The Fed Mission Success Round Up: 2022 Tax Season, Acquisition, IT Modernization, and More in Federal Agencies

Weekly News Round Up
Written By Fareeha Khan

Welcome to the Fed Mission Success News Round Up brought to you by Makpar. Each week, we will provide a summary of actionable news and insights to help aid in overall mission success for Federal agency IT decision-makers and influencers.

2022 Tax Filing Season Begins Jan. 24; IRS Outlines Refund Timing and What to Expect in Advance of April 18 Tax Deadline

The Internal Revenue Service announced that the nation's tax season will start on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2021 tax year returns.

Treasury Warns of Delayed Tax Refunds Due to 'Enormous Challenges'

The Treasury Department is warning that tax refunds and other services may be delayed this year because of “enormous challenges" including the coronavirus pandemic and previous budget cuts made at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

IRS Plans New Version of Its $700M Digital Platform Contract

The IRS is preparing to rebid a contract for the digital platform that connects taxpayers, paid tax preparers and IRS employees to agency systems. The Integrated Enterprise Portal (IEP) contract is currently held by Accenture and has a ceiling value of $692 million. The eight-year contract was awarded in 2017. The IRS anticipates making a new award in the second or third quarter of fiscal year 2023, according to contracting documents. 

Commerce Launches Pilot to Understand Vendors’ Cyber Capabilities

The Department of Commerce launched a pilot program to improve its understanding of vendors’ cybersecurity and related IT capabilities, as well as industry’s understanding of its mission needs. Dubbed the Government and Business Exchange (GABE), the forum will consist of 30-minute sessions hosted by Enterprise Services-Acquisition to share existing and emerging cyber requirements and watch vendor demonstrations.

Pentagon’s Ponderous Budget Process Is Next Target for Congressional Reform

The Defense Department can finally start modernizing its byzantine Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) process used to fund each military program since the Cold War-era. The 2022 Defense authorization bill signed by President Joe Biden contains two separate provisions aimed at tackling the PPBE predicament. One sets up an expert commission to take the current process apart and come up with alternatives. A second orders DoD itself to create a plan to consolidate all the IT systems it uses to plan and execute its budget.

Pentagon Moves to Improve its Cybersecurity-Centered Engagement with Universities

Fulfilling a Congressional mandate, the Defense Department recently launched a new hub to facilitate back-and-forth exchanges on strategic cybersecurity issues with academic players across the nation. DOD’s new University Consortium for Cybersecurity—or UC2—was officially formed in late 2021 and broadly unveiled by the department in a press release this week. 

Coast Guard Completes Financial System Modernization

The Coast Guard is the latest agency to update its financial software systems as more federal agencies continue modernization efforts.

OPM Announces New Schools Offering Discounted Tuition to Feds

The Office of Personnel Management announced last week that it has reached agreement with three universities to join a program whereby Federal employees can continue their education at discounted tuition rates.

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Fareeha Khan
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