Procuring Accessible Vendors

In addition to New York State accessibility guidelines (2023), Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires public universities to ensure that all digital technology and content is accessible for initial purchases, renewals and upgrades, which necessitate updates to the University’s current procurement processes.

Including:

• Third-party software and platforms (paid and free solutions)
• In-house developed software
• Web-based applications and services
• Open-source software
• Learning management systems and educational platforms
• Faculty-created electronic teaching materials

---

Procurement Evaluation Process and Documentation

As part of the procurement and evaluation process, vendors are required to demonstrate compliance conforming to WCAG 2.2 Level AA by:

• Providing a current Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®) or equivalent Accessibility Conformance Report
• Describing known accessibility limitations and planned remediation strategies and timelines
• Demonstrating accessibility features upon request

Procurement timelines must allow additional time for acessibility documentation reviews and manual testing required to validate the VPAT claims meet Farmingdale’s standards.  Failure to meet accessibility requirements may impact vendor selection, so adequate time should be reserved to identify alternative solutions if a product is found non-compliant.

---

SUNY Vendor Accessibility Notice

SUNY has issued a system-wide “Notice to SUNY Vendors Providing Digital Resources that outlines institutional responsibilities under New York State and federal accessibility laws and regulations. (Link directly yo the official SUNY-hosted page when communicating requirements to vendors.)

Purpose of the Notice:

• Communicates SUNY’s legal obligations regarding digital accessibility
• Sets expectations for vendor compliance
• Ensures consistency across the SUNY system