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Acquisition and Procurement - Government-wide Section 508 Assessment Criteria

Acquisition and Procurement

Questions in this section ask about your reporting entity's level of inclusion of ICT accessibility in procurement lifecycle processes. If your reporting entity does not procure ICT, release solicitations, or participate in development of business needs, please select N/A as needed.

Question 57

How often does the reporting entity include sufficient ICT accessibility requirements in solicitations? (*Required)

Select one:

  1. Never (0% of the time)
  2. Sometimes but generally on an ad hoc basis (approximately 1%-24% of the time)
  3. Regularly (approximately 25%-59% of the time)
  4. Frequently (approximately 60%-89% of the time)
  5. Almost always (approximately 90% or more of the time)
  6. Unknown
  7. N/A-reporting entity does not release solicitations

Sufficient in this context means the reporting entity has identified relevant accessibility requirements and inserted those into each solicitation. A blanket copy and paste of all applicable Section 508 requirements would not suffice for this answer. See also Step 1 - Determine Accessibility Requirements for methods to identify relevant requirements.

Question 58

Indicate how the reporting entity identifies and prioritizes risk of Section 508 non-conformant ICT throughout the acquisition lifecycle. (*Required)

Select one:

  1. Risk related to Section 508 non-conformance is not assessed during any part of acquisitions
  2. Any Section 508-related risk assessment is ad hoc or sometimes used (approximately 1%-24% of the time)
  3. A repeatable risk framework for ICT acquisitions that incorporates Section 508 considerations exists and is regularly used (approximately 25%-59% of the time)
  4. A repeatable risk framework is frequently used to determine risk related to Section 508 non-conformance for ICT acquisitions (approximately 60%-89% of the time)
  5. A repeatable risk framework is almost always used to determine risk related to Section 508 non-conformance for almost all ICT acquisitions (approximately 90% or more of the time)
  6. Unknown
  7. N/A - the reporting entity is not engaged in ICT acquisitions

A risk framework could include a risk model or a ranking of risk based on criticality of defect. This term broadly applies as reporting entities may utilize one or more methods, but the framework must be repeatable, indicating there is a documented risk framework.

Question 59

Indicate to what extent Section 508 conformance is part of the reporting entity's market research for ICT products. (*Required)

Select one:

  1. Section 508 conformance is not included in market research
  2. Obtaining Section 508 conformance information as part of market research sometimes occurs but generally on an ad hoc basis (approximately 1%-24% of the time)
  3. Section 508 conformance information is regularly obtained for all products and consideration for Section 508 conformance is a formal part of review but may not contain all necessary information related to accessibility requirements (approximately 25%-59% of the time)
  4. Sufficient Section 508 conformance information is frequently obtained for all products and Section 508 conformance is a formal part of review, which is frequently used to select the most accessible ICT that meets the business need (approximately 60%-89% of the time)
  5. Sufficient Section 508 conformance information is almost always obtained for all products, a formal review of Section 508 conformance is almost always used to select of the most accessible ICT that meets the business need, and market research outcomes and processes are regularly reviewed for improvement (approximately 90% or more of the time)
  6. Unknown
  7. N/A - reporting entity does not procure ICT products

Question 60

Indicate the approach to verifying contract deliverables that are required to be Section 508 conformant. (*Required)

Select one:

  1. Never verified
  2. Sometimes verified but generally on an ad hoc basis (approximately 1%-24% of the time)
  3. Regularly verified prior to acceptance, including required remediation when necessary (approximately 25%-59% of the time)
  4. Frequently verified prior to acceptance, including required remediation when necessary (approximately 60%-89% of the time)
  5. Almost always verified prior to acceptance, including required remediation when necessary (approximately 90% or more of the time)
  6. N/A - reporting entity does not award contracts

Question 61

Indicate how the needs of individuals with disabilities are included during assessment of ICT-related business needs or equivalent acquisition planning process. (*Required)

Select one:

  1. Needs are not considered
  2. Needs are sometimes considered or included but generally on an ad hoc basis (approximately 1%-24% of the time)
  3. Needs are defined as part of the business needs assessment or equivalent and are regularly considered or included in ICT acquisitions (approximately 25%-59% of the time)
  4. Needs are defined as part of the business needs assessment or equivalent and are frequently considered or included (approximately 60%-89% of the time)
  5. Needs are integrated into business needs processes or equivalent, almost always included, and feedback loops are established for continuous refinement (approximately 90% or more of the time)
  6. Unknown
  7. N/A- reporting entity does not generate business needs or participate in acquisition planning processes or equivalent

Question 62

How often is Section 508 included in the technical evaluation of proposals related to ICT services and products? (*Required)

Select one:

  1. Never (0% of the time)
  2. Sometimes but generally on an ad hoc basis (approximately 1%-24% of the time)
  3. Regularly (approximately 25%-59% of the time)
  4. Frequently (approximately 60%-89% of the time)
  5. Almost always (approximately 90% or more of the time)
  6. Unknown
  7. N/A- reporting entity does not award contracts

For this question, “inclusion” implies that Section 508 serves as a technical evaluation factor or subfactor, extending beyond merely considering it during the evaluation process.

Reviewed/Updated: April 2024

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