Equifax hack and the IRS

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer of October 4, 2017 (page A-12) ” Equifax signed a $ 7.25 million contract last month (Sept) with the IRS to verify taxpayer identities. The no-bid contract is for Equifax to provided the IRS taxpayer and personal identity verification services. The contract stated that Equifax was the ONLY COMPANY CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THESE SERVICES TO THE IRS, and it was DEEMED a “CRITICAL” SERVICE THAT COULDN’T LAPSE !!”