E.13 - CMS 508 Excel Checklist.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 35 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- 260656J
About this file
This is a Section 508 accessibility compliance checklist template for Microsoft Excel documents used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The checklist is designed for CMS internal use to evaluate the accessibility of submitted documents and files related to federal contract opportunities, ensuring compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 standards and Section 508 requirements. The template does not address specific products or services required for any particular solicitation; rather, it serves as an evaluation tool for assessing document accessibility across multiple compliance categories.
The checklist encompasses comprehensive accessibility criteria organized into ten primary guideline categories: text alternatives for non-text content; time-based media; adaptable information and relationships; distinguishable color usage; keyboard accessibility; adequate time for user interactions; seizure prevention; navigable content structure; readable language; and predictable user interface behavior. Additionally, it includes specific requirements for form-based input assistance and a separate section for time-based media guidelines. For each criterion, the checklist specifies the WCAG reference number, standard identification number, conformance level, and space for remarks and explanations. Vendors unable to make content accessible are instructed to provide alternate versions or submit remediation plans to the CMS Section 508 team. This template applies broadly to all document submissions related to CMS solicitations, including the Plan Program Integrity Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor (PPI MEDIC) contract opportunity.
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Report Details
| Report Details | ** FOR CMS USE ONLY ** |
| Reviewer Name: | |
| Review Date: | |
| Procurement Name: | |
| Document Description: | |
| Overall Assessment: | |
| Microsoft Office Version: | |
| Additional Note: | |
| If linked or embedded file(s) are not owned by the agency, there must be an attempt to retrieve an accessible version from the content owner | |
| Resources: | |
| For more information about each failure please view the WCAG Guidelines at: | |
| How to Meet WCAG (Quick Reference) | |
| (Version: 03/2020) |
http://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG20/quickref/ Results
| Guidelines | WCAG Ref #(s) | Standard ID # | Compliance Criterion | Conformance Level | Remarks and Explanations | Additional Notes (CMS Use Only) |
| Best Practices | N/A | 1A | Where no method exists to correct content so that it meets the requirements, an alternate version is provided. If not contact the CO for alternate content options or to arrange a meeting with the Section 508 team. | Vendor Instruction: |
If the offeror is unable to make the content accessible they should provide an alternate version or provide a remediation plan to the section 508 team.
N/A 1B Where the document links to or embeds another file, an appropriate checklist has been provided for each link or attachment. Vendor Instruction:
If document submitted contain links or embedded documents a checklist should be completed for the attachments.
| 1.1 - Text Alternatives | ||||
| Non-Text Content | 1.1.1 | 2A | All images/objects/shapes have descriptive text alt text (Format Picture > Layout & Properties > Alt Text > Description), a caption, or are described in the surrounding text. | |
| 1.1.1 | 2B | Images that do not convey content, are decorative, or with content that is already conveyed in text have a blank space in the Format Picture > Layout & Properties > Alt Text > Description field. |
(Note: When using Office 365, check the "Mark as Decorative" checkbox instead.)
| 1.1.1 | 2C | Equivalent alternatives to complex images are provided in context or on a separate worksheet. | ||
| 1.1.1 | 2D | Images of, or that include text (ex. logos), have the text as part of the description. | ||
| 1.1.1 | 2E | Embedded content is identified via accessible text. | ||
| 1.1.1 | 2F | Animated content has an alternative or is described in text. | ||
| 1.1.1 | 2G | Mathematical formulas (symbols outside the common set) have an alternative or are provided as text. | ||
| 1.1.1 | 2H | All characters are Unicode values. | ||
| 1.1.1 | 2I | Images and drawing remnants are grouped where appropriate. | ||
| 1.2 - Time-based Media | 1.1.1; | |||
| 1.2.# | 3A | Where media content is present or embedded, the checkpoints on the Time-Based Media worksheet are compliant. | ||
| 1.3 - Adaptable |
Info and Relationships;
| Name, Role, Value | 1.3.1; | |||
| 4.1.2 | 4A | Blank lines, tabs or spaces are not used for structure. | ||
| 1.3.1 | 4B | The use of text boxes is avoided where possible. | ||
| 1.3.1 | 4C | Home > Style > Heading 1 - Heading 4 are used to style section names. | ||
| 1.3.1 | 4D | Headings match the visual hierarchy of the document. | ||
| 1.3.1 | 4E | Insert > Table function is used for tabular data and merged or split cells are avoided. | ||
| 1.3.1 | 4F | Data table headers are appropriately identified by checking the "My table has headers" checkbox in the Create Table dialog. | ||
| 1.3.1 | 4G | Data table row and column header cells are not blank. | ||
| 1.3.1 | 4H | Data table row and/or column headers are repeated at the top of each page by ensuring applicable rows and/or columns are listed under Page Layout > Print Titles > Page Setup > Sheet > Print titles. | ||
| Info and Relationships; | ||||
| Name, Role, Value | 1.3.1; | |||
| 4.1.2 | 4I | The document is free of pictures of tables. | ||
| 1.3.1 | 4J | Data table captions and summaries are used where appropriate. | ||
| Info and Relationships; | ||||
| Name, Role, Value | 1.3.1; | |||
| 4.1.2 | 4K | Form elements are avoided where possible. | ||
| Meaningful Sequence | 1.3.2 | 4L | The reading and navigation order is logical and intuitive. | |
| 1.3.2 | 4M | Vital content from a header, footer or watermark is duplicated near the beginning of the document. | ||
| Sensory Characteristics | 1.3.3 | 4N | Instructions do not rely upon shape, size, or visual location (e.g., "Click the square icon to continue" or "Instructions are in the right-hand column"). | |
| 1.3.3 | 4O | Instructions do not rely upon sound (e.g., "A beeping sound indicates you may continue."). | ||
| 1.4 - Distinguishable | ||||
| Use of Color | 1.4.1 | 5A | Color is not used as the sole method of conveying content or distinguishing visual elements (such as size, shape, and location). | |
| 1.4.1 | 5B | Color alone is not used to distinguish links from surrounding text unless the luminance contrast between the link and the surrounding text is at least 3:1 and an additional differentiation (e.g., it becomes underlined) is provided when the link is hovered over or receives focus. | ||
| 1.4.1 | 5C | Non-text content (ex. images) use patterns to convey the same information as color. | ||
| 1.4.1 | 5D | Comments are used as collaboration methods (instead of color and highlighting). | ||
| Audio Control | 1.4.2 | 5E | A mechanism is provided to stop, pause, mute, or adjust volume for audio from multimedia or animation that automatically plays for more than 3 seconds. | |
| Contrast (Minimum) | 1.4.3 | 5F | Text and images of text have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1. | |
| Resize Text | 1.4.4 | 5G | The document is readable and functional when the text is resized up to 200 percent. | |
| Images of Text | 1.4.5 | 5H | Text is used instead of images of text (unless it is essential for conveying the information). | |
| 2.1 - Keyboard Accessible | ||||
| Keyboard | 2.1.1 | 6A | All document functionality is available (receives focus and can be activated) using the keyboard, unless the functionality cannot be accomplished in any known way using a keyboard (e.g., free hand drawing). | |
| 2.1.1 | 6B | All locked and unlocked cells must be capable of being selected and navigated with the keyboard. Navigate to Review > Protect Sheet for each worksheet and ensure "Select Locked Cells" and "Select Unlocked Cells" are checked. | ||
| 2.1.1 | 6C | All functionality of the content is operable without requiring specific timings for individual keystrokes. | ||
| No Keyboard Trap | 2.1.2 | 6D | Keyboard focus is never locked or trapped at one particular document element. The user can navigate to and from all navigable elements (ex. embedded objects) using only a keyboard. | |
| 2.2 - Enough Time | ||||
| Timing Adjustable | 2.2.1 | 7A | Where the application has a time limit, the user is given options to turn off, adjust, or extend that time limit. This is not a requirement for real-time events (e.g., an auction), where the time limit is absolutely required, or if the time limit is longer than 20 hours. | |
| Pause, Stop, Hide | 2.2.2 | 7B | Automatically moving, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating content (ex. multimedia, animation, etc.) that lasts longer than 5 seconds can be paused, stopped, or hidden by the user. Moving, blinking, or scrolling can be used to draw attention to or highlight content as long as it lasts less than 5 seconds. | |
| 2.3 - Seizures | ||||
| Three Flashes or Below Threshold | 2.3.1 | 8A | No page content flashes more than 3 times per second unless that flashing content is sufficiently small and the flashes are of low contrast and do not contain too much red. | |
| 2.4 - Navigable | ||||
| Page Titles | 2.4.2 | 9A | The document has a meaningful title indicating its purpose under File > Info > Properties > Title. | |
| Keyboard; | ||||
| Focus Order | 2.1.1; | |||
| 2.4.3 | 9B | The navigation order of links is logical and intuitive. | ||
| Link Purpose (In Context) | 2.4.4 | 9C | The destination, function, and/or purpose of each link can be determined from the link text alone, or from the link text and its context (e.g., surrounding paragraph, list item, table cell, or table headers). | |
| 2.4.4 | 9D | Links with the same text that go to different locations are readily distinguishable. | ||
| Headings and Labels | 2.4.6 | 9E | Page headings and labels for forms are informative. Avoid duplicating headings (e.g., "More Details") or label text (e.g., "First Name") unless the structure provides adequate differentiation between them. | |
| 2.4.6 | 9F | Each worksheet in the workbook has a meaningful, unique name. | ||
| Focus Visible | 2.4.7 | 9G | It is visually apparent which element has the current keyboard focus (i.e., as you tab through the page, you can see where you are). | |
| 3.1 - Readable | ||||
| Language of Page | 3.1.1 | 10A | File > Options > Language displays the appropriate language for the document. | |
| 3.2 - Predictable | ||||
| On Focus | 3.2.1 | 11A | When a page element receives focus, it does not result in a substantial change to the page, the spawning of a pop-up window, an additional change of keyboard focus, or any other change that could confuse or disorient the user. | |
| On Input | 3.2.2 | 11B | When a user inputs information or interacts with a control, it does not result in a substantial change to the page, the spawning of a pop-up window, an additional change of keyboard focus, or any other change that could confuse or disorient the user unless the user is informed of the change ahead of time. | |
| 3.3 - Input Assistance |
Error Identification
| Labels or Instructions | 3.3.1; | |||
| 3.3.2 | 12A | Required form elements or form elements that require a specific format, value, or length provide this information as a text description. | ||
| 3.3.1 | 12B | If utilized, form validation errors are presented in an efficient, intuitive, and accessible manner. The error is clearly identified, quick access to the problematic element is provided, and user is allowed to easily fix the error and resubmit the form. | ||
| Labels or Instructions | 3.3.2 | 12C | Sufficient labels, cues, and instructions for required interactive elements are provided at the beginning of the form or set of fields via instructions, examples, and/or properly positioned form labels. Note: Related fields need to provide a group name, example "Gender: Female". | |
| Error Suggestion | 3.3.3 | 12D | If an input error is detected, provide suggestions for fixing the input in a timely and accessible manner. | |
| Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) | 3.3.4 | 12E | If the user can change or delete legal, financial, or test data, the changes/deletions can be reversed, verified, or confirmed. |
Time-Based Media
| Guidelines | WCAG Ref #(s) | Standard ID # | Compliance Criterion | Conformance Level | Remarks and Explanations | Additional Notes (CMS Use Only) |
| 1.2 - Time-based Media |
Non-Text Content;
| Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) | 1.1.1; | |
| 1.2.1 | 3B | A descriptive text transcript (including all relevant visual and auditory clues and indicators) is provided for non-live audio-only media (audio podcasts, MP3 files, etc.). |
| 1.1.1; | ||
| 1.2.1 | 3C | A text transcript or audio description is provided for non-live video-only content (e.g., video that has no audio track). |
| Non-Text Content; | ||
| Captions (Prerecorded) | 1.1.1; | |
| 1.2.2 | 3D | Synchronized captions are provided for non-live audio (YouTube videos, etc). |
| Non-Text Content; | ||
| Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) | 1.1.1; | |
| 1.2.3 | 3E | A descriptive text transcript OR audio description audio track is provided for non-live video. |
| Non-Text Content; | ||
| Captions (Live) | 1.1.1; | |
| 1.2.4 | 3F | Synchronized captions are provided for all live multimedia that contain audio (audio-only broadcasts, web casts, video conferences, animations, etc). |
| Non-Text Content; | ||
| Audio Description (Prerecorded) | 1.1.1; | |
| 1.2.5 | 3G | Audio descriptions are provided for all video content. NOTE: Only required if the video conveys content visually that is not available in the default audio track. |
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .