Survey of Federal Requiring Officials: Wrap-Up

1

• Survey of Federal Requiring Officials Wrap-Up
• February 2003
• Terry Weaver, GSA and
• Joy Fulton, Accessibility Forum Staff

2
Outline

• History
• Approach
• Survey Results
• Further Analysis
• List of Potential Needs
• Top 20 Needs

3
History

• Analysis of published information about EIT
  procurement practices from 15 Federal Agencies
• How Section 508 was implemented
• Poster board illustrating research results
  available
• Interviews with requiring officials from 10
  federal agencies
• Major customers for EIT
• Paper describing interview results available

4
Approach

• Develop confidential questionnaire/survey to
  identify problems and issues in implementing
  Section 508
• Analyze how these agencies describe their process
  and procedures to
• Determine Applicability of Section 508 to
  procurements
• Consider Section 508 in source selection
• Train requiring officials
• Provide documentation

5
Survey Results

• Reported in detail in September
• Generally found that
• Federal agencies are committed to implementing
  Section 508
• They need further guidance and assistance on how
  to implement
• Many agencies were unclear on the official
  guidance, and on what further assistance is
  needed.

6
Further Analysis

• Content analysis of survey results (done)
• Developed a list of 20 potential needs
• Provided feedback to survey respondents (done)
• Review by the Section 508 Working Group (in
  process)
• Prioritizing of the top 20 potential needs

7
List of Potential Needs

• What follows are survey results, a compendium of
  interview comments
• Comments were made and noted during confidential
  interviews, then analyzed later
• Potential needs are not government or Forum
  approved requirements
• Some are beyond what can or should be provided as
  guidance or help

8
List of Potential Needs

• Standard 508 agency-wide training program for
  everyone in the agency.
• Standard 508 government-wide training program for
  everyone in the government.
• Additional funding for 508 compliant
  technologies.
• Tool for determining the provisions that apply.
• Better understanding of applicability across
  state and international boundaries, including US
  government facilities overseas.
• Means of communicating 508 requirements to
  vendors.
• Government wide market research information
  repository for 508-related technologies.

9
List of Potential Needs (2)

• Qualified bidders list of compliant vendors.
• Database of tested, certified products maintained
  by the Agency.
• Database of tested, certified products maintained
  government wide.
• Logo or icon or other labeling program to confirm
  product compliance.
• Standard RFP language for 508 documentation
  including 508 requirements, applicable provisions
  and exceptions.
• Tool for determining which provisions apply to a
  particular product and product features, in
  addition to those required by the acquisition.
• Means of communicating additional accessibility
  requirements because of their products features
  to vendors.

10
Your Questions and Comments

• Floor open for questions and discussion