Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) Section 508 Compliance Procedures 

Office of Resource Management Document Number ORM.531

1 of 8

 Section 508 Compliance Procedures

Section 508 Compliance Procedures

Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board 

Effective Date: September 30, 2019
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) Section 508 Compliance Procedures 

Office of Resource Management Document Number ORM.531

2 of 8

 Section 508 Compliance Procedures

Section 508 Compliance Procedures

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 Overview...................................................................................................................................................... 3

2.0 Roles and Responsibilities........................................................................................................................... 4

3.0 Applicable Policies ...................................................................................................................................... 5

4.0 Procedures.................................................................................................................................................... 5

5.0 Authorities and References.......................................................................................................................... 7

6.0 Revision History .......................................................................................................................................... 7

7.0 Approval ...................................................................................................................................................... 7

8.0 Appendices................................................................................................................................................... 8
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) Section 508 Compliance Procedures 

Office of Resource Management Document Number ORM.531

3 of 8

 Section 508 Compliance Procedures

1.0 OVERVIEW 

The Federal Employees’ Retirement System Act of 1986 (FERSA) authorized the Federal 

Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), an independent agency of the U.S. Executive Branch,

to administer the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), one of the three components of the Federal Employees’ 

Retirement System (FERS). The TSP is a defined contribution plan for U.S. Federal civilian 

employees (including those covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) as well as 

members of the uniformed services). FRTIB and TSP are collectively referred to as the Agency. 

The mission of FRTIB is to administer the TSP solely in the interest of its participants and 

beneficiaries. 

The Office of Resource Management (ORM) supports and manages human resources and 

administration activities for FRTIB in accordance with Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 

regulations and other applicable Federal regulations. ORM serves as a strategic partner with FRTIB 

leadership to drive the design of innovative, effective administrative services and human resource 

programs that support FRTIB employees and its overall mission. The Human Resources Division 

(HRD) is a sub-office within ORM that manages the key business processes related to human 

resources programs and initiatives. 

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, along with its implementing regulations, 

establish guidelines for Information Technology accessibility. It creates opportunities for individuals 

with disabilities inside and outside the government and encourages the development of technology 

products and services using accessible design. Section 508 applies when federal agencies develop, 

procure, maintain, or use information and communications technology (ICT).

This document sets forth FRTIB’s procedures related to the administration and management of its 

Section 508 program.

1 The FRTIB Office in charge of administering and implementing these 

procedures is ORM.

 1 The Rehabilitation Act’s reasonable accommodation and antidiscrimination provisions protecting employees of FRTIB are not 

governed by these procedures. FRTIB employees seeking a reasonable accommodation in order to perform their duties should instead 

review FRTIB’s Reasonable Accommodation Policies and Procedures, or contact the reasonable accommodation coordinator.
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) Section 508 Compliance Procedures 

Office of Resource Management Document Number ORM.531

4 of 8

 Section 508 Compliance Procedures

2.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Section 508 Compliance Coordinator - designated by the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and 

responsible for coordinating with the Section 508 Third Party Contractor to evaluate, assess, and 

remediate FRTIB electronic content and communications to ensure it is compliant with Section 508; 

partnering with other FRTIB offices to assist in meeting their Section 508 goals and objectives; 

receiving, recording, and timely reviewing Section 508 complaints from FRTIB employees, 

employees of other federal agencies, participants and beneficiaries, and members of the public 

concerning accessibility of about FRTIB’s electronic content.

Section 508 Third Party Contractor - responsible for evaluating, assessing and remediating 

electronic content and communications submitted by the FRTIB to ensure Section 508 compliance. 

The Third Party Contractor will provide written certification of all FRTIB materials assuring 

remediated materials meet Section 508 accessibility guidelines. 

Office of the Chief Financial Officer (Contracting Division) - responsible for ensuring FRTIB 

procurements comply with Section 508 by developing, updating, and incorporating applicable 

Section 508 language in solicitations, contracts, blanket purchase agreements (BPAs), and task 

orders for all ICT procurements.

Office of Communications and Education (OCE) - responsible for ensuring that all web-based and 

TSP training content managed by OCE complies with Section 508.

Office of Technology Services - responsible for reviewing, approving, and tracking licenses for 

accessibility software provided by the agency, and providing Section 508 testing on all ICT placed 

on the FRTIB IT infrastructure or used to conduct FRTIB business.

Office of Resource Management (Human Resources Division) - responsible for facilitating, with the 

assistance of the Section 508 Compliance Coordinator, Section 508 training opportunities.

Chief Operating Officer - responsible for determining the appropriate action and remedy for Section 

508 Compliance complaints. 
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) Section 508 Compliance Procedures 

Office of Resource Management Document Number ORM.531

5 of 8

 Section 508 Compliance Procedures

Office Directors (or Office Designee) - responsible for partnering with Section 508 Compliance 

Coordinator to ensure all content (e.g., emails, documents, files) authored, owned, developed, 

maintained and posted/for publication2 is 508 compliant. 

Employees - responsible for completing Section 508 training, when required, and adhering to these 

procedures when developing, procuring, maintaining, or using ICT. 

Section 508 Compliance Complainant - Any individual who alleges a Section 508 information 

accessibility violation by FRTIB and wishes to pursue a Section 508 complaint.

3.0 APPLICABLE POLICIES 

• Section 508 Compliance Policy

4.0 PROCEDURES

4.1 Section 508 Compliance Evaluation, Assessment and Remediation

EA - 1 Office Director, or Designee, identifies ICT content to be assessed for 508 

Compliance and contacts the Section 508 Compliance Coordinator to request an 

assessment of the content.

EA - 2 Section 508 Compliance Coordinator submits a request to the Section 508 Third 

Party Contractor to evaluate, assess, and remediate the ICT content. 

EA - 3 Section 508 Compliance Coordinator contacts the Office Director or Designee 

regarding the outcome of the assessment and remediation recommendation of the 

Section 508 Third Party Contractor. 

EA - 4 Section 508 Third Party Contractor performs remediation of the ICT content and 

delivers it to the Section 508 Compliance Coordinator. Remediation actions may 

include, but are not limited to, providing text equivalents that would allow people 

who have vision disabilities and cannot see the images properly to know what’s 

contained in them; ensuring persons with disabilities can fill out online forms 

using assistive technology or using just the keyboard; and ensuring there is

 2 Publication includes public-facing websites, FRTIB’s intranet, or distribution via broadcast emails. 
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) Section 508 Compliance Procedures 

Office of Resource Management Document Number ORM.531

6 of 8

 Section 508 Compliance Procedures

adequate contrast between the information on the web page and the background 

color, making the information more readable by people with limited vision.

EA - 5 Section 508 Compliance Coordinator submits the remediated ICT content to the 

Office Director or Designee for publication or posting. 

4.2 508 Compliance Complaints

CC-1 The Section 508 Compliance Coordinator receives the complaint from the Section 

508 Compliance Complainant.

CC-2 The Section 508 Compliance Coordinator reviews the complaint3 and notifies the 

complainant that the complaint has been received.

CC-3 The Section 508 Compliance Coordinator investigates the complaint. The 

investigation must determine (1) whether the challenged ICT is covered by 

Section 508; (2) whether the ICT complies with the Section 508 Standards 

applicable to the particular technology; (3) whether an exception applies; (4)

whether compliance with the Section 508 Standards would require a fundamental 

alteration in the nature of a product or its components; (5) whether, at the time the 

ICT was procured, developed, acquired, or used, it was an undue burden to make 

the ICT accessible4

; and (6) if the ICT is a commercial off-the-shelf product, 

whether, at the time the ICT was procured, a more accessible version was 

available in the commercial marketplace.

CC-4 Following investigation, the Section 508 Compliance Coordinator will issue a 

Report of Investigation (ROI) which addresses the components outlined in CC-3 

and, if appropriate, recommended remedies, The remedies available include 

making the ICT accessible and providing other injunctive relief.5 The 

investigation will be completed within 21 business days of receipt of the 

complaint, absent extenuating circumstances.

 3 If the complaint potentially raises Section 501 (e.g. reasonable accommodation) issues and/or Section 504 (e.g. reasonable modification or effective 

communication) issues, the Section 508 Compliance Coordinator will forward the complaint to the appropriate office(s) for handling under those 

laws.

4 Section 508 requires that undue burden determinations be documented at the time of the purchase/development of the technology, so 

that documentation should remain on file. 5 Compensatory damages are not available under Section 508.
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) Section 508 Compliance Procedures 

Office of Resource Management Document Number ORM.531

7 of 8 

Section 508 Compliance Procedures

CC-5 The Section 508 Compliance Coordinator submits the ROI to the COO. 

CC-6 The COO reviews the ROI and Section 508 Compliance Coordinator’s 

recommendations and determines the appropriate action and remedy. If the 

purchase, acquisition, development or use of ICT is in violation of the Section 

508 requirements, the COO, in consultation with the Contracting Division, will 

determine an expeditious timeline for the purchase or remediation of the ICT to 

make it accessible, or for provision of the information and data involved in the 

ICT via an accessible alternative means. The COO’s decision will be made in 

writing within 30 days of receipt of the ROI, absent extenuating circumstances, 

and shared with the Section 508 Compliance Coordinator. 

CC-7 The Section 508 Compliance Coordinator will inform the complainant of the 

COO’s decision, action to be taken (if any), andany approved remedies , as 

appropriate. 

5.0 AUTHORITIES AND REFERENCES 

• 29 U.S.C 794d

• 36 C.F.R. Part 1194

• Appendix A to Part 1194

• FRTIB Section 508 Compliance Policy

6.0 REVISION HISTORY

Date Version Author Comments

(briefly summarize change)

08/08/2019 1 Kristin Hanmer , ORM-HR Initial Version

7.0 APPROVAL 

Name: ______________________________________ 

Gisile Goethe

Title: Office Director, ORM
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) Section 508 Compliance Procedures 

Office of Resource Management Document Number ORM.531

8 of 8

 Section 508 Compliance Procedures

8.0 APPENDICES

Appendix A: Sample Documents

• None

Appendix B: Reference Material 

• None

Appendix C: Flowcharts 

• None