Section 508 Compliance — What is it?

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires Federal government entities ensure that Federal employees and members of the public with disabilities have comparable access to and use of electronic information and technology — unless it is an undue burden to do so (significant difficulty or expense).

Who is responsible?

• All Federal government entities.  Including the U.S. Postal Service.  Some military and other national security functions are exempt from this requirement.
  
  
• Contractors.  All acquisitions that include electronic information and technology must be Section 508 compliant.  This excludes products that are not directly relevant to the awarded contract and its deliverables.
  
  Example 1:  A firm that is contracted to draft a report for the Federal government is not required to acquire compliant hardware and software, even if used exclusively for the fulfillment of the contract.  Compliance would be required if the relevant hardware and software became the property of the contracting agency.
  
  Example 2:  A website developed by a contractor for a Federal agency must be compliant; the requirements do not apply to the firm’s own website.

We will no longer publish vendor documents to our website or the Contract Catalog Search Tool that do not conform to the Section 508 compliance standards.  This includes GSA Advantage & configured pricelists as well as modification documents.  It is the vendor’s responsibility to ensure that these documents are conformant to the VAs 508 standards.  The VA’s Section 508 office provides comprehensive checklists that walk you through the standards and requirements for compliant software and web applications, video/multimedia, equipment, and documents.  Furthermore, we recommend that any documents, including pricelists, proposals, presentations, etc. you draft specifically related to your Schedule contract or for a Federal agency be made 508 compliant.

Technical Standards

The Access Board has developed technical standards applying to electronic and information technology products that are acquired, developed, maintained, or used by a Federal agency.  The standards provide criteria specific to various technologies, including:

• Hardware.  Including products that store, process, transmit, convert, duplicate, or receive electronic information such as copiers, computers, fax machines, information kiosks, etc.
  
  
• Software.  Operating systems, software applications, web applications, video & multimedia products.

Visit the Access-Board to read the current regulations and public comments; or keep up-to-date with the VA’s requirements through the VA’s Section 508 office.

Resources:  http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/summary.htm; http://www.section508.va.gov/; http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/act.htm; http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/brochure.htm