Ensuring accessibility in IT procurement
The following are suggestions for the types of statements or questions that companies should include in their IT procurement documentation, e.g. in a Request for Information (RFI).
Suggested statements / questions
Include in the introduction:
{company name}'s technical guidelines and technical environment are documented in {document name}. Suppliers are required to highlight where their solution deviates from these. If an alternative is proposed, this should include reasoning and full costing. The failure to support {company name} standards, such as accessibility or security requirements, can be a disadvantage for a supplier and a potential showstopper for their proposal.
Note: Due-diligence discussions on the proposed design will be held with the potential supplier, with detailed technical checks on security, accessibility, software versions supported, future plans, etc.
In a section on Accessibility:
1. Accessibility Standards
As highlighted at the start of this document, all solutions must provide support for impaired customers and staff. The {company name} Accessibility Standards are based on external standards and these will be provided on request.
Note: If available, documents describing your approach can be provided as part of this response.
- Describe the approach taken on accessibility, including any differences necessary for users with impairments.
- Describe any evidence of support for external standards, e.g. W3C WCAG or Section 508.
- Describe any known deviations and limitations.
- Describe enhancements planned in future versions of the software.
Further guidance
It is strongly recommended that people responsible for procurement of IT hardware, software or websites (or those responsible for initiating the procurement) obtain a copy of the following document:
BSI PAS 78 a guide to good practice in commissioning accessible websites.Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 78 has been developed by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) in collaboration with BSI (British Standards Institute). This PAS outlines good practice in commissioning websites that are accessible to and usable by disabled people.
Although focused on websites the principles in PAS 78 can be applied to non-web IT solutions such as application software.
PAS 78 is available as a free download from the Disability Rights Commission in accessible PDF format from www.drc.org.uk/pas.
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