Purchase of Accessible Electronic and Information Resources
Legal Requirements. Subchapter M, Chapter 2054, Government Code, and 1 Texas Administrative Code Chapters 203 and 213, require UT institutions to develop, purchase, maintain, and use accessible electronic and information resources (EIR) that conform to the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) Accessibility Rules.
Definition of EIR. EIR includes software applications and operating systems, web sites, telecommunications products, video and multimedia products, desktop and portable computers and self contained/closed equipment that includes EIR. For a more comprehensive listing of EIR see UTS150 Access by Persons with Disabilities to Electronic and Information Resources Procured or Developed by The University of Texas System Administration and The University of Texas System Institutions.
Buying Existing EIR. Before a UT institution buys existing EIR, the user department must evaluate that EIR for compliance with the DIR Accessibility Rules. This evaluation should (1) be initiated when developing the procurement solicitation (IFB or RFP) that should require accessibility compliance, (2) continue during the evaluation of bids or proposals, and (3) be completed before the final vendor or service provider is selected. The user department must also manage EIR accessibility throughout the life of the EIR.
Procuring Services to Develop EIR. When a UT institution purchases services to develop EIR, the user department should (1) consider the accessibility of EIR to be developed when drafting the procurement solicitation (the solicitation should include specifications requiring the developer to produce accessible EIR), (2) address EIR accessibility throughout the evaluation of bids or proposals and selection of the final developer, and (3) manage EIR accessibility throughout the performance of the contract and the life of the EIR.
Applicable Policies and Guidelines. Before beginning the procurement process, user departments should become familiar with UTS150 Access by Persons with Disabilities to Electronic and Information Resources Procured by The University of Texas System Administration and The University of Texas System Institutions, and related guidelines including OGC Bulletin 2006-1 Access by Persons with Disabilities to EIR Procured by UT (UT Authentication Required) and OGC Bulletin 2009-1 Access by Persons with Disabilities to EIRs Developed by UT (UT Authentication Required).
Accessibility Coordinators. Each UT institution has appointed an Accessibility Coordinator and has assembled an Accessiblity Coordinator Team for EIR Remediation (ACTER) to assist user departments with evaluating EIR accessibility. A list of Accessibility Coordinators may be found at [to be posted].
Helpful Links. Several links that will help user departments get started are provided below:
UTS150 Access by Persons with Disabilities to Electronic and Information Resources Procured by The University of Texas System Administration and The University of Texas System Institutions
OGC 2006-1 Access by Persons with Disabilities to EIR Procured by UT (UT Authentication Required)
OGC 2009-1 Access by Persons with Disabilities to EIRs Developed by UT (UT Authentication Required)
Subchapter M, Chapter 2054, Gov. Code
1 TAC Chapter 203
1 TAC Chapter 213
Procured EIR - Significant Difficulty or Expense Exception Memo (UT Authentication Required)
Technology Pre-Purchase Checklist for UT System Administration
