Accessibility standards

Accessibility standards define the minimum requirements for ensuring products and services are usable by people with disabilities. In federal procurement, these aren't just guidelines—Treasury Board policy now requires departments to either incorporate accessibility criteria into their procurements or provide written justification when they don't. This affects everything from software to office furniture.

How It Works

The Supply Manual - Annex 2.6 lays out the factors and considerations you need to address when planning accessible procurement. You're expected to think about accessibility from the start of your procurement planning, not tack it on later. The Treasury Board's updated contracting policy makes this explicit—if you're not including accessibility criteria, you need to document why.

PSPC established the Accessible Procurement Resource Center (APRC) in 2018 specifically to help departments navigate this terrain. The APRC works with federal organizations to integrate accessibility requirements into their procurement requirements. They've also partnered with Accessibility Standards Canada to produce a technical guide for procurement of accessible services that offers practical recommendations you can actually use.

Information and Communication Technology gets particular attention. The Government of Canada Accessibility Toolkit focuses heavily on ICT procurement, providing specific requirements you can build into your statements of work. Software, websites, and digital tools are where accessibility issues show up most frequently in government operations, so this focus makes sense.

Key Considerations

• Not everything requires accessibility criteria. Certain commodities are explicitly exempt: fuel, lubricants, bandwidth, armament, and energy. Don't waste time trying to apply accessibility standards where they don't fit.

• Justification is mandatory. When you determine accessibility criteria can't be included, you must document your reasoning. This isn't a suggestion—it's policy. Make sure your file includes clear explanations that will stand up to scrutiny.

• Plan early or pay later. Retrofitting accessibility into products or services costs significantly more than building it in from the beginning. Your procurement timeline needs to account for accessibility evaluation during the planning phase, not after you've already drafted your statement of work.

• The Accessible Canada Act drives this. These requirements aren't administrative busywork—they're part of Canada's legal framework for eliminating barriers. Your procurement decisions directly affect whether the government meets its legislative obligations.

Related Terms

Procurement strategy, mandatory requirements, technical evaluation, universal design

Sources

• Supply Manual - Annex 2.6: Accessible procurement: Factors and considerations

• Accessible Procurement Resource Center - PSPC

• Technical Guide: Procurement of Accessible Services

If you're unsure whether accessibility applies to your procurement, reach out to the APRC before finalizing your approach. Getting it wrong means delays, justifications, and potentially starting over.