What usually happens in this circumstance is that the team forms a company and the government contracts with them for the work. Or, a large prime contractor re

What usually happens in this circumstance is that the team forms a company and the government contracts with them for the work. Or, a large prime contractor reassembles the team upon getting a contract. The fact that this did not occur points to a lack of capability on the part of the IRS to manage contracts. The federal civil service really doesn't offer any sort of career path for technologists.