Page 28 - Procurement guidelines for smart sustainable cities - A U4SSC deliverable

In an increasingly connected world, we are all responsible for creating inclusive digital environments,
cities and societies where the needs of every person, including persons with disabilities, women,
individuals with low literacy levels, indigenous peoples, migrants, and other persons from vulnerable
groups are considered. Only by expressly including ICT accessibility in our digital policies and
strategies can we ensure that devices, products and services are usable by all intended users,
regardless of gender, age, ability or location. The lack of prioritizing ICT digital accessibility risk
increasing the existing digital divide and jeopardizing our pledge “to leave no one behind”.

Therefore, work in digital inclusion must focus to support the efforts of governments and stakeholders
in implementing digital transformation strategies to adapt and reshape their business models, not
just to the new markets and consumer trends, but also to build communities, and environments that
are digitally inclusive for all people regardless of their gender, age, ability or location. However, not
all stakeholders are considering one of the most important elements essential for a successful and
inclusive transformation, which is that digital information, services and products must be accessible
to all its potential users.

Several guidelines and resources to support the development of knowledge and capacity in the
topic of digital inclusion including on formulation and implementation of policies are made available
freely in multiple languages, with localized content where relevant and in digitally accessible
formats, so that they can also be used by deaf or blind persons. Among the key resources is the
ITU toolkit and self-assessment for ICT accessibility implementation.

The toolkit provides tailored guidelines to support all stakeholders in the process of building
inclusive digital communities and environments through the development of appropriate policies
and strategies. The resource also presents good practices to advance the implementation of ICT
accessibility in line with the global commitments to achieve digital inclusion such as the Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Relevant guidelines, standards and good practices
related to public procurement best practices and accessibility requirements and definitions are
indicated in ITU toolkit and self-assessment for ICT accessibility implementation (section 5.4) such
as:

United States of America: The United States of America has developed technical standards on
accessible ICTs and has enacted legislation that requires their use by all Federal agencies in
the procurement of ICTs. Section 508 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act is a set of enforceable ICT
accessibility standards that Federal agencies must incorporate as a mandatory set of requirements
(or technical specifications) that suppliers must meet in the procurement of ICTs. Developed by
the United States Access Board, they were embedded into federal procurement regulations in
2001.

European Union: The first European standard on accessible ICTs, EN 301 549 “Accessibility
requirements suitable for public procurement of ICT products and services in Europe”, was
published in March 2014. This standard was developed by the European Standards Bodies
following a request of the European Commission. The accessibility requirements contained in EN
301 549 have been harmonized to match as closely as possible with those contained in US Section
508.

14 Procurement guidelines for smart sustainable cities | May 2023