Accessibility Services to Support EOE and EOE Agencies

Background

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through its Executive Office of Education (EOE), is seeking to procure accessibility services to support EOE and its agencies. The goal of this RFQ is to solicit quotes from vendors qualified under the Statewide Contract IT Accessibility Services ITS82, specifically for ongoing accessibility services. This includes ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1, Level AA. The EOE aims to provide high-quality education access for all Massachusetts residents, including those with disabilities.

Work Details

The contract encompasses multiple categories of work: - **Category A (Audit Services)**: Provide audit services for EOE agencies, including references for prior audit services and pricing. - **Category B (Consulting Services)**: Offer consulting services as required by EOE agencies, including references and pricing. - **Category C (Document Remediation/Testing)**: Conduct accessibility testing and remediation of web content for the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), the Children’s Trust (CT), and the Department of Higher Education (DHE). This includes a thorough audit of existing web pages, videos, and electronic files for compliance with ADA Title II requirements and WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. Remediation must address identified accessibility barriers, validate remediated content through re-testing, and document findings in a written report. - **Category D (Training Services)**: Provide training on accessibility requirements and techniques for technical, management, and general staff. - **Category E (Transcription/Description)**: Deliver transcription, captioning, video description, and related services for audio/video content on EEC, CT, and DHE websites.

Period of Performance

The initial project term will end on June 30, 2026. Services are anticipated to continue into FY27 from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. There is an option to extend the agreement through June 30, 2031 at EOE’s discretion.

Place of Performance

Services will be performed remotely; however, specific locations may include various offices associated with the Executive Office of Education in Massachusetts.

Bidder Requirements

Bidders must have at least three years of experience providing digital accessibility audit and remediation services aligned with WCAG 2.1 Level AA or higher. They should demonstrate expertise in accessibility remediation for public websites and complex electronic files. Bidders must comply with all applicable Commonwealth security, privacy, and data-handling requirements.