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Helen Chamberlain Program Director General Services Administration

Office of Governmentwide Policy. The Procurement Process, Section 508, and Purchasing Electronic and Information Technology with the Buy Accessible Wizard for Compliance with Section 508. Helen Chamberlain Program Director General Services Administration. Section 508.

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Helen Chamberlain Program Director General Services Administration

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  1. Office of Governmentwide Policy The Procurement Process, Section 508, and Purchasing Electronic and Information Technology with the Buy Accessible Wizard for Compliance with Section 508 Helen ChamberlainProgram DirectorGeneral Services Administration

  2. Section 508 • Section 508 creates binding and enforceable provisions and incorporates these provisions into the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). • Section 508 technical provisions need to be used in all electronic and information technology (E&IT) acquisitions of products and services.

  3. Why is Section 508 Important? • Eliminates barriers for people with disabilities • Supports Federal initiatives • Benefits everyone • Achieves legal compliance • Promotes positive public image and facilitates public access to Federal information It’s the law!

  4. What does Section 508 Apply To? • Section 508 applies to ALL contract vehicles and procurement actions, including micro-purchases.

  5. Who does Section 508 Apply To? • Section 508 applies to the Federal Government and the US Postal Service

  6. Which Section 508 Standards May Apply? • Subpart B – Technical Standards • 1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems • 1194.22 Web-based Internet Information and Applications • 1194.23 Telecommunications Products • 1194.24 Video and Multimedia Products • 1194.25 Self-contained, Closed Products • 1194.26 Desktop and Portable Computers

  7. Which Section 508 Standards May Apply? • Subpart C – Functional and Performance Criteria • At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require: • vision shall be provided • visual acuity greater the 20/70 (audio/large print) • user hearing • enhanced auditory assistance • support for assistive technology for all of the above

  8. Which Section 508 Standards May Apply? • Subpart D – Information, Documentation, and Support • Shall be made available in alternate formats • Access to a description of accessibility and compatibility features in alternate formats • Support services for products shall accommodate communication needs of end users

  9. Impact of Section 508 on the Procurement Process Identify Requirements Conduct Market Research Develop Solicitation Evaluate Proposals • Determine applicable 508 standards • Determine availability • Determine 508 compliance • Document exceptions/findings • Include 508 requirements in Sections C, J, L, M as appropriate • Select product that most meets business need and 508 requirements Award Contract Administer Contract • Include market research and 508-related decisions in file • Don’t forget 508 • Modifications • Amendments • Daily decisions

  10. Market Research Why do it? • FAR Requirement • Used to gauge the state of the E&IT industry in meeting your requirements with products and services • Method for identifying products that claim to meet section 508 requirements

  11. Questions for Market Research • How well does the product/vendor meet: • Functional and technical requirements? • Applicable section 508 standards? • Ability to meet deliverable schedule • Cost considerations? • What test approaches does the vendor use to assure compliance?

  12. What Are You Buying? • Product • Commercial off-the shelf (COTS) • In-house IT development or customization • Government off-the-shelf (GOTS) • Services • Integration • Training • Design and development • Audio-visual/Multimedia • Maintenance • Help Desk • Documentation • Combination

  13. What Is The Buy Accessible Wizard? • The Buy Accessible Wizard is a web-based application that: • Guides users through the acquisition process, gathering data and providing information about electronic and information technology (E&IT) and Section 508 compliance • Compiles a running summary documenting the process and its results • The Buy Accessible Wizard makes compliance with the requirements of Section 508 as easy and thorough as possible

  14. What to Notice • On line User Manual Describes how to use The Buy Accessible Wizard • Standard look and feel for each screen Described in the User Manual under General Layout • On line Glossary The key for users to become familiar with any terminology for making appropriate responses • Extensive set of links to complementary resources and other sources of information

  15. What to Notice • Results reported in multiple ways • The Wizard currently supports three report templates • Registered and non-registered users can save output reports using browser “SAVE AS” feature on their computer or on a shared drive hosted by GSA.

  16. Getting Started … • Anyone can be a ‘guest’ user on the public Wizard hosted at GSA – but in addition with Wizard 3.0 … • Agencies may also register with GSA to utilize secure database storage and manage their own Wizard users Benefits: • Individual user ID and passwords • Save Wizard sessions to resume or re-use • Share data with other users as appropriate • Repository of Section 508 compliance documentation • Management reporting over summary results

  17. Demonstration • Internet demonstration of the capabilities of the Buy Accessible Wizard • Micropurchase • Product ‘macropurchase’ • Service acquisition

  18. Resources • www.section508.gov • www.access-board.gov • www.buyaccessible.gov • www.disability.gov • www.w3.org

  19. Contact Information • Helen Chamberlain • General Services Administration • 202-219-2348 • Helen.chamberlain@gsa.gov

  20. Question?????

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