IRS Records Management Modernization and e-Records Digitization Support

BACKGROUND:  

As the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) continues to make significant progress towards the successful implementation and compliance of its Federal Records program as it relates to electronic records management, digitization, and digitalization transformation of the agency Service-wide. IRS Records and Information Management (RIM) is currently postured to continue enhancing IRS’ records management approach pursuant to federal laws, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) guidance and Bulletins for federal agencies to include the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)/NARA M-19-21- Transition to Electronic Records Directive, IRS internal revenue manual (IRM) policies for Records Management, Information Technology, Cyber Security, Privacy and Disclosure, and other related external regulations (e.g., NIST 800-53, SI-12).  The M-19-21 Directive states that “Federal agencies should electronically manage all temporary and permanent email by December 31, 2016, and all permanent electronic records by December 31, 2019,” along with other related deadlines.  NARA recently announced that the M-19-21 deadlines will be modified with new extended dates (pending release).  The vendor will be required to demonstrate ability to be flexible and work in an agile environment.

IRS formulated an enterprise Records Management strategic approach that will enable us to deliver a robust and efficient program in this discipline that complies with existing statutes and directives that positions the agency for future demands. One important aspect of the enterprise plan is an effort to align IRS's technology to support an environment of enterprise content management and digitization efforts. Currently, infrastructure updates include our document collaboration platform.

The relationship between records management, knowledge management, transparency, and accountability cannot be overlooked. Records identification, retention, and search ability will enable the IRS to identify and compile risk, risk considerations and decisions made, and development and implement risk mitigation strategies.

IRS’s primary goal is to bring the IRS into full compliance with agency goals and policies, external requirements, and enhanced electronic records management processes into new state of the art solutions that are supported by best industry practices.