CLARIFICATION QUESTION4.doc

CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS/RESPONSES

In support of Solicitation Number

TIRNO-09-R-00017

Question 1: Regarding “M.4.3.2 Subfactor 2.0 Section 508 Accessibility Compliance” from “TIRNO-09-R-00017 AMEND# 0002”, the RFP states:

“The offeror’s proposal, specifically, the Section 508 Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), Attachment J-6, will be evaluated to establish which vendor’s product(s) represent the most compliant product. The IRS, using the numerical ratings of: Fully Compliant- 2, Partially Compliant - 1, and Non-compliant – 0. The “most compliant” determination will be made by adding the numeric ratings for the individual Standards to create one numerical rating with the maximum points available being 128. A score of 128 would be the only score that would represent Full 508 Accessibility Compliance. Below 128 would indicate partial compliance and a score of 0 would indicate non Section 508 compliance.”

Vendor requests clarification of the recommended numerical rating in the instance where an item is “Not Applicable”. As an example, this would be the case when there are items related to Standards/Provisions for product categories not being considered or proposed in response to this RFP (Section 1194.23 Telecommunications Products, Section 1194.24 Video and Multi-media Products, Section 1194.25 Self-Contained, Closed Products, Section 1194.26 Desktop and Portable Computers). Our assumption is that it would be considered fully compliant since there are no non-compliant features being proposed in this instance. Vendor requests clarification and guidance.

Government Response:

Your assumption is correct. In the instance where an item is “Not Applicable”, the vendor would be considered fully compliant and would assign a score of 2 – Fully Compliant.

Question 2: Vendor requests clarification for the discrepancies in the document entitled “VPAT” and described as “VPAT™, Voluntary Product Accessibility Template®, Version 1.3” and the Section 508 Section J evaluation spreadsheet.

Specifically, the VPAT template includes Standards/Provisions for 7 unique categories (Section 1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems, Section 1194.22 Web-based Internet Information and Applications, Section 1194.23 Telecommunications Products, Section 1194.24 Video and Multi-media Products, Section 1194.25 Self-Contained, Closed Products, Section 1194.26 Desktop and Portable Computers, Section 1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria, Section 1194.41 Information, Documentation and Support).

The Section 508 Section J spreadsheet includes 6 of those 7 unique categories (Section 1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems, Section 1194.22 Web-based Internet Information and Applications, Section 1194.23 Telecommunications Products, Section 1194.24 Video and Multi-media Products, Section 1194.25 Self-Contained, Closed Products, Section 1194.26 Desktop and Portable Computers, Section 1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria), but does not include Section 1194.41 Information, Documentation and Support.

The Section 508 Section J spreadsheet includes a 7th unique category (1194.45 Equivalent Facilitation), but does not include the columns for vendor response, or government evaluation, as was done with the previous categories.

Our assumption is that these two documents should be identical from category and line item perspectives, and they currently are not in that format. Vendor requests clarification and guidance.

Government Response:

Attachment J-6 “Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, v. 1.3” (VPAT) is hereby deleted from this solicitation. Vendors are hereby instructed to submit the Section 508 Section J-6 Spreadsheet as modified to include vendor response columns for the 7th, unique category 1194.45, Equivalent Facilitation. Additionally, 1194.41 has been added to the spreadsheet.

Question 3: Vendor also requests clarification for determination of the “most compliant” response, specifically in instances where Section 508 Standards/Provisions may be “Not Applicable” for the products being proposed; for example, one might surmise that most responses would find some entire sections to be Not Applicable based on the RFP requirements (Section 1194.23 Telecommunications Products, Section 1194.24 Video and Multi-media Products, Section 1194.25 Self-Contained, Closed Products, Section 1194.26 Desktop and Portable Computers).

Government Response:

In the instance where an item is “Not Applicable”, the vendor would be considered fully compliant and would assign a score of 2 – Fully Compliant.

Question 4: Vendor requests further clarification of Section 508 Evaluation Criteria, as the VPAT, and Section 508 Section J Evaluation spreadsheet, do NOT match categories that are documented in the RFP section "H.13 IR1052.239-9010 Section 508 Services (Sep 2006)". Specifically, this section includes and excludes some Standards/Provisions from evaluation, but it is in conflict with the VPA and Section 508 Section J Evaluation criteria, and the RFP references to the score that would represent the "most compliant" response".

All contracts, solicitations, purchase orders, delivery orders and interagency agreements that contain a requirement for services which will result in the delivery of a new or updated electronic and information technology (EIT) item/product must conform to the applicable provisions of the appropriate technical standards in 36 CFR 1194, Subpart B, and the functional performance criteria in 36 CFR 1194.31, Subpart C, unless an agency exception to this requirement exists.

Here is the text from the section that is in direct conflict:

"H.13 IR1052.239-9010 Section 508 Services (Sep 2006) - The following technical standards and provisions have been determined to be applicable to this contract:

_x_ 1194.21, Software applications and operating systems.

x_(a) x_(b) x_(c) x_(d) x_(e) x_(f) x_(g) x_(h) x_(i) x_(j) x_(k) x_(l)

_x__ 1194.22, Web-based intranet and internet information and applications.

x_(a) x_(b) x_(c) x_(d) x_(e) x_(f) x_(g) x_(h) x_(i) x_(j) x_(k) x_(l) x_(m) x_(n) x_(o) x_(p)

_x__ 1194.23, Telecommunications products. x_(a) x_(b) _(c) _(d) x_(e) _(f) _(g) _(h) _(i) _(j) _(k)

_x__ 1194.24, Video and multimedia products. x_(a) _(b) _(c) _(d)

_ __ 1194.25, Self contained, closed products.

_(a) _(b) _(c) _(d) _(e) _(f) _(g) _(h) _(i) _(j)

___ 1194.26, Desktop and portable computers. _(a) _(b) _(c) _(d)

The standards do not require the installation of specific accessibility-related software or the attachment of an assistive technology device, but merely require that the EIT be compatible with such software and devices so that it can be made accessible if so required by the agency in the future. The follow functional performance criteria (36CFR 1194.31) apply to this contract:

_X_ (a) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user vision shall be provided, or support for assistive technology used by people who are blind or visually impaired shall be provided.

_X_ (b) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require visual acuity greater than 20/70 shall be provided in audio and enlarged print output working together or independently, or support for assistive technology used by people who are visually impaired shall be provided.

_X_ (c) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user hearing shall be provided, or support for assistive technology used by people who are deaf or hard of hearing shall be provided.

_X_ (d) Where audio information is important for the use of a product, at least one mode of operation and information retrieval shall be provided in an enhanced auditory fashion, or support for assistive hearing devices shall be provided.

_X_ (e) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user speech shall be provided, or support for assistive technology used by people with disabilities shall be provided.

_X_ (f) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require fine motor control or simultaneous actions and that is operable with limited reach and strength shall be provided."

Government Response:

The Government hereby removes the check marks indicating applicability from provisions 1194.23 “Telecommunications Products” and 1194.24 “Video and Multimedia Products”. Additionally, all subcategories checked under these provisions are hereby removed and deemed non-applicable to this requirement.