APPENDIX B
POSSIBLE PROPOSAL ELEMENTS
This Appendix contains possible accessibility proposal elements. These
clauses should be used only as a starting point for meeting an agency's
accessibility requirements when developing a Request for Proposal (RFP). It
is imperative that each agency develop their own requirements based upon the
completion of a functional needs assessment of their users, including those
with disabilities. (For more information on additional elements to be
considered in developing a proposal, see Appendices E, G, and H of this
handbook.)
1.0 MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS SECTION
In addition to the above requirements, the Contractor shall furnish system
enhancements as described below to ensure that accessibility requirements are
met for all current and prospective employees with disabilities in accordance
with FIRMR, 41 CFR Chapter 201 and FIRMR Bulletins C-8 and C-10. The system
enhancements (software, firmware, and hardware) offered shall support the
minimum capabilities outlined below and shall be fully compatible with the
proposed hardware configurations and Contractor supported software including
systems, applications, and local area network software. In addition, any
single enhancement or combination of enhancements(s) when enabled, must be
compatible with all system operations and procedures that are available when
the enhancement(s) is not enabled. If requested, the Contractor shall
conduct a Live Test Demonstration prior to award of contract for the purpose
of determining satisfactory performance of proposed software, firmware, and
hardware access capabilities.
2.0 FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATIONS - INPUT
2.1 Keyboard Enhancement
The Contractor shall provide, upon request, a system enhancement that supports
any or all combinations of the following functions:
a. Capability to execute multiple keystroke commands (e.g., "CTRL-C")
serially rather than simultaneously.
b. Capability to adjust the keyboard repeat tolerances or turn off the
repeat function.
c. Capability to emulate mouse input device movements from the keyboard.
d. Capability to adjust the keyboard audible feedback or turn off the
audible feedback.
e. Capability of visual and/or auditory feedback on key status.
In addition the Contractor shall provide upon request the following keyboard
enhancements:
a. Keyboard guards to prevent inadvertent or multiple key depressions. A
keyguard is a template with holes corresponding to the location of the
keys.
b. Keyboard tactile overlays to identify locations of home row keys and
important non-standard location keys (e.g., ESC, ENTER, CTRL, and ALT).
2.2 Alternative Input Device
The Contractor shall provide a capability to augment or replace the proposed
keyboard with commercially available alternative input devices. A minimum of
three alternative input devices should be proposed as representative of the
wide range of commercially available input devices that accommodate people
unable to use standard keyboards. The salient characteristics required of
each alternative input device are:
a. Capability to emulate and transmit all valid keystroke combinations.
b. Capability to be readily connectable to the proposed system through
standard keyboard connection, serial or parallel port or cordless
connection via infra-red receiver.
2.3 Voice Input System
The Contractor shall provide the capability to interact with the proposed
workstation via voice recognition. The proposed voice input system must be a
commercially available system and capable of meeting the following salient
characteristics:
a. Capability to use a spoken word or phrase to enable a command or string
of commands at the operating system and application level.
b. Provision of predefined vocabulary sets for commonly available
applications programs.
c. Capability to build user definable vocabulary sets.
d. Capability to use a stand alone microphone or headset with attached
microphone or remote cordless microphone.
3.0 FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATIONS - OUTPUT
3.1 Large Print Output Display
The contractor shall provide a capability to support the following feature on
the standard display monitor for desktop and portable (laptop) computers:
a. Provide the capability to magnify text and/or graphics from two (2) to
eight (8) times (minimum range) its normal size.
3.2 Speech Output System
The Contractor shall provide the necessary components (hardware, software, &
firmware) to support the capability to synthesize voice output. The proposed
speech output system shall be a commercially available system, compatible with
the proposed workstation, and capable of meeting the following salient
characteristics:
a. Allow interactive auditory review in edit or read mode by character,
word, line, definable window(s), and/or entire screen.
b. Allow auditory review toggle on/off for punctuation, to include spaces.
c. Allow auditory review toggle on/off speech while in edit or read mode.
d. Auditory review includes a cursor locator command available at any time.
e. Provide a feature that automatically "speaks" whenever a system message
or error message is received.
f. Support customization of the auditory review capability by the user to
recognize the window and/or screen layouts of specific applications
programs.
g. Allow the user to adjust the rate and pitch of the voice output from the
keyboard.
h. Support for a functional headset adapter unit.
3.3 Braille Output System
The contractor shall provide a capability for generating Braille hard copy
output (Grade I and/or Grade II) from a printer that is fully compatible with
the provided hardware configuration. The following are salient
characteristics of the required Braille printer:
a. Minimum 40 characters per second printing speed.
b. Minimum 40 characters (braille cells) per line.
c. Minimum of 24 lines per page.
d. Adjustable feed for 8.5 inch by 11.5 inch fanfold paper.
3.4 Notification Redundancy
The contractor provided workstation must be capable of
modification/enhancement to support both visual and auditory notification of
significant system activity (i.e., error notification) in all contractor
supported environments including E-mail. The following are minimum
requirements to meet this need:
a. support a capability to notify the user of any significant system
activity by
1) the use of an auditory cue such as beep or speech and
2) the use of a visual cue such as screen flash, or flashing message.
b. Support a capability for user selection of auditory cue only, visual
cue only, or both.
4.0 MANUALS AND PUBLICATIONS SECTION
4.1 ASCII or Grade II Braille Documentation
Within 30 days of receipt of a written request from the Government, the
Contractor shall furnish copies of any document offered under this contract
in either flat ASCII format (on machine-readable media compatible with
proposed equipment) or in Grade II Braille hard-copy, as selected by the
Government.
Braille hard-copy document(s) shall be prepared in accordance with English
Braille (American Edition) and the Library of Congress Instruction Manual for
Braille Transcribing. These references for Braille transcription are
available from:
American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfurt Avenue
Post Office Box 6085
Louisville, KY 40206
Telephone: 502-895-2405
a. The Offerer need not obtain or produce Braille copies of documentation
prior to the award of the contract except that a sample of at least ten
pages of the Grade II Braille version of one of the offered documents shall
be submitted with the proposal.
b. The Offerer shall explain in his proposal what arrangements shall be made
for production and delivery of both types of specialized documentation
required over the life of the contract.
c. The Contractor need not obtain or produce Braille copies of documentation
prior to the receipt of an order from the Government requesting specific
document(s). It is understood that certain documentation cannot be readily
converted to Braille and that requirements stated herein apply to "words"
and "numbers" in the documents to be provided.
5.0 ACCOMMODATION SUBSTITUTIONS/ENHANCEMENTS
The Contractor shall include provisions for substituting accommodation
hardware, firmware, and/or software which represents an advancement in
technology with respect to that originally offered in the proposal. All
substitutions must meet the salient characteristics of the original
specification and be certified by the Government as a suitable replacement
for or addition to the appropriate accommodation hardware, firmware, and/or
software.
When the delivery of, or substitution of, such new hardware, software, and/or
firmware is made without charge to the Government (e.g., a technological
refreshment delivery), or as a planned part of this contract, (e.g., a
planned upgrade), the appropriate manuals and publications shall be provided
to all addressees affected by the change without charge to the Government,
and in the quantities originally delivered.
6.0 REQUIRED SUPPORT FOR FUTURE NEEDS
The Contractor shall provide systems engineers and/or other experts on an
hourly call-in basis to advise and assist the Government in resolving any
communications or interfacing problems that arise during the provision of any
additional enhancement capabilities not addressed in the mandatory
requirements section and to analyze the potential of future access
capabilities that are determined by the Government to meet the access
requirements of users with disabilities.
7.0 TRAINING OVERVIEW
This section details the specific responsibilities of the Contractor for
training during the life of the contract.
The contractor shall be responsible for training Government personnel,
including those with disabilities, to productively use all hardware and
software to be delivered. All training offered (system to end-user level)
shall be made available throughout the life of the contract. A variety of
instructional approaches shall be required, including on-site classroom and
self-paced tutorial sessions.
All training courses and instructional materials must be accessible by
individuals with disabilities. This may include but is not limited to: sign
language or oral interpreters for hearing impaired persons, captioned video
tape, braille or large print material for visually impaired persons, and
satisfactory physical or architectural accommodations for mobility impaired
persons.
Since many of the Government's end users may not be computer professionals,
on-line training aids shall be provided. These training aids shall include
the use of a functional help key (or an equivalent concept) along with
adequate system messaging. The format of the screens must be accessible by
commercially available screen reader packages for visually impaired users.
The Contractor's training staff may include a combination of Contractor
personnel and subcontracted trainers. The Contractor is encouraged to use
commercially available courses as appropriate.
|
.gif){kind=spacer}
