HHSAR 352 Clauses.pdf

SOLICITATION 246-24-Q-0065

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CLAUSES AND PROVISIONS

HHSAR 352.204-73 Contractor Personnel Security and Agency Access. (Deviation)

CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL SECURITY AND AGENCY ACCESS (FEB 2024) (DEVIATION)

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause—

Agency access means access to HHS facilities, sensitive information, information systems or other HHS resources.

Applicant means a contractor employee for whom the Contractor applies for an HHS identification card.

Contractor employee means a prime contractor and subcontractor employee who requires agency access to perform work under an HHS contract.

Identification card (or "ID card") means a government issued or accepted identification card such as a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card, a PIV-Interoperable (PIV-I) card from an authorized PIV-1 issuer, or a non-PIV card issued by HHS, or a non-PIV card issued by another

Federal agency and approved by HHS. PIV and PIV-1 cards have physical and electronic attributes that other (non-PIV) ID cards do not have.

Issuing office means the HHS entity that issues identification cards to contractor employees.

Local security servicing organization means the HHS entity that provides security services to the HHS organization sponsoring the contract.

(b) Risk and sensitivity level designations. For contracts requiring access to HHS facilities, sensitive information, information systems or other HHS resources, contractor employees will be required to complete background investigations, identity proofing, and government identification card application procedures to determine suitability for access. HHS will assign a risk and sensitivity level designation to the overall contract and/or to contractor employee positions by category, group or individual. The risk and sensitivity level designations will be the basis for determining the level of personnel security processing required for contractor employees. The position sensitivity designation levels that apply will be identified in the contract. The following risk and sensitivity level designations and associated level of processing are required, and each level includes the prior levels—

(1) Low risk level: National Agency Check with Written Inquiries (NACI);

(2) Moderate risk level: Minimum Background Investigation (MBI); and

(3) High risk level: Background Investigation.

(c) Security clearances. Contractor employees may also be required to obtain security clearances

(i.e., Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret). National Security work designated "special sensitive,"

"critical sensitive," or "non-critical sensitive," will determine the level of clearance required for contractor employees. Personnel security clearances for national security contracts in HHS will be processed according to the HHS Personnel Security and Suitability Program, HHS Instruction

731-1, and the Department of Defense National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual

(NISPOM).

(d) Pre-screening of contractor employees. The Contractor must pre-screen individuals designated for employment under any HHS contract by verifying minimal suitability requirements to ensure that only candidates that appear to meet such requirements are considered for contract employment, and to mitigate the burden on the Government of conducting background investigations on objectionable applicants. The Contractor must exercise due diligence in pre-screening all employees prior to submission to HHS for agency access. HHS may decline to grant agency access to a contractor employee for reasons including, but not limited to—

(1) Conviction of a felony, a crime of violence, or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;

(2) Falsification of information entered on forms or of other documents submitted;

(3) Improper conduct including criminal, infamous, dishonest, immoral, or notoriously disgraceful conduct or other conduct adverse to the Government regardless of whether the conduct is directly related to the contract; and

(4) Any behavior judged to pose a potential threat to HHS facilities, sensitive information, information systems or other resources.

(e) Citizenship status. The Contractor must monitor a non-citizen’s continued authorization for employment in the United States. The Contractor must provide documentation to the Contracting

Officer or the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) during the background investigation process that validates that the E-Verify requirement has been met for each contractor employee.

(f) Background investigation and adjudication. A contractor employee must have a favorable adjudication of background investigation before HHS will issue an ID card to the contractor employee granting access to HHS facilities, sensitive information, information systems or other

HHS resources. HHS may accept favorable adjudications of background investigations from other

Federal agencies when applicants have held PIV cards issued by those agencies with no break in service. HHS may also accept PIV-I (Interoperable) cards issued by an authorized PIV-1 issuer as evidence of identity. A favorable adjudication does not preclude HHS from initiating a new investigation when deemed necessary. At a minimum, the FBI National Criminal History Check

(fingerprint check) must be favorably completed before an HHS identification card can be issued.

Each Contractor must use the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) e-QIP system, or successor system identified by HHS, to complete any required investigative forms. Instructions for obtaining fingerprints will be provided by the COR or Contracting Officer. The HHS Assistant

Secretary for Administration, Program Support Center (PSC), or authorized HHS designee, is responsible for adjudicating the suitability of contractor employees.

(g) Agency access denied. Upon contract award, HHS will initiate the agency access procedure for all contractor employees requiring access to HHS facilities, sensitive information, controlled unclassified information, information systems, and other HHS resources for contract performance.

HHS may deny agency access to any individual about whom an adverse suitability determination is made. Failure to submit the required security information or to truthfully answer all questions shall constitute grounds for denial of access. The Contractor must not provide agency access to contractor employees until the COR or Contracting Officer provides notice of approval, which is authorized only by the PSC, or authorized HHS designee. Where a proposed contractor employee is denied agency access by the Government or, if for any reason a proposed application is withdrawn by the Contractor during the agency access process, the additional costs and administrative burden for conducting additional background investigations caused by a lack of effective pre-screening or planning on the part of the Contractor may be considered as part of the

Contractor's overall performance evaluation.

(h) Identification card application process. The COR will be the HHS ID card Sponsor and point of contact for the Contractor's application for an HHS ID card. The COR shall review and approve the HHS ID card application before an ID card is issued to the applicant. An applicant may be issued either a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card that meets the standards of Homeland

Presidential Security Directive (HSPD-12), or an applicant may be issued a non-PIV card.

Generally, a non-PIV card will be issued for contracts that expire in six months or less, including option periods. The COR may request the issuing office to waive the six-month eligibility requirement when it is in HHS interest for contract performance. The following applies—

(1) PIV card. The applicant must complete an HHS on-line application for a PIV card;

(2) Non-PIV card. The applicant must complete and submit a hard copy of the necessary form(s) to be provided to Contractor by COR/Sponsor) to the COR/Sponsor; and

(3) Regardless of the type of card to be issued (PIV or non-PIV), the applicant must appear in person to provide two forms of identity source documents in original form to HHS. The identity source documents must come from the list of acceptable documents included in Form F-9, OMB

No. 1115-0136, Employment Eligibility Verification. At least one document must be a valid State or Federal government-issued picture identification. For a PIV card, the applicant may be required to appear in-person a second time for enrollment and activation.

(i) Identification card custody and control. The Contractor is responsible for the custody and control of all forms of government identification issued by HHS to contractor employees for access to HHS facilities, sensitive information, information systems and other HHS resources. The

Contractor shall:

(1) Provide a listing of personnel for whom an identification (ID) card is requested to the

COR who will provide a copy of the listing to the card issuing office. This may include Contractor and subcontractor personnel. Follow issuing office directions for submittal of an application package(s).

(2) While visiting or performing work on an HHS facility, as specified by the issuing office or COR, ensure that contractor employees prominently display their ID card.

(3) Immediately notify the COR or, if the COR is unavailable, the Contracting Officer when a contractor employee’s status changes and no longer requires agency access (e.g., employee’s transfer, completion of a project, retirement, removal from work on the contract, or termination of employment) that may affect the employee’s eligibility for access to the facility, sensitive information, or resources.

(4) Promptly deliver to the issuing office: (a) all ID cards assigned to an employee who no longer requires access to the facility; and (b) all expired ID cards within five (5) days of their expiration or all cards at time of contract termination, whichever occurs first.

(5) Immediately report any lost or stolen ID cards to the issuing office and follow its instructions.

(i) The Contractor is responsible for maintaining and safeguarding the HHS ID card upon issuance to the contractor employee. The Contractor must ensure that contractor employees comply with HHS requirements concerning the renewal, loss, theft, or damage of an ID card. The Contractor must immediately notify the COR or, if the COR is unavailable, the Contracting Officer when an ID card is lost, stolen or damaged.

(ii) Failure to comply with the requirements for custody and control of HHS ID cards may result in withholding final payment or contract termination based on the potential for serious harm caused by inappropriate access to HHS facilities, sensitive information, information systems or other HHS resources.

(iii) Specific actions and activities are required in certain events—

(A) Renewal. A contractor employee's HHS issued ID card is valid for a maximum of three years or until the contract expiration date (including option periods), whichever occurs first. The renewal process should begin six weeks before the PIV card expiration date. If a PIV card is not renewed before it expires, the contractor employee will be required to sign-in daily for facility access and may have limited access to information systems and other resources.

(B) Lost/stolen. Immediately upon detection, the Contractor or contractor employee must report a lost or stolen HHS ID card to the COR, or if the COR is unavailable, the Contracting Officer, the issuing office, or the local servicing security organization. The Contractor must submit an incident report within 48 hours, through the COR or, if the COR is unavailable, the Contracting Officer, the issuing office, or the local security servicing organization describing the circumstances of the loss or theft. The Contractor must also report a lost or stolen

PIV card through the HHS on-line registration system. If the loss or theft is reported by the Contractor to the local police, a copy of the police report must be provided to the COR or Contracting Officer. From the date of notification to HHS, the

Contractor must wait three days before getting a replacement ID card. During the

3-day wait period, the contractor employee must sign in daily for facility access.

(C) Replacement. An ID card will be replaced if it is damaged, contains incorrect data, or is lost or stolen for more than 3 days, provided there is a continuing need for agency access to perform work under the contract.

(D) Surrender of ID cards. Upon notification that routine access to HHS facilities, sensitive information, information systems or other HHS resources is no longer required, the Contractor must surrender the HHS issued ID card to the

COR, or if the COR is unavailable, the Contracting Officer, the issuing office, or the local security servicing organization in accordance with agency procedures.

(j) Flow down of clause. The Contractor is required to include this clause in any subcontracts at any tier that require the subcontractor or subcontractor's employees to have access to HHS facilities, sensitive information, information systems or other resources.

(End of clause)

HHSAR 352.222-70 Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations.

Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations (DEC 2015)

(a) In addition to complying with the clause at FAR 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity, the Contractor shall, in good faith, cooperate with the Department of Health and Human Services (Agency) in investigations of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaints processed pursuant to 29 CFR part 1614. For purposes of this clause, the following definitions apply:

(1) Complaint means a formal or informal complaint that has been lodged with Agency management, Agency EEO officials, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), or a court of competent jurisdiction.

(2) Contractor employee means all current Contractor employees who work or worked under this contract. The term also includes current employees of subcontractors who work or worked under this contract. In the case of Contractor and subcontractor employees, who worked under this contract, but who are no longer employed by the Contractor or subcontractor, or who have been assigned to another entity within the Contractor's or subcontractor's organization, the Contractor shall provide the Agency with that employee's last known mailing address, email address, and telephone number, if that employee has been identified as a witness in an EEO complaint or investigation.

(3) Good faith cooperation cited in paragraph (a) includes, but is not limited to, making Contractor employees available for:

(i) Formal and informal interviews by EEO counselors or other Agency officials processing EEO complaints;

(ii) Formal or informal interviews by EEO investigators charged with investigating complaints of unlawful discrimination filed by Federal employees;

(iii) Reviewing and signing appropriate affidavits or declarations summarizing statements provided by such Contractor employees during the course of EEO investigations;

(iv) Producing documents requested by EEO counselors, EEO investigators, Agency employees, or the EEOC in connection with a pending EEO complaint; and

(v) Preparing for and providing testimony in depositions or in hearings before the MSPB, EEOC and U.S. District Court.

(b) The Contractor shall include the provisions of this clause in all subcontract solicitations and subcontracts awarded at any tier under this contract.

(c) Failure on the part of the Contractor or its subcontractors to comply with the terms of this clause may be grounds for the Contracting Officer to terminate this contract for default.

352.223-70 Safety and Health.

Safety and Health (DEC 2015)

(a) To help ensure the protection of the life and health of all persons, and to help prevent damage to property, the Contractor shall comply with all Federal, State, and local laws and regulations applicable to the work being performed under this contract. These laws are implemented or enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other regulatory/enforcement agencies at the Federal, State, and local levels.

(1) In addition, the Contractor shall comply with the following regulations when developing and implementing health and safety operating procedures and practices for both personnel and facilities involving the use or handling of hazardous materials and the conduct of research, development, or test projects:

(i) 29 CFR 1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens; 29 CFR 1910.1450, Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories; and other applicable occupational health and safety standards issued by OSHA and included in 29 CFR part 1910. These regulations are available at https://www.osha.gov/.

(ii) Nuclear Regulatory Commission Standards and Regulations, pursuant to the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.). The Contractor may obtain copies from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.

(2) The following Government guidelines are recommended for developing and implementing health and safety operating procedures and practices for both personnel and facilities:

(i) Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, CDC. This publication is available at http://www.cdc.gov/biosafety/publications/index.htm.

(ii) Prudent Practices for Safety in Laboratories (1995), National Research Council, National Academy Press, 500 Fifth Street NW., Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055 (ISBN 0-309-05229-7). This publication is available at http://www.nap.edu/catalog/4911/prudent-practices-in-the-laboratory-handling-and-disposal-of-chemicals.

(b) Further, the Contractor shall take or cause to be taken additional safety measures as the Contracting Officer, in conjunction with the Contracting Officer's Representative or other appropriate officials, determines to be reasonably necessary. If compliance with these additional safety measures results in an increase or decrease in the cost or time required for performance of any part of work under this contract, the Contracting Officer will make an equitable adjustment in accordance with the applicable “Changes” clause set forth in this contract.

(c) The Contractor shall maintain an accurate record of, and promptly report to the Contracting Officer, all accidents or incidents resulting in the exposure of persons to toxic substances, hazardous materials or hazardous operations; the injury or death of any person; or damage to property incidental to work performed under the contract resulting from toxic or hazardous materials and resulting in any or all violations for which the Contractor has been cited by any Federal, State or local regulatory/enforcement agency. The report citing all accidents or incidents resulting in the exposure of persons to toxic substances, hazardous materials or hazardous operations; the injury or death of any person; or damage to property incidental to work performed under the contract resulting from toxic or hazardous materials and resulting in any or all violations for which the Contractor has been cited shall include a copy of the notice of violation and the findings of any inquiry or inspection, and an analysis addressing the impact these violations may have on the work remaining to be performed. The report shall also state the required action(s), if any, to be taken to correct any violation(s) noted by the Federal, State, or local regulatory/enforcement agency and the time frame allowed by the agency to accomplish the necessary corrective action.

(d) If the Contractor fails or refuses to comply with the Federal, State or local regulatory/enforcement agency's directive(s) regarding any violation(s) and prescribed corrective action(s), the Contracting Officer may issue an order stopping all or part of the work until satisfactory corrective action (as approved by the Federal, State, or local regulatory/enforcement agencies) has been taken and documented to the Contracting Officer. No part of the time lost due to any such stop work order shall form the basis for a request for extension or costs or damages by the Contractor.

(e) The Contractor shall insert the substance of this clause in each subcontract involving toxic substances, hazardous materials, or hazardous operations. The Contractor is responsible for the compliance of its subcontractors with the provisions of this clause.

(End of clause)

HHSAR 352.232-71 Electronic submission of payment requests

Electronic Submission of Payment Requests

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause -

Payment request means a bill, voucher, invoice, or request for contract financing payment with associated supporting documentation. The payment request must comply with the requirements identified in FAR 32.905(b), “Content of Invoices” and the applicable Payment clause included in this contract.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this clause, the Contractor shall submit payment requests electronically using the Department of Treasury Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) or successor system. Information regarding IPP, including IPP Customer Support contact information, is available at www.ipp.gov or any successor site.

(c) The Contractor may submit payment requests using other than IPP only when the Contracting Officer authorizes alternate procedures in writing in accordance with HHS procedures.

(d) If alternate payment procedures are authorized, the Contractor shall include a copy of the Contracting Officer's written authorization with each payment request.

(End of Clause)

HHSAR 352.237-70 Pro-Children Act.

Pro-Children Act (DEC 2015)

(a) Public Law 103-227, Title X, Part C, also known as the Pro-Children Act of 1994 (Act), 20 U.S.C. 7183, imposes restrictions on smoking in facilities where certain federally funded children's services are provided. The Act prohibits smoking within any indoor facility (or portion thereof), whether owned, leased, or contracted for, that is used for the routine or regular provision of: (i) Kindergarten, elementary, or secondary education or library services or (ii) health or day care services that are provided to children under the age of 18. The statutory prohibition also applies to indoor facilities that are constructed, operated, or maintained with Federal funds.

(b) By acceptance of this contract or order, the Contractor agrees to comply with the requirements of the Act. The Act also applies to all subcontracts awarded under this contract for the specified children's services. Accordingly, the Contractor shall ensure that each of its employees, and any subcontractor staff, is made aware of, understands, and complies with the provisions of the Act.

Failure to comply with the Act may result in the imposition of a civil monetary penalty in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each violation and/or the imposition of an administrative compliance order on the responsible entity. Each day a violation continues constitutes a separate violation.

(End of clause)

HHSAR 352.237-71 Crime Control Act - Reporting of Child Abuse.

Crime Control Act of 1990 - Reporting of Child Abuse (DEC 2015)

(a) Public Law 101-647, also known as the Crime Control Act of 1990 (Act), imposes responsibilities on certain individuals who, while engaged in a professional capacity or activity, as defined in the Act, on Federal land or in a federally-operated (or contracted) facility, learn of facts that give the individual reason to suspect that a child has suffered an incident of child abuse.

(b) The Act designates “covered professionals” as those persons engaged in professions and activities in eight different categories including, but not limited to, teachers, social workers, physicians, dentists, medical residents or interns, hospital personnel and administrators, nurses, health care practitioners, chiropractors, osteopaths, pharmacists, optometrists, podiatrists, emergency medical technicians, ambulance drivers, alcohol or drug treatment personnel, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health professionals, child care workers and administrators, and commercial film and photo processors. The Act defines the term “child abuse” as the physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, or negligent treatment of a child.

(c) Accordingly, any person engaged in a covered profession or activity under an HHS contract or subcontract, regardless of the purpose of the contract or subcontract, shall immediately report a suspected child abuse incident in accordance with the provisions of the Act. If a child is suspected of being harmed, the appropriate State Child Abuse Hotline, local child protective services (CPS), or law enforcement agency shall be contacted. For more information about where and how to file a report, the Childhelp USA, National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD) shall be called. Any covered professional failing to make a timely report of such incident shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

(d) By acceptance of this contract or order, the Contractor agrees to comply with the requirements of the Act. The Act also applies to all applicable subcontracts awarded under this contract.

Accordingly, the Contractor shall ensure that each of its employees, and any subcontractor staff, is made aware of, understands, and complies with the provisions of the Act.

HHSAR 352.237-72 Crime Control Act - Requirement for Background Checks.

Crime Control Act of 1990 - Requirement for Background Checks (DEC 2015)

(a) Public Law 101-647, also known as the Crime Control Act of 1990 (Act), requires that all individuals involved with the provision of child care services to children under the age of 18 undergo a criminal background check. “Child care services” include, but are not limited to, social services, health and mental health care, child (day) care, education (whether or not directly involved in teaching), and rehabilitative programs. Any conviction for a sex crime, an offense involving a child victim, or a drug felony, may be grounds for denying employment or for dismissal of an employee providing any of the services listed above.

(b) The Contracting Officer will provide the necessary information to the Contractor regarding the process for obtaining the background check. The Contractor may hire a staff person provisionally prior to the completion of a background check, if at all times prior to the receipt of the background check during which children are in the care of the newly-hired person, the person is within the sight and under the supervision of a previously investigated staff person.

(c) By acceptance of this contract or order, the Contractor agrees to comply with the requirements of the Act. The Act also applies to all applicable subcontracts awarded under this contract.

Accordingly, the Contractor shall ensure that each of its employees, and any subcontractor staff, is made aware of, understands, and complies with the provisions of the Act.

(End of clause)

HHSAR 352.237-73 Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Act.

Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Act (DEC 2015)

(a) This contract is subject to the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Act, Public Law 101-630 (25 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.) The duties and responsibilities required by this contract may involve regular contact with or control over Indian children. Public Law 101-630 prohibits employment, including Personal Service Contracts, with anyone who has been convicted of any crime of violence. Any such conviction should immediately be brought to the attention of the Contracting Officer. The contractor will be subject to a character investigation, conducted by the Indian Health Service, Office of Human Resources. Until such time as the contractor has been notified of completion of the investigation, the contractor shall have no unsupervised contact with Indian children. In order to initiate this background investigation, the contractor must provide information as required in this contract or as directed by the Contracting Officer.

(b) As a prerequisite to providing services under this contract, the Contractor is required to complete and sign the declaration found in Section J of this contract.

(End of clause)

HHSAR 352.239-78 Information and Communication Technology Accessibility Notice.

(Deviation)

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE (FEB 2024)

(DEVIATION)

(a) Any offeror responding to this solicitation must comply with established HHS Information and

Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility standards. Information about Section 508 is available at https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/index.html.

(b) The Section 508 accessibility standards applicable to this solicitation are stated in the clause at 352.239-79 Information and Communication Technology Accessibility. In order to facilitate the

Government’s determination whether proposed ICT supplies, products, platforms, information, and documentation meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, offerors must submit an appropriate HHS Section 508 Accessibility Conformance Checklist (see https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/accessibility- checklists/index.html) or an Accessibility

Conformance Report (ACR) (based on the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) see https://www.itic.org/policy/accessibility/vpat), in accordance with the completion instructions. The purpose of the checklists and conformance reports are to assist HHS acquisition and program officials in determining whether proposed ICT supplies, products, platforms, information, and documentation conform to applicable Section 508 accessibility standards. Checklists and ACRs evaluate—in detail—whether the ICT conforms to specific Section 508 accessibility standards and identifies remediation efforts needed to address conformance issues.

(c) If an offeror claims its supplies or services meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, and it is later determined by the Government, i.e., after award of a contract or order, that supplies, products, platforms, information, documentation, or services support delivered do not conform to the described accessibility standards, remediation of the supplies, products, platforms, information, documentation, or services support to the level of conformance specified in the contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its expense.

(d) In order to facilitate the Government's determination whether proposed ICT supplies meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, offerors must submit an Accessibility

Conformance Report, in accordance with its completion instructions and tailored to the requirements in the solicitation. The purpose of the Report is to assist HHS acquisition and program officials in determining whether proposed ICT supplies conform to applicable Section

508 accessibility standards. The template allows offerors or developers to self-evaluate their supplies and document, in detail, whether they conform to a specific Section 508 accessibility standard, and any underway remediation efforts addressing conformance issues. Instructions for preparing the HHS Section 508 Evaluation Template are available at https://Section508.gov/.

(e) In order to facilitate the Government's determination whether proposed ICT services meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, offerors must provide enough information to assist the Government in determining that the ICT services conform to Section 508 accessibility standards, including any underway remediation efforts addressing conformance issues.

(f) Respondents to this solicitation must identify any inability to conform to Section 508 requirements. If an offeror claims its supplies or services meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, and it is later determined by the Government, i.e., after award of a contract or order, that supplies or services delivered do not conform to the described accessibility standards, remediation of the supplies or services to the level of conformance specified in the contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its expense.

(g) Items delivered as electronic content must be accessible to HHS acceptance criteria. Checklist for various formats are available at http://508.hhs.gov/. Materials, other than items incidental to contract management, that are final items for delivery should be accompanied by the appropriate checklist, except upon approval of the Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer’s Representative.

(End of provision)

HHSAR 352.239-79 Information and Communication Technology Accessibility. (Deviation)

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY (FEB 2024)

(DEVIATION)

(a) Pursuant to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, all information and communication technology (ICT) supplies, products, platforms, information, documentation, and services support developed, acquired, maintained or delivered under this contract or order must comply with the Revised 508

Standards, which are located at 36 C.F.R. 1194.1 and Appendices A, B, and C, and are available at https://www.access-board.gov/ict/.

Information about Section 508 is available at https://www.hhs.gov/web/section- 508/index.html.

(b) Additional Section 508 accessibility standards applicable to this contract or order may be identified in the specification, statement of work, or performance work statement. If it is determined by the Government that ICT supplies, products, platforms, information, documentation, and services support provided by the Contractor do not conform to the described accessibility standards in the contract, remediation of the supplies, products, platforms, information, documentation, or services support to the level of conformance specified in the contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its own expense.

(c) In the event of a modification(s) to this contract or order, which adds new ICT supplies or services or revises the type of, or specifications for, supplies, products, platforms, information, documentation, or services support, the Contracting Officer shall require that the Contractor submit a completed HHS Section 508 Accessibility Conformance Checklist (see https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/accessibility- checklists/index.html) or an Accessibility

Conformance Report (ACR) (based on the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) see https://www.itic.org/policy/accessibility/vpat), and any other additional information necessary to assist the Government in determining that the ICT supplies or services conform to Section 508 accessibility standards. If it is determined by the Government that ICT supplies, products, platforms, information, documentation, and services support provided by the Contractor do not conform to the described accessibility standards in the contract, remediation of the supplies, products, platforms, information, documentation, or services support to the level of conformance specified in the contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its own expense.

(d) If this is an Indefinite-Delivery type contract, a Blanket Purchase Agreement or a Basic

Ordering Agreement, the task/delivery order requests that include ICT supplies, products, platforms, information, documentation, or services support will define the specifications and accessibility standards for the order. In those cases, the Contractor shall be required to provide a completed HHS Section 508 Accessibility Conformance Checklist (see https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/accessibility-checklists/index.html) or an ACR (based on the VPAT see https://www.itic.org/policy/accessibility/vpat), and any other additional information necessary to assist the Government in determining that the ICT supplies, products, platforms, information, documentation, or services support conform to Section 508 accessibility standards.

If it is determined by the Government that ICT supplies and services provided by the Contractor do not conform to the described accessibility standards in the provided documentation, remediation of the supplies, products, platforms, information, documentation, or services support to the level of conformance specified in the contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its own expense.

(e) The contractor shall identify to the Contracting Officer any perceived exception or exemption to Section 508 requirements.