The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today Denied a Contract Bid Protest brought by Equifax as the much-criticized Credit Reporting Agency fought to hold on to a Contract Extension helping the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Prevent Identity Fraud, while the IRS was sending Request-for-Quote (RFQ) for a New Vendor Long-Term Contract.
After a 100-day Review, the GAO determined that the IRS was justified in its Decision to Award the One-Year Blanket Purchase Agreement to rival Experian, according to a Statement. Equifax tried to Argue that its Competitor did not have the Technical Expertise to meet IRS needs.
"We’re looking forward to the start of the new contract," the IRS said in a Statement. "We will move as quickly as we can, but it will take some time to begin service under the new contract." The Short-Term Suspension means that Taxpayers will not be able to establish New Accounts through a Program called Secure Access, which Grants them Access to Online Records and Transcripts. Those Taxpayers who already have Accounts will not be affected, the Agency said.
The One-Year Agreement with rival Experian, who hadn't been named Publicly, is worth up to $795,000, according to the GAO.
An Equifax Spokesperson said the Company is "engaging IRS officials to understand how they wish to proceed, and we remain ready to support the agency in the future."
Equifax has come under fire since it admitted last month that Hackers broke into its Network earlier this year and compromised the Information of as many as 145.5 Million Americans. The IRS has used the Company to Verify Taxpayer IDs through Secure Access, but opted to shift that work to Experian over the Summer. Equifax protested the move.
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