Although it is important that any contract language is reviewed by legal counsel, the following represent three samples of procurement language that can be added to enhance accessibility of purchased or licensed products. In these samples, the Section 508 standard is used. Of course any group would want to align their own accessibility standard to what is required of the vendors. These samples represent (1) requests for proposals, (2) purchasing contracts of specific products, and (3) purchasing procedures used for general purchasing:
Three samples of procurement language to enhance accessibility efforts:
NOTICE -- All electronic and information technology (EIT) procured through this RFP
must meet the applicable accessibility standards of 36 CFR 1194. 36 CFR 1194 implements
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and is viewable at the
following URL: http://www.section508.gov The following Section 508 technical standards
are applicable to this RFP, as a minimum: " Software Applications and Operating Systems (1194.21)"
Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications (1194.22) " Video or
Multimedia Products (1194.24) C.4 Applicants must state their level of compliance to
applicable sections to be considered for purchase under this RFP.
Vendors must ensure that the course management system contained in the proposal fully
conforms with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1998. (For
information on Section 508 see www.section508.gov). This includes both the student and
instructor views and also includes all interaction tools (e.g., chats, discussion forums),
and add-ons (e.g., grade functions). Vendors must declare if any portion of the version
under consideration does not fully conform to Section 508, and the ways in which the
proposed product is out of compliance.
To ensure the procurement of Section 508 compliant products and services, the procurement
officer shall ask the vendor whether the product or solution is Section 508 compliant,
and if so, the vendor must provide Section 508 compliance audit or test results that
document the testing methodology utilized to determine the product or solution's
compliance and the results of the accessibility audit. It is also important for the
procurement officer to note whether the testing was conducted by the vendor or whether
an independent third party auditor was retained.
Remember that in this age of information technology and accessibility let the buyer be AWARE, of both their action and inaction. Adding a simple element, such as procurement policies, can have an enormous and lasting impact.