New Rule May Slow Procurement

The rule intended to make information technology accessible to federal workers with disabilities will likely delay the procurement process, according to the Information Technology Association of America.

The rule, issued April 25 by the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council, incorporates into the procurement process accessibility standards issued by the Access Board. The board is an agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. The FAR Council sets the standards for government procurement.

Because the final rule applies to contracts awarded as of June 25, solicitations issued weeks or months ago may have to be modified before they are awarded, slowing down the procurement process, said Olga Grkavac, executive vice president of the ITAA Enterprise Solutions Division in Arlington, Va.

The standards, required by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998, apply to software and operating systems, Web-based applications and information, telecommunications products, video and multimedia products, desktop and portable computers and self-contained products, such as information kiosks.