Is Your Proposal Content Accessible?

What Is Section 508, and Why Is It Important?

On Jan. 18, 2017, the U.S. Access Board published a final rule updating the accessibility requirements for information and communication technology (ICT) covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the Communications Act. The revised standards require federal agencies to make ICT equally accessible to employees and members of the public who have disabilities as it is to employees and members of the public without disabilities.

The Revised 508 Standards include not just ICT tools and systems but electronic content as well. Examples of commonly used items covered by the standards include:

• Desktop and mobile telephones and other telecommunications products that interact with users in real time.
• Computer software and hardware, including both desktop systems and mobile systems such as laptops and other mobile computers.
• Multifunction machines that scan, fax, print, etc.
• Websites including content accessed from the internet and on private networks, social media content, and blogs.
• Documents that are posted to the internet (e.g., PDF, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files).

The General Services Administration (GSA) has an entire website dedicated to helping federal agencies create, test, manage, and buy accessible products and services. All technology that federal agencies buy, build, maintain, or use—including software, hardware, electronic content, and support documentation and services—must conform to the Revised 508 Standards.

All technology that federal agencies buy, build, maintain, or use — including software, hardware, electronic content, and support documentation and services — must conform to the Revised 508 Standards.

What Does This Mean for Proposal Professionals?

Accessibility requirements for products and services have been incorporated into government solicitations for many years. To do business with the federal government, vendors need to demonstrate that their ICT product or service conforms to the Revised 508 Standards. GSA recommends that responses to solicitations include language to demonstrate the vendor’s understanding of the regulations and requirements and how well the vendor’s product or service complies with the Revised 508 Standards. This can be achieved by highlighting the accessibility features in the presentation of the solution.

Solicitations that incorporate the Revised 508 Standards may also require that a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template™ (VPAT) be completed as part of a proposal submission. The VPAT allows the acquisition official to determine in advance whether the product or service meets the revised standards. Many vendors now post their completed VPAT forms on their company websites. The current VPAT template can be downloaded from the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) website.

GSA’s governmentwide ICT accessibility program has developed and compiled numerous training resources and tools for both buyers and sellers. Examples include authoring and testing guides for Microsoft Office, PDF documents, videos, and websites; social media tips; and an ICT Accessibility blog.

Peg Melberg, CF APMP, is a senior business analyst with CI International, a Littleton, Colorado-based consultancy. She can be reached at pegmelberg@ciinternational.com.