**Questions pertaining to Solicitation#TIRNO-08-R-00004 -- 3/26/2008**

**[NOTE:]{.underline}** *THE PAGE LIMITATION FOR VOLUME II, TECHNICAL
AND PAST PERFORMANCE PROPOSAL, FOR EACH AWARD GROUP HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO
150 PAGES.*

\(40\) Section 9.5 of the RFP on Marketing Support states: "The
contractor shall submit a \"Marketing Plan\" outlining the type of
activities the contractor intends to support, sponsor, or promote.\" The
section also lists types of activities the contractor may be asked to
attend.

We are wondering if you could provide, on average, the number of events
the contractor may be asked to attend, and the frequency with which it
might receive invitations to attend special events as listed. We are
also wondering the geographic locations these events may take place in.

*Although we cannot precisely state the frequency or geographic
locations of the events a vendor may be asked to attend, we estimate
that there will be 8 or fewer events annually, at locations across the
country.*

\(41\) [7.2.4  \--Briefs]{.underline} The Answer to Question 36
regarding the inclusion of Briefs as mandatory content at 7.2.4 read as
follows: "The requirement in Section 7.2.4 to include Briefs as a
mandatory item has been changed. This item is now considered highly
desirable content. "This would seem to move Briefs into 7.3 Highly
Desirable Content; most likely as a new line item.  However, no mention
is made of this.  Legal briefs are already included as mandatory content
at 8.2.2.2 in Award Group 3.

The estimated user pool for Award Group 2 is 25,000 IRS users, and that
for Award Group 3 is 23,000 IRS and 500 Treasury users.  The inclusion
of Briefs as a content source generally provides a particular benefit to
a total of 4,000 users in: the IRS Office of Chief Counsel (2,000), the
Department of the Treasury (500) and to a lesser degree those in the IRS
Office of Appeals (1,500).  It would appear that these 4,000 users would
already be given access to the more comprehensive content found in Award
Group 3.  Given the considerable duplication of cost associated with
acquiring Briefs in Award Group 2 and Award Group 3, would the
Government reconsider its response to Question 36 and completely
eliminate Briefs as a content source from Award Group 2?  If not, what
line item should vendors use when addressing Briefs in the Technical
Proposal for Award Group 2?  

*Briefs have been made Highly Desirable for Award Group 2, pursuant to
the IRS' response to vendors questions during the week of 3/20/08.
Briefs remain mandatory for Award Group 3. Since Briefs are now a highly
desirable item for Award Group 2, the vendors have the choice of whether
or not to include Briefs in their Award Group 2 proposal. When
responding to Award Group 2, regarding Briefs, Section 7.3, specifically
7.3.3 should be the line item used. The SOW contained in Section I of
the RFP will be edited to include 7.3.3 and to remove Briefs from
7.2.4.*

\(42\) Does the 100 page limitation apply to past performance proposal
material?

*The page limitation for Volume II, Technical and Past Performance
Proposal has been extended to 150 pages. This page limit applies to the
past performance information submitted by the vendor. .*

*(43)* It is our understanding that for the page limitation section 6
(alone), section 7 (alone), section 8 (alone) can be up to 100 pages? 
If so, is there a page limitation to sections 2, 4, 5 and 9?

*The page limitation applies to the vendor's entire Technical Proposal
for each Award Group. Sections 6, 7 and 8 represent three separate award
groups, each having the 150-page limitation. Sections 2, 4, 5 and 9
should be responded to in the Technical Proposal for each award group
proposal and would be part of the 150-page limitation. See "Content of
Technical Proposal" section on page 74, of the RFP\".*

\(44\) Section 8.3.3.7 seeks comprehensive Accounting Sources.  We have
been notified by the Financial Accounting Foundation, provider of
AICPA/FASB/GAAP/GAAS materials, that these materials are in the process
of being codified.  The codification is scheduled for release
approximately in the 2nd quarter 2009.  As a result, the content
provider can not provide any vendor with a licensing quote for making
the codified materials available to the IRS in 2009.   The content
provider is willing, however, to provide a licensing quote for continued
access to the pre- codified materials (to which the IRS now
enjoys access) for the 1st quarter 2009.  Pending availability of a
licensing quote for the codified AICPA/FASB/GAAP/GAAS materials, is
a bid to provide only the pre- codified materials for 1st quarter
2009 acceptable for all vendors wishing to offer those materials?   

*The vendor should provide a listing and related pricing of all content
that is available throughout the life of the contract. If there are any
exceptions (such as content available for only a limited time), it needs
to be noted in the proposal.*

\(45\) Do exhibits such as guides, reference material and brochures
count towards the 100 page limit?

*Vendors must fully document their entire technical proposal within the
page limitation for each proposed award group. Any guides, reference
materials and brochures that [directly]{.underline} support the
technical proposal must be included in the Technical Proposal.*

*We reiterate that extraneous narrative, elaborate brochures,
uninformative promotional material etc. must not be submitted.*