> 
> Empower yourself to make informed, legal decisions in your purchasing of
> Electronic and Information Technology (E&IT). This session is a must for
> all employees
> who procure electronic and information technology(EIT), contracting
> personnel who purchase EIT products and services and all Charge card
> holders. Learn
> how Section 508 impacts your procurement process with regard to market
> research and requirements for E&IT products and services as well as your
> legal responsibilities
> to comply with the law. This session will provide an overview of how to
> develop compliant requirements for your procurements, providing you with
> tools
> such as the Buy Accessible Wizard, and techniques and resources for
> conducting market research.
> 
> Section 508 is a federal law requires that all E&IT procured,
> maintained, used, or developed by the Federal Government is accessible
> for people with disabilities.
> This affects everything from websites on your Internet as well at your
> Intranet to video and multimedia products, software applications and
> operating systems,
> telecommunications, kiosks, hardware, desktop and portable computers and
> copiers and fax machines. We will also cover the Micro Purchase
> Exemption, which
> expired on April 1, 2005. This will require that all Small Purchase Card
> Holders ($2500 and under) also comply with the Section 508 requirements.
> 
> 
> The following is a plain text conversion of the presentation in the
> PowerPoint file
> http://online.wr.usgs.gov/gio/eitpurchasesdenvermenlopark.pptformat
> 
> 20 Slides
> 
> 
> Slide 1
> Notes:
> ,kik9o99o9
> 
> Outline:
> Making EIT Purchases
> and Section 508
> 
> General Services Administration
> Office of Governmentwide Policy
> Center for IT Accommodation
> 
> Helen Chamberlain
> Program Director
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> 
> 
> Slide 2
> Outline:
> What is Section 508?
> Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that the Federal
> Government provide people with disabilities comparable access to
> 
> and use of information and data as that afforded to those
> without
> disabilities.
> applies to Federal agencies as they develop, procure, maintain, or use
> EIT
> provides technical standards, technical criteria and enforcement
> provisions
> 
> Six Technical  Standards:
> Software applications and Operating Systems
> Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications
> Telecommunications Products
> Video and Multimedia Products
> Self-contained, Closed Products
> Desktop and Portable Computers
> 
> Makes access to government information and data a civil right
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Slide 3
> Outline:
> Why Should We Care?
> Because it is the law
> Accessible Technology and 508 are the cornerstones
> to the New Freedom Initiative and to transparency in
> government.
> Our service delivery model has changed so that
> E-Gov MUST consider the needs of all citizens -
> E-Gov Act of 2003
> Demonstrates federal commitment to all citizens
> 
> 
> 
> Slide 4
> Outline:
> Exceptions
> The requirements in 39.203 of the FAR do not apply to EIT that-
> 39.204 Exceptions.
> (a) Is purchased in accordance with Subpart 13.2 (micro-purchases) prior
> to April 1, 2005. However, for micro-purchases, contracting officers and
> other individuals designated in accordance with 1.603-3 are strongly
> encouraged to comply with the applicable accessibility standards to the
> maximum extent practicable;
> b) Is for a national security system;
> (c) Is acquired by a contractor incidental to a contract;
> (d) Is located in spaces frequented only by service personnel for
> maintenance, repair or occasional monitoring of equipment;
> 
> 
> Slide 5
> Outline:
> Exceptions
> or (e) Would impose an undue burden on the agency.
> (1) Basis. In determining whether compliance with all or part of
> the applicable accessibility standards in 36 CFR part 1194 would be an
> undue burden, an agency must consider-
> (i) The difficulty or expense of compliance; and
> (ii) Agency resources available to its program or component for which
> the supply or service is being acquired.
> (2) Documentation.
> (i) The requiring official must document in writing the basis for an
> undue burden decision and provide the documentation to the contracting
> officer for inclusion in the contract file.
> (ii) When acquiring commercial items, an undue burden determination is
> not required to address individual standards that cannot be met with
> supplies or service available in the commercial marketplace in time to
> meet the agency delivery requirements (see 39.203(c)(2) regarding
> documentation of nonavailability).
> 
> 
> 
> Slide 6
> Outline:
> What is a Micro Purchase?
> As defined in the FAR at 2.101:
> A micro-purchase is an acquisition of supplies or services using
> simplified acquisition procedures, the aggregate amount of which
> does not exceed the micro-purchase threshold.
> The micro-purchase threshold is $2,500, except in the following cases:
> Construction requirements over $2,000
> Acquisitions of supplies or services up to $7,500 that are used to
> facilitate defense against or recovery from terrorism or nuclear,
> biological, chemical, of radiological attack.
> The threshold is $15,000 for acquisitions by or for the DoD.
> 
> 
> 
> Slide 7
> Outline:
> Micro-purchase Sunset Date
> 
> The Micro Purchase Exemption went away on April 1, 2005
> GSA has developed an online course for Micro-purchase card holders that
> can be found at www.section508.gov in the Section 508 Universe
> The course is free
> 
> 
> Slide 8
> Outline:
> Roles and Responsibilities
> Requiring Officials:
> Identify requirements
> Identify which Section 508 provisions apply to the specific acquisition
> Conduct and document market research
> Draft specifications and minimum requirements
> Document exceptions that may apply
> Ensure product or service meets ALL the requirements
> Responsible for determining and documenting non-availability and undue
> burden
> 
> 
> 
> Slide 9
> Outline:
> Roles and Responsibilities
> Approving Official
> In some agencies, and Approving Official is the individual responsible
> for the advance approval of micro-purchases.
> In others, this may be the cardholders supervisor, who is required to
> review the cardholders bank statement to verify purchases.
> 
> The Approving Official ensures that all purchase card
> transactions are made in accordance with applicable Federal
> Laws, are for bonafide need of the government, and do not
> Breech the integrity of the purchase card account due to
> Neglect or abuse by the cardholder.
> 
> 
> Slide 10
> Outline:
> Roles and Responsibilities
> Procurement Official
> Reviews procurement for accuracy
> Reviews procurement for Section 508
> Returns procurement for corrections and additions
> Approves procurement for purchase
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Slide 11
> Outline:
> Buy Accessible Wizard
> 
> 
> Slide 12
> 
> 
> Slide 13
> 
> 
> Slide 14
> 
> 
> Slide 15
> 
> 
> Slide 16
> 
> 
> Slide 17
> 
> 
> Slide 18
> 
> 
> Slide 19
> Outline:
> Resources
> www.section508.gov - single portal for great resources
> free training, awareness programs
> Buy Accessible Wizard: One of the most significant products to assist in
> the procurement process
> www.access-board.gov
> VPAT - encourage your vendors to fill these out
> General: www.itic.org/policy/508/vpat.html
> New VPAT Best Practices Guide:  www.itic.org/policy/508/Sec508.html
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Slide 20
> Outline:
> Contact Information
> Ms Terry Weaver, Director, Center for IT Accommodation
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> Helen Chamberlain, Program Director, Section 508
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> Quentis Scott, Web Team Manager, www.section508.gov
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> Marilyn Estep, Director, Assistive Technology Center
> [log in to unmask]


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