**Department of Veterans Affairs VA HANDBOOK 6221**

**Washington, DC 20420 Transmittal Sheet**

**December 9, 2005**

ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (EIT)

**1. REASON FOR ISSUE:** This handbook establishes Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) procedures and guidelines to ensure that VA's
electronic and information technology (EIT) is accessible by VA
employees and members of the public with disabilities. This handbook was
developed to assist VA employees in complying with Section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act and implements policy contained in VA Directive 6221,
Accessible Electronic and Information Technology (EIT)

**2. SUMMARY OF CONTENTS / MAJOR CHANGES:** This handbook provides
general procedures and guidelines to implement policy contained in VA
Directive 6221. The handbook also defines VA's responsibilities for the
implementation of Section 508 compliance to include incorporating new
requirements into practice as they relate to development, procurement,
maintenance, or use of EIT; managing administrative complaints; and
responding to reporting requirements. As Section 508 interpretation and
compliance matures, updates and revisions to this handbook will be
issued. The electronic version of the Section 508 standards can be
referenced in the resources section of our website at
<http://www.va.gov/accessible>.

**3. RESPONSIBLE OFFICE:** The Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Information and Technology (005), Enterprise Architecture Management
(005E), Records Management Service (005E3) is responsible for the
material contained in this handbook.

**4. RELATED DIRECTIVE:** VA Directive 6221, Accessible Electronic and
Information Technology (EIT).

**5**. **RECISSION:** None.

# 

# 

+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| **CERTIFIED BY:**               | **BY DIRECTION OF THE**            |
|                                 |                                    |
| Robert N. McFarland             | **SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS**  |
|                                 |                                    |
| Assistant Secretary             | Robert N. McFarland                |
|                                 |                                    |
| for Information and Technology  | Assistant Secretary                |
|                                 |                                    |
| Distribution : Electronic Only  | for Information and Technology     |
+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+

ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (EIT)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INFORMATION AND                                | 5 |
| RESPONSIBILITIES............................                      |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
|                                                                   |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 1\. Purpose and                                                   | 5 |
| Scope.................                                            |   |
| .............................................................\... |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 2\.                                                               | 5 |
| Overview..............................                            |   |
| ................................................................. |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 3.  Responsibilities.....................                         | 6 |
| ................................................................. |   |
|                                                                   |   |
| #                                                                 |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| CHAPTER 2. SECTION 508: THE                                       | 9 |
| LA                                                                |   |
| W................................................................ |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
|                                                                   |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 1\. Summary of the                                                | 9 |
| Law...............                                                |   |
| ............................................................\.... |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 2.  Enforcement and Effective                                     | 9 |
|     Date                                                          |   |
| ............................................................\.... |   |
|                                                                   |   |
| #                                                                 |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| CHAPTER 3. THE ROLES OF KEY VA STAKEHOLDERS IN IMPLEMENTING       | 1 |
| SECTION                                                           | 1 |
| 508...................................                            |   |
| .............................................................\... |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
|                                                                   |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 1\. VA Roles and                                                  | 1 |
| Responsibilities..                                                | 1 |
| .............................................................\... |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 2\. Agency Reporting                                              | 1 |
| Requirements                                                      | 1 |
| .........................................................\...\... |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 3\. VA Section 508 Accessibility Testing and Training Center (T&  | 1 |
| TC)..................                                             | 1 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 4\. Contracting Officers and Contracting                          | 1 |
| Specialist...........................................             | 2 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 5\. Project Managers and                                          | 1 |
| Officers                                                          | 2 |
| ................................................................. |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 6\. Web Masters and                                               | 1 |
| Developers.                                                       | 2 |
| ................................................................. |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 7\. VA Section 508                                                | 1 |
| Website........                                                   | 2 |
| ................................................................. |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
|                                                                   |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| CHAPTER 4. BUDGET CONSIDERATION AND PROCEDURES FOR THE            | # |
| PROCUREMENT OF ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY    |   |
| (EIT)..........................                                   |   |
| .............................................................\... | # |
|                                                                   |   |
|                                                                   |   |
|                                                                   | # |
|                                                                   |   |
|                                                                   | 1 |
|                                                                   | 3 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
|                                                                   |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 1\. Budget                                                        | 1 |
| Considerations...........                                         | 3 |
| .............................................................\... |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 2\. Procedures for the Procurement of                             | 1 |
| EIT...................................................\...        | 4 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 3\. Market                                                        | 1 |
| Research..................                                        | 5 |
| ................................................................. |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 4\. Developing Specifications or Statements of Work               | 1 |
| (SOW)..............................                               | 6 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 5\. Independent Government Cost Estimate                          | 1 |
| (IGCE).......................................\...                 | 6 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 6\. Web Pages Developed, Procured, or Maintained for the Intranet | 1 |
| and Internet....                                                  | 6 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 7\. Maintenance of Existing                                       | 1 |
| EIT...                                                            | 7 |
| ................................................................. |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 8\. Maintenance of Internally Developed                           | 1 |
| Applications........................................              | 7 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 9.  Procurement of Maintenance Renewals for Existing              | 1 |
|     EIT...............................                            | 7 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| CHAPTER 5. VA SECTION 508                                         | 1 |
| TRAI                                                              | 9 |
| NING......\...................................................... |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
|                                                                   |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 1\. VA Section 508                                                | 1 |
| Training........                                                  | 9 |
| ................................................................. |   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 2\. Implementation of Section 508 Training and Awareness          | 1 |
| Throughout VA...........                                          | 9 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 3\. VA Employee Training Information and                          | 2 |
| Contacts....................................\...\...              | 0 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+---+

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----
                                                                                               

  CHAPTER 6. ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT PROCESS AND RESOLUTION............                       21

                                                                                               

  1\. Administrative Complaint Process and Resolution........................................  21

  2\. Complaint                                                                                21
  Notification.....................\........................................................   

  3\. VA Complaint                                                                             21
  Process............................................................................          

  4\. Complaint Filing Guidelines for Section                                                  21
  508................................................                                          

  5\. Informal Resolution of Section 508                                                       22
  Complaints............................................                                       

                                                                                               
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----

ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (EIT)

# 

# Chapter 1. GENERAL INFORMATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

**1. Purpose and Scope**

a\. This handbook explains the requirements of Section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Public Law 105-220, codified at
29 U.S.C. 794(d), so that all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
employees can better understand Section 508 and its impact on their
work. It provides practical information and establishes general
procedures for interpreting and applying the various Section 508
requirements and standards. To assist VA employees in complying with the
requirements, this handbook provides guidance for managing
administrative complaints and responding to reporting requirements.
Implementation of the procedures in this handbook will ensure that all
employees with disabilities have electronic access to information
technology to perform their assigned functions consistent with the
requirements of Section 508.

b\. This chapter offers an overview of Section 508; describes the
importance of making electronic and information technology (EIT)
products accessible to employees with disabilities, and describes who is
responsible for directing the implementation of Section 508 in the
Department. VA has created a link titled Section 508 Accessibility on
its main website at http://va.gov. Throughout the proceeding chapters of
this handbook, the aforementioned resources can be located by referring
to: <http://www.va.gov/accessible>.

c\. Section 508 is an integral part of the Department's business
processes, and the benefits and services provided for persons with
disabilities. VA's enterprise-wide strategy is executable within the
resources currently available to meet this requirement.

# 

**2. Overview**

a\. VA considers accessibility to EIT a priority for all employees and
external customers, including individuals with disabilities. Section 508
was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make new
opportunities available for people with disabilities, and to encourage
the development of technologies that will help achieve these goals.

b\. All agencies must ensure that any EIT developed, procured,
maintained, or used on or after June 21, 2001, conforms to the Section
508 EIT Accessibility Standards.

c\. Helpful descriptions of certain disabling conditions that people may
have which would affect their use of EIT as a disabled person are
defined as:

# 

\(1\) **Blind or Visually Impaired.** Web accessibility for people who
are blind is a challenge since much of the Web is a visual interface.
"Screen reader" software exists which translates code on Web pages into
audio text if the pages are coded correctly. This software also 'reads'
email, word processing documents, spreadsheets, etc.

\(2\) **Cognitive/Neurological Disabilities.** These individuals often
benefit from information presented in short, discrete units and
delivered in multi-modal formats.

# 

\(3\) **Color Blindness.** People who are color blind have difficulties
distinguishing between combinations of colors, and thus cannot operate
EIT where color is the sole indicator of a function

\(4\) **Hearing Impairment.** Audio on the web and multimedia products
must contain text transcripts or synchronized closed captioning to
provide equivalent access to hearing impaired individuals. Software,
kiosks, and telecommunications must provide a text alternative for all
audible tones to confirm operations or indicate error conditions. This
text alternative must provide equivalent information to the hearing
impaired as that provided to the non-disabled public.

\(5\) **Physical Limitations/Motor Impairments.** This group of people
is particularly impacted by the design of hardware and self-contained
devices where controls are in difficult to reach positions.

\(6\) **Speech Impairment.** This group of people may have increasing
difficulty as more EIT is started or controlled with speech recognition.

###  

### 3. Responsibilities

### 

###  a. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Secretary has designated the Department's Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology, as VA Chief Information Officer (CIO), the senior agency official responsible for the Department's EIT programs.

### 

###  b. The Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology (VA CIO). The Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology is responsible for integrated database business and EIT planning, evaluation and review of EIT projects, and education and awareness of EIT initiatives and legislation related to the implementation of EIT projects. 

### 

###  (1) The CIO has designated the Records Management Service (RMS) of the Enterprise Architecture Division (EA) to establish a Section 508 Coordinator. A Section 508 Advisory Board will be comprised of representatives from the three Administrations: Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), and National Cemetery Administration (NCA), and other Staff Offices. The Section 508 Board will submit recommendations concerning the accessibility of EIT used by VA to the RMS which, in turn, will be submitted to the CIO. 

\(2\) The RMS Section 508 Accessibility Testing and Training Center
(T&TC) Team will be responsible for:

\(a\) Supervising the application of existing automated technologies to
practical applications for veterans and employees with disabilities.

\(b\) Staffing and maintaining the Center which will test proposed EIT
products for Section 508 conformance prior to their coming online with
VA\'s Enterprise Architecture Framework.

\(c\) Making appropriate recommendations for needed changes, when
necessary, to correct EIT product and system deficiencies.

\(d\) Providing technical support and assistance to employees with
disabilities, their managers, and computer support personnel regarding
interfacing accommodations solutions with VA\'s Enterprise Architecture
Framework.

\(e\) Assisting the Austin Automation Center (AAC) and VHA Help Desk
managers and computer support personnel with accommodation solutions

c\. Section 508 Coordinator. The Section 508 Coordinator will Chair the
Section 508 Advisory Board with members from VA Administrations and
Staff Offices to address the six functional areas of IT outlined under
the Access Board's EIT standards, and advise the CIO on any issues
concerning nonconformant EIT that is being proposed or used by VA. In
addition, the Section 508 Coordinator will:

\(1\) Work with the Chief Information Officer (CIO) to insure that the
EIT that the VA procures, uses, maintains or develops meet the
requirements of Section 508 while fulfilling the business needs of the
VA.

\(2\) Hold ad hoc meetings, as required, in response to accessibility
issues.

\(3\) Apply existing automated EIT to practical applications for
employees with

disabilities.

\(4\) Provide technical support and assistance for employees with
disabilities, their managers, and computer support personnel.

\(5\) Assist managers of employees with disabilities in acquiring
guidance on appropriate agency EIT resources, computer accommodations,
and appropriate training on adaptive and non-adaptive systems.

\(6\) Ensure that the One-VA Enterprise Architecture Framework
encompasses processes for testing and evaluating VA systems and
applications to ensure they meet the Access Board's standards, and are
conformant with these standards.

\(7\) Review and evaluate EIT requests for approval to ensure compliance
with Section 508 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Exhibit 300
legislative requirements.

\(8\) Ensure participation in various programs and conferences
associated with the implementation of Section 508 requirements.

\(9\) On a biennial basis federal agencies are required by the
Department of Justice to complete a survey on how specific requirements
in Section 508 were implemented within the department or agency. The
Coordinator shall assist the Designated Agency Official in completing
the survey. The results of which are reported to the President regarding
accessibility of Federal EIT.

d**. Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and Other Key
Officials**. These officials will assist the Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Information and Technology to ensure that all managers are aware of
EIT resources by preparing a yearly follow-up reminder to managers
regarding the policy and procedures found in VA Directive and Handbook
6221, Accessible Electronic and Information Technology (EIT). These
officials shall:

\(1\) Procure EIT that best meets the Access Board's accessibility
standards.

\(2\) Include a detailed listing of cost of the OMB Exhibit 300 systems
which would ensure the EIT procured, used, maintained or developed be
Section 508 conformant.

\(3\) Include an update of the annual IT Plan strategies to develop
concept studies, or prepare requirements initiatives and functional
performance requirements for employees with disabilities.

\(4\) Develop initiatives to replace old technology and systems with new
systems, and include these items in the annual IT Plan. Requirements for
employees with disabilities should be described as part of the general
requirements task.

\(5\) Consult the individual employee with a disability, his/her
manager, appropriate agency technical support staff at the Section 508
Accessibility Testing and Training Center, and the Department of Defense
Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) when determining
specific computer accommodations or electronic office equipment
solutions to best meet the employee's assistive technology needs.

\(6\) Consider providing assistive technology to disabled VA employees
through the Department's partnership with the Department of Defense CAP.
For more information on CAP, visit the Resource section of the Section
508 web site at <http://www.va.gov/accessible>.

> **Chapter 2. SECTION 508: THE LAW**

## 1. Summary of the Law 

a\. This chapter offers an overview of the guidelines of compliance and
enforcement of Section 508.

b\. On August 7, 1998, President Clinton signed into law the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-220) which includes the
Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1973 (29 U.S.C.794 (d). Section 508 of
the Rehabilitation Act requires that when Federal agencies develop,
procure, maintain, or use EIT, Federal employees with disabilities have
access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the
access and use by Federal employees who are not individuals with
disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency.
Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are
members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal
agency, have access to and use of information and data that is
comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with
disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency.

c\. Under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended (29 U.S.C.
794d) Public Law 106-246 (<http://va.gov/accessible>) agencies must
provide employees and members of the public who have disabilities access
to electronic and information technology that is comparable to the
access available to employees and members of the public who are not
individuals with disabilities. This law directed the Architectural and
Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) to develop and
publish electronic and information technology (EIT) Accessibility
Standards in the Federal Register on December 21, 2000. This law also
provides for an administrative complaint process to enforce the
accessibility standards with respect to EIT products procured by a
Federal department or agency on or after June 21, 2001.

### 

### 2. Enforcement and Effective Date

a\. The law established an administrative process under which
individuals with disabilities, including employees and members of the
public, can file a complaint alleging that a Federal agency has not
complied with the Section 508 standards. This process uses the same
administrative complaint procedures established under section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act (which covers access to Federally funded programs and
services). It provides injunctive relief to the prevailing party, but
does not provide compensatory or punitive damages. Individuals may also
file a civil action against an agency if they so choose. The enforcement
provisions of Section 508 took effect six months from the date the
Access Board published its final standards. The Board published its
standards on December 21, 2000, making the enforcement provisions of
Section 508 effective as of June 21, 2001.

b\. By statute, the enforcement provisions of Section 508 apply only to
EIT procured on or after June 21, 2001. As a result, Section 508 does
not authorize complaints or lawsuits to retrofit technology procured
before this date to meet the Board\'s standards. However, even though
Section 508\'s enforcement mechanisms apply only to procurements, the
law does require access to technology developed, used, or maintained by
a Federal agency. Further, other sections of the Rehabilitation Act
require access to Federal programs (Section 504) and accommodation of
Federal employees with disabilities (Sections 501 and 504). Federal
agencies will use the Board\'s Section 508 standards as a yardstick
against which to measure compliance with these other sections of the
law.

### Chapter 3. The Roles of Key VA Stakeholders in Implementing Section 508

**1.** **VA Roles and Responsibilities**

a\. This chapter defines VA organizational responsibilities for the
implementation of Section 508 to disabled VA employees, veterans, and
persons with disabilities who use VA's EIT the services and information.
These responsibilities include incorporating the Section 508
requirements into practice as they relate to the development, use,
procurement, or maintenance of EIT; managing administrative complaints;
and responding to internal VA and DOJ reporting requirements.

###  b. Each component within VA is responsible for ensuring that the EIT they develop, use, maintain, or procure is accessible to people with disabilities, including employees and members of the public. Since the definition of EIT is broad in scope, and many agency components currently manage their own EIT (e.g., web pages, web applications, software, office equipment), the responsibility for meeting the Section 508 requirements needs to be decentralized. Each Administration or staff office is responsible for insuring that their EIT meets the applicable Section 508 requirements. The Section 508 Testing and Training Center within the Records Management Service was formed to assist the Administrations and Staff Offices to validate that the EIT being developed, procured or used meets the relevant standards of the law.

### 

### 2. Agency Reporting Requirements. VA will report to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on a biennial basis the extent to which their electronic and information technology is accessible to VA employees and usable by disabled persons in the general public. The VA Records Management Service will be responsible for establishing and maintaining the report. 

### 

### 3. The VA Section 508 Accessibility Testing and Training Center (T&TC) will be responsible for establishing and maintaining a tracking report on all help desk inquiries relating to Section 508 and problem resolution for the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology (VA CIO).

a\. All communications relating to Section 504 issues will be referred
to the appropriate office for processing.

b\. A team of VA employees and contractors will test and evaluate
electronic information technology for accessibility to assist VA
Webmasters and developers with Section 508 conformance.

c\. The T&TC will produce a report on the EIT being evaluated and will
document areas of nonconformance within the EIT. These reports will be
shared with the appropriate VA official or Program Manager who will
assume the responsibility for correcting the deficiencies in the EIT
prior to its deployment throughout the VA. In addition, all of the
evaluations completed by the team will be archived and available by
requesting a report from the VA Section 508 Coordinator.

d\. Those individuals who are responsible for developing, procuring,
maintaining, or using EIT and want to validate that their EIT meet the
relevant Section 508 requirements can send an email to
<Section508@va.gov> requesting an evaluation from the T&TC.

### 4. Contracting Officers and Contracting Specialists. The Contracting Officer is responsible for acquiring commercially available EIT that meets the applicable accessibility standards. The Contracting Officer will ensure that all statements of work (SOW) and purchase requests include applicable Section 508 language. In addition, the Contracting Officer will insert appropriate language into solicitations for EIT to communicate to Requiring Officials their responsibilities under Section 508. 

a\. The Contracting Officer will be responsible for ensuring that all
documentation from the Requiring Officials regarding a claim for "undue
burden" or "commercial non-availability" or any other approved exception
to the standards is included in the contract file.

b\. GSA has developed several online courses to assist procurement and
requiring officials in understanding what they are required to complete
before buying EIT for their Administration or Staff Offices. In
addition, there is a short course for purchase card holders also
available from the General Services Administration (GSA). Additional
information about GSA and its related resources may be found at:
<http://www.va.gov/accessible>.

5\. **Project Managers and Project Officers.** It is the responsibility
of project managers and officers to consider the accessibility
requirements of Section 508 very early in the project life cycle.
Building the accessibility requirements into the project from the
beginning will enable the project manager and officer to select the
proper development tools, and will ultimately save time and resources.
It is recommended that the project manager/officer use and/or evaluate
the system's Standard Project Lifecycle (SPLC) and the Internet Project
Lifecycle (IPLC). More information about SPLC and IPLC can be found on
VA's Section 508 accessible Web site.

a\. The project manager and officer must document how the project will
be Section 508 conformant if the project is being presented to the
Enterprise Architecture Review Board. If a project manager/officer
determines that it is not possible to make the project Section 508
conformant due to a significant difficulty or expense, the project
manager/officer will be responsible for documenting why it is an "undue
burden" and what alternative means that a person with a disability would
use to gain access to the information and data.

6\. **Web Masters and Developers**. It is the responsibility of all Web
masters and application developers to develop and test their Web pages
and applications for Section 508 conformance.

### 

### 7. VA Section 508 Web Site. The Section 508 Web site is a repository of all the activities related to Section 508 within VA. It contains helpful information on the procurement process, forms for procurement and requiring officials to use when documenting a Section 508 exception and complaint procedures for filing a Section 508 complaint.

> **Chapter 4. BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE PROCUREMENT
> OF ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (EIT)**

1\. **Budget Considerations**. This chapter gives projected cost
estimates for making electronic and information technology (EIT) that is
purchased, maintained, leased, or used conformant with the Section 508
standards*.*

a\. The VA Section 508 Advisory Board established a policy that all VA
components submitting EIT and non-EIT budgets are responsible for
including the costs of making the EIT Section 508 conformant.

b\. VA's procurement and related Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)
guidelines recommend conducting market research to ascertain if
additional costs would be incurred because of the Section 508
requirements. An analysis of projected costs should be included in the
Department's fiscal year budgets. If these costs can not be adequately
defined, the Section 508 Advisory Board recommends general cost
guidelines based on the type of EIT. These general guidelines follow:

\(1\) **General Office software** (**Commercial off-the-shelf
software):** The Access Board estimates a cost impact for this category
ranging between 0 and 5%. The Section 508 Advisory Board recommends that
the procurement official consider an additional allocation of 3% to the
existing budget for this category if your FY 2005-2010 budget includes
this category of software.

\(2\) **Mission Specific** **software (Developed or modified for or by
VA):** The Access Board estimates a cost impact for this category
ranging between 1 and 5%. The Section 508 Advisory Board recommends that
the VA consider an additional allocation of 5% to the existing budget
for this category if the FY 2005-2010 budget includes mission specific
software expenditures.

\(3\) **Technical Support and Services:** The Access Board estimates a
cost impact for this category ranging between 0 and 5%. The Section 508
Advisory Board recommends that the VA consider an additional allocation
of 3% to its existing budget for this category if the VA FY 2005-2010
budget includes technical support and services.

\(4\) **Document Management and Copiers:** The Access Board estimates a
cost impact for this category ranging between 5 and 20%. The Section 508
Advisory Board recommends that the VA consider an additional allocation
of 12.5% to its existing budget for this category if the FY 2005-2010
budget includes document management and copiers.

\(5\) **Hardware (printers, faxes & kiosks):** The Access Board
estimates a cost impact for this category ranging between 0 and 5%. The
Section 508 Advisory Board recommends that the VA consider an additional
allocation of 2.5% to its existing budget for this category if the FY
2005-2010 budget includes hardware.

\(6\) **Video and Multimedia:** Under Section 508 requirements all
pre-recorded or live programming that supports the agency's mission must
be captioned. The Access Board estimates that this will cost between
\$800 and \$2,500 per hour of pre-recorded material, and \$150 to
\$1,200 per hour of live programming. In addition, video and multimedia
programs which support the agency's mission must be audio described to
allow accessibility to persons with visual impairments. For full-length
programs, the Board estimates a cost of \$4,000 per program hour. For
short pieces of 5 to 20 minutes, the Board estimates \$1,460 to \$4,000
per program. The VA should use these general estimates to allocate the
additional cost of making video and multimedia programming accessible in
its FY 2005-2010 procurements and service contracts.

c\. The potential costs related to Section 508 must be considered in all
future EIT and non-EIT budgets.

2\. Procedures for the Procurement of EIT. This section covers
acquisition planning, developing the Statement of Work (SOW), conducting
market research, documenting EIT exceptions, and performing an
Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) regarding the procurement of
accessible EIT. When purchasing EIT, the requesting party should be
sufficiently familiar with the requirements of Section 508 so that it
proceeds appropriately. Buyers should be aware that there is no
recognized certification body relative to the Section 508 requirements.
All procurements must include language that requires the vendor to
address the service's or product's conformance with Section 508. Since
there are no industry standards for conformance, interpretations that
satisfy the requirements may vary. The conformance standards to be
followed are the U.S. Access Board's Electronic and Information
Technology Accessibility Standards. When procuring EIT, however, there
are three general criteria which should be considered. These criteria
are as follows:

a\. In accordance with the [Federal Acquisition
Regulation](http://www.arnet.gov/far/) (FAR) Part 7.103, acquisition
planning begins as soon as a program need is identified and it becomes
obvious that the need must be met by acquiring products or services
outside the Government for EIT. Thus, the acquisition planning begins in
the individual program office. The Contracting Officer shall be
contacted to provide assistance during this phase of the process,
particularly when complex projects are identified. Acquisition planning
at the program office level is one of the most important elements in the
procurement process. Good planning is one of the best ways of ensuring
that products or services to be procured will be acquired in the most
efficient way.

b\. Prior to submitting the acquisition package for processing, the
program office must complete several actions. The program office will
obtain approvals from Office of Information and Technology (OI&T) in
accordance with current IT acquisition policy and procedures. In
addition, the program office will perform requirements under FAR Part
10.001 (3) (vii), Market Research, FAR Part 11.002 (f) and Part 12.202,
Acquisition of Commercial Items Describing Agency Needs, as well as
developing the SOW to include Section 508 standards, technical
evaluation plan, source selection plan, special instructions, Government
estimate, period of performance, and other provisions needed for the
specific contract.

c\. The requiring office will identify if the requirement meets EIT
exceptions. If any of these exceptions apply, the exceptions will be
documented and forwarded to the appropriate organization CIO for
approval. If the EIT being requested meets the relevance Section 508 and
VA business requirements then the EIT may be purchased.

d\. The program office will obtain all approvals, prepare all supporting
documentation, and submit that information to the Contracting Officer to
take necessary steps for soliciting and awarding a Section 508 compliant
contract.

e\. To receive additional guidance on documentation and regulations,
visit the Section 508 Web site.

3\. **Market Research**. Market research is a regulatory requirement and
part of acquisition planning within VA Central Office (VACO). Market
research is conducted to determine if commercial sources are capable of
satisfying the Department\'s requirements, and to determine the
availability of commercial items or, in their absence, proprietary items
to meet VA's business needs. Market research is also conducted, when
necessary, to learn the practices of firms engaged in producing,
distributing, and supporting commercial items such as terms for
warranties, maintenance, and packaging. Under the BUY ACCESSIBLE link on
GSA's Web site, vendors have been identified that provide Section 508
conformant products and services.

###  

###  a. The extent of market research will vary, depending on such factors as urgency, estimated dollar value, complexity, and past experience. The responsibility for conducting market research falls mainly on the Requiring Official as part of their acquisition planning.

b\. The Requiring Official and the Contracting Officer conduct market
research by:

\(1\) Reviewing the results of similar market research performed to meet
similar or identical contract requirements.

\(2\) Querying Government databases that provide information relevant to
agency acquisitions.

\(3\) Contacting individuals in Government and industry regarding market
capabilities to meet requirements.

\(4\) Obtaining source lists of similar items or services from other
contracting organizations, trade associations, or other sources.

\(5\) Conducting meetings or exchanges with knowledgeable industry
representatives early in the acquisition process.

\(6\) Reviewing catalogs and other generally available product
literature published by manufacturers and distributors, asking specific
questions, and requesting a demonstration of accessibility features.

4\. **Developing Specifications or Statements of Work (SOW**).
Specifications shall state only the Government\'s actual minimum needs,
and be designed to promote full and open competition. Specifications
generally suggest goods while a SOW suggests services. The SOW describes
the task the contractor is required to perform as part of the
acquisition planning and frequently contains technical details beyond
the knowledge of the Contracting Officer. This level of technical detail
supports the Contracting Officer's efforts to meet Section 508
requirements. Specifications and SOWs fulfill the following purposes:

a\. Describe what the Government wants;

b\. Provide the baseline for evaluating the contractor\'s proposals;

c\. Stimulate vendor interests; and

d\. Provide the baseline for monitoring the contractor's performance
during the contract administration phase.

5\. **Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE).** An IGCE is required
for all actions regardless of whether price competition will be
obtained. The IGCE is required to assist in determining if prices
offered are fair and reasonable; ensure they reflect an understanding of
the Government\'s requirements; and that prices are within the
program\'s budget. IGCEs are critical to the acquisition process. To be
of substantive value, they must be genuinely independent. Requiring
Officials must not contact potential vendors to elicit information to
help develop their cost estimate.

a\. Further details on the preparation of IGCEs, including a sample
format, are provided in the Library section under archived documents on
the VA Section 508 Web site. Contact the contracting office for any
additional information and details to ensure compliance with Section 508
in accordance with the Access Board Standards.

b\. For procurement related questions regarding Section 508, contact the
Section 508 Mailbox at Section508@va.gov.

6\. **Web pages developed, procured, or maintained for the Intranet and
Internet.** A Web site must be designed to support the widest range of
potential users and computing platforms, and be fully conformant with
the Access Board's Standards, and compliant with the policy found in [VA
Directive 6102, Internet/Intranet
Services](http://vaww.va.gov/pubs/directives/Information-Resources-Management-(IRM)/6102d.pdf).
VA Directive 6102 provides policy with regard to the planning,
designing, maintenance, support, and any other functions related to the
administration of VA Internet/Intranet Web sites. The Section 508 law
requires that any Web pages developed, procured, or maintained on or
after June 21, 2001, meet the 16 Section 508 EIT Accessibility
Standards. Webmasters and developers should develop, test, and repair
their Web pages using Section 508 Web diagnostic and repair software
such as Watchfire[,]{.underline} I[nFocus,]{.underline} and
In[Sight]{.underline} by SSB Technologies, and [AccMonito]{.underline}r
by [HiSoftware Solutions](http://www.hisoftware.com/)[,]{.underline} or
contact the VA Web Operations group to test their Web pages for
conformance.

### 

### 7. Maintenance of Existing EIT. Section 508 and the FAR (at section 39.204) require all EIT systems or products maintained be Section 508 conformant. There is no legal requirement to retrofit legacy EIT systems acquired prior to 2001, provided those systems are not upgraded. Once a legacy system is upgraded (e.g. changing a mainframe system to a web-based application) the entire system must meet the relevant Section 508 requirements that relate to that system.

### 

### 8. Maintenance of Internally Developed Applications. Applications that are developed internally and do not involve any procurement action after June 21, 2001, are not required to be Section 508 conformant. However, if an employee with disabilities requests access to information from that application, the EIT owner must provide it in an accessible format. Furthermore, if an application is "significantly" revised/upgraded (i.e., 30% or more of the screens are being modified), the entire application must be rewritten to meet Section 508 EIT Accessibility Standards. 

9\. **Procurement of Maintenance Renewals for Existing EIT**

### 

###  a. Software maintenance renewals for EIT that were purchased before June 21, 2001, are not required to meet Section 508 EIT Accessibility Standards unless \"upgrades\" and/or \"new versions\" of the software are part of the renewal contract. The vendor will be required to address how they meet the Section 508 EIT Accessibility Standards when they release new software versions to the agency.

b\. A contract for maintenance renewal for existing hardware that was
purchased prior to June 21, 2001, does not have to meet Section 508 EIT
Accessibility Standards if the products (e.g., computer systems,
printers) are being replaced with the same make and model that was
purchased prior to June 21, 2001.

c\. For EIT products that are substituted or upgraded (i.e., the
maintenance vendor is going to replace an older printer with a new
model), Section 508 EIT Accessibility Standards apply. The applicable
Section 508 Accessibility Standards should be added to the maintenance
renewal contract for EIT products that are substituted or upgraded by
the vendor.

## Chapter 5. VA SECTION 508 TRAINING

1\. **VA Section 508 Training**. This chapter provides information on
where to obtain training on the various aspects of Section 508
implementation with appropriate resource and contact information. You
will also find material to help better understand and conform to Section
508 requirements which will make the Department compliant with this
important legislation. Most VA-related training will be conducted via
on-line courses or interactive Web site courses which will be announced
on the accessible Web site. The Web site will also have information on
508 training opportunities at the General Services Administration's
Center for IT Accommodations (CITA), Department of Justice, Access
Board, and Department of Education. All of these agencies provide
training which consists of on-line, classroom, or multimedia based
training on CD-ROM or DVD.

a\. There are several sources of training to help staff better
understand and comply with Section 508 requirements.

b\. For more in-depth, detailed information than that presented below,
contact VA's Section 508 Coordinator through the Section 508 mailbox at
Section508@va.gov.

###  2. Implementation of Section 508 Training and Awareness throughout VA. VA employees will receive comprehensive guidance on strategies to conform to the Access Board's EIT Standards for compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended.

a\. The Section 508 Accessibility Testing and Training Center (T&TC)
Team is comprised of subject matter experts who are responsible for
promoting education and awareness of Section 508 throughout the
Department. In addition, the Section 508 Test Team provides verification
that all EIT developed, used, procured, or maintained meet the Section
508 legal requirements. Much of the work that is implemented is
accomplished in VA's Section 508 Accessibility T&TC.

b\. The Section 508 Accessibility T&TC Team is partnering with the VA
Learning University (VALU) and the Employee Education Service (EES) to
produce a thorough and well developed Section 508 curriculum to inform
employees at VACO and other VA organizations about Section 508.

c\. Members of the Section 508 T&TC Team will also travel to VA regional
offices to conduct Section 508 introductory, legal, procurement, and Web
page design training in established VA conferences and seminars. The
Section 508 T&TC Team will provide connectivity to field personnel to
augment their Section 508 procurement and Web page design training on an
on-going basis. In order to promote effective use of access technologies
designed to meet the EIT needs of VA employees, veterans with
disabilities, and others who access VA's internal and external Web
sites, the Section 508 Team will also provide needs assessments and
appropriate technical support assistance to Section 508 Advisory Board
members, employees with disabilities, and their managers. In addition,
the Team will partner with the DOD CAP and GSA's CITA programs to
provide needs assessments, access equipment recommendations, and
training to VA employees with disabilities in VACO and at VA field
facilities at no cost to the Department.

d\. The Section 508 Accessibility Testing and Training Center Team will
work with the appropriate program managers and through the Milestone
Review Process to identify the resources necessary to enable subject
matter experts from the Section 508 Advisory Board to interface with
focus groups at VACO. In addition, subject matter experts using our list
serve will supply appropriate individuals in VA field offices with
supplemental training and updated information regarding Section 508
implementation issues. The list serve is located at
<section508info-l@www.listserv.va.gov> and instructions for joining this
list serve can be found on our Section 508 web site. Although the
implementation of Section 508 is an unfunded mandate, the financial
resources needed to implement these legal requirements can be procured
by establishing 508 as an integral part of the program management plan.

3\. **VA Employee Training Information and Contacts.**

a\. The Office of Information and Technology\'s Records Management
Service will advise and assist Section 508 subcommittees to carry out
planned education and awareness activities on a nationwide basis. In
order to ensure that Section 508 training is carried out on an on-going
basis, staff members of the Section 508 Accessibility Testing and
Training Center will operate a Help Desk and handle Section 508
inquiries and technical IT accessibility problems not resolved by field
facility personnel.

b\. The Section 508 Advisory Board recommends the T&TC have individuals
well versed in the use of adaptive technologies and accessible Web page
design available to assist VA webmasters in helping to diagnose errors
in web page design which will be reported to the responsible webmaster.
Watchfire and other automated tools will be used to evaluate VA websites
and reports detailing Section 508 violations will be e-mailed out to
designated points of contact.

## Chapter 6. ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT PROCESS AND RESOLUTION

## 1. Administrative Complaint Process and Resolution. This chapter discusses the VA complaint process and explains how to file an administrative Section 508 complaint. Also addressed are important details related to the informal resolution of Section 508 complaints. [V]{.smallcaps}iolations of the accessibility standards established pursuant to Section 508 are enforceable only in connection with EIT products procured by a Federal agency on or after June 21, 2001.

2\. **Complaint Notification**. Disabled Federal employees or disabled
members of the public may file Section 508 complaints. Any individual
with a disability may file a complaint alleging that a Federal agency
failed to comply with Section 508 in providing accessible EIT. In such
cases, personal damages (personal compensation) are not available. A
proven case of non-compliance with the pertinent accessibility standards
is required and the remedy sought is to make the EIT product Section 508
conformant. Lawsuits may also be filed in an appropriate United States
District Court where, in addition to injunctive relief, attorney's fees
may be awarded with respect to a successful Section 508 claim. Although
Section 508 follows the approved Section 504 complaint process, the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) does not have
jurisdiction over Section 508 complaints.

## 3. VA Complaint Process. 

##  a. All Section 508 administrative complaints will follow the established procedures for Section 504 complaints. The complaint process for Section 504 complaints is set forth in Part 15 of Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations at 38 C.F.R. § 15.170. In summary, this process provides that the agency shall investigate all complaints over which it has jurisdiction and, within 180 days, issue findings of fact and conclusions of law; a proposed remedy, if appropriate; and a notice of appeal to the Secretary.

b\. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Resolution Management is
delegated the responsibility for coordinating implementation of the
Section 504 complaint process. The Office of Resolution Management (ORM)
is, therefore, the recipient for the filing of all Section 508
complaints. Following current protocol for processing Section 504
complaints, Section 508 complaints will be forwarded to the appropriate
VA official or organization responsible for procuring the alleged
non-conforming product for further processing, investigation, and a
decision on the complaint. Although the processes for filing Section 504
and 508 complaints are similar, they differ slightly because the
enforcement of Section 508 centers on procurement and the application of
a technical compliance regulation, rather than on employment or a VA
program or activity which might be alleged to be inaccessible under
Section 504.

4\. **Complaint Filing Guidelines for Section 508**.

a\. Complaint filing guidelines are found on VA's accessible Web site.

b\. The Section 508 Complaint Guidelines are based on recommendations
made by the Section 508 Advisory Board personnel who recommended that
Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and Other Key Officials
responsible for procuring the alleged non-conformant EIT be responsible
for conducting an investigation and advising the responsible VA official
that the EIT be brought under conformance with the standards.

5\. **Informal Resolution of Section 508 Complaints.** VA strongly
encourages all individuals with disabilities to bring their
accessibility concerns to the attention of the appropriate VA official
responsible for the alleged Section 508 non-conforming EIT product so
that the problem can be resolved informally and promptly. If a Web site
is involved, the designated Webmaster should be contacted about the
accessibility problem. If an EIT product other than a Web site is
involved, the appropriate organizational official responsible for
procuring the alleged non-conforming product should be contacted. All
mutually agreeable and available alternative dispute resolution
techniques should be considered. Once resolved, the terms of the
settlement agreement should be reduced to a written agreement and be
made part of the complaint file.