contractor shall review the current system and process requirements, risks, design assumptions, and design documentation and use the knowledge gained to produce detailed technical designs as identified in the list of deliverables. 

Detailed technical designs will cover hardware, software, networking, and other infrastructures necessary to meet approved requirements for legislative changes and to incorporate new technologies, practices and Program supported activities. The Contractor shall have the ability to adhere to current IRS policies and procedures while supporting appropriate levels of security and agile decision-making to incorporate new technologies and practices. 

Technical designs shall include a verification or adjustment of the planned hardware and software and will address security requirements to address exposed physical hardware, software, or data. 

SCOPE OF WORK AND DESCRIPTION OF TASKS – This PWS is a Performance-Based Acquisition. It is a hybrid Firm Fixed Price (FFP) / Labor Hours (LH) with mission-oriented, event-driven performance measures and incentives. 

The scope of this Performance Work Statement (PWS) encompasses Contractor support for development and maintenance of the AD production baseline to ensure ready to use life cycle environments with accurate software configuration management for multiple releases. In addition, the contractor will provide for implementation of a fully integrated systems infrastructure and related management processes. As DevOps is introduced across the IRS infrastructure, the Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) initiative will deliver seamless integration from end-to-end for the software development and deployment process. The Contractor shall support the CI/CD process where source code is continuously compiled, tested, and delivered to test environments which will result in immediate error detection versus at the end of the sprint or later. 

Technical Integration activities that the Contractor shall support will also include upgrading configurations, delivery automation, backlog grooming sessions, ensuring program critical risk exposure is minimized for integration, review and validate technical solutions are implemented in a safe, secure, extensible, and scalable environment, establish and document standard operating procedures for technical integration and project and program activities. The TIO requires subject matter expertise on different tax processing systems within the IRS that include all submission processing systems; corporate data systems; compliance and case processing systems; and modernized systems. 

Contractors must work as part of an Integrated Project Team (IPT) including IRS staff and other contractors utilizing the Iterative Enterprise Life Cycle (ELC) development path and methodology. The Contractor shall support the integrated project team to include, but not be limited to the following activities: 

• Supporting the design of receipt and processing of high-volume data in alignment with existing IRS 
• security, reliability, performance and capacity requirements 
• Developing requirements 
• Designing solutions 
• Developing code 
• Performing unit tests 
• Deploying builds to various and sundry environments 
• Configuring hardware and environments 
• Importing/exporting data to internal and external IT systems 
• Developing and updating the relevant technical documents as needed” 

If you have specific capabilities and/or past performance supporting similar efforts or elsewhere, to include in the commercial sector, comment below so this requestor and other parties who may be seeking partners may see.  

Pro Tip 1 – If you are a firm with capabilities and socio-economic status that might support this or any related effort, comment below and let others know you are interested. Comments are some of the most viewed portions of any post.  

Pro Tip 2 – Feel like you are missing out on some of the key actions happening across the Federal sector? It can be hard to keep up. Make sure you are in the know by checking out the Treasury Intel Segment page, chock full of insights and intelligence related to a wide range of Federal agencies    

Looking for some good teaming partners that are supporting IRS today? Click Here  

You can filter the list by several key indicators, to include socio-economic status, NAICS, Contract vehicle, etc.   

Two Dozen IRS focused firms drawing the most attention on OrangeSlices AI: 

• eTelligent ** 
• SD Solutions  
• Anika
• Brillient ** 
• Sky Solutions ** 
• Immersive Concepts
• Chevo Consulting
• Maximus ** 
• Technuf
• ICF ** 
• Delviom ** 
• Akira Technologies
• Cybermedia Technologies (CTEC)
• IMC ** 
• IT Concepts ** 
• INADEV ** 
• Coforma ** 
• Truss
• Nuvitek
• Corner Alliance
• Diaconia
• 22nd Century ** 
• Deloitte ** 
• Intact Technology
• Zen Strategics ** 
• Navitas ** 
• Leidos
• SoKat ** 

** An Elev8 GovCon Honoree, noted for a corporate culture that demonstrates its own excellence, making the company a beacon for talent, for partners, and for clients.     

We cannot and will not speculate here as to the reasons for the increased interest, but whether it is a company evaluating them as a potential partner; a federal acquisition leader doing their due diligence; or a consultant weighing their next job move, this group of companies has been receiving increased interest.      

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