Accessibility Criteria

Accessibility criteria are the accessibility requirements, features or standards that a procuring organization identifies and applies when it specifies, evaluates, acquires and manages goods, services or facilities. Their purpose is to make sure the things government buys can be used by people with disabilities.

The term belongs to Canadian accessibility and public-procurement policy. It is tied to Treasury Board contracting policy, to the idea of accessible procurement, and to Accessibility Standards Canada's standard CAN/ASC 4.1, Accessible procurement. Provincial rules, including Ontario's, use the same concept for the organizations they cover.

How federal departments apply accessibility criteria

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) states that federal client departments must include accessibility criteria in the specifications for goods, services and facilities unless the criteria are not applicable. Deliverables should also incorporate accessibility features where appropriate. The guidance is set out on the PSPC page on improving accessibility.

Federal supply-management guidance on CanadaBuys treats accessibility as a factor in determining best value. Its examples include flexible or adaptable goods, performance standards, and contractual terms that impose mandatory accessibility criteria or standards. See the Supply Manual annexes on CanadaBuys.

The justification requirement on federal files

Including accessibility criteria is the default, and leaving them out has to be explained. If criteria are not included, or if compliant goods or services cannot be obtained, the client or technical authority must keep a clear justification on file.

Temporary Help Services (THS) requirements follow the same logic. Clients must consider accessibility criteria where appropriate. When criteria are excluded after meaningful consideration, the client explains the reason to the procurement officer or buyer. PSPC publishes an accessibility criteria procurement justification form for this purpose.

CAN/ASC 4.1 and the stages of a procurement

Accessibility Standards Canada's CAN/ASC 4.1 addresses accessibility throughout procurement. That covers planning, solicitation, evaluation, contract award, contract management and closeout. The standard applies to competitive and non-competitive solicitations and to the resulting contracts, standing offers and supply arrangements.

Under the standard, accessibility requirements should appear in specifications, in evaluation criteria and in the evaluation process itself. The scope is set out in the Standards Council of Canada statement on CAN/ASC 4.1.

Accessibility criteria in Ontario and British Columbia

Ontario's Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and its standards require designated public-sector organizations to include accessibility criteria in their procedures for buying goods, services and facilities. Where possible, vendors are told in writing which accessibility criteria and features will be considered. The rules are summarized on the Ontario accessibility rules for procurement page.

For digital and information-technology purchases, Ontario's review of the information and communications standards recommends criteria such as accessibility certification or testing, manual and automated verification against technical web and software requirements, usability testing by persons with disabilities, interoperability with alternative access systems, and accessible communication modalities.

British Columbia's AccessibleBC plans name the incorporation of accessibility criteria into procurement policies and practices as a government priority, as in the 2025-2028 accessibility plan.

What accessibility criteria mean for a supplier

Bid teams should read the solicitation for stated accessibility requirements and show how the proposed goods or services meet each one. Where the buyer asks for evidence, such as testing or certification, include it in the response. Address accessibility directly in the bid, and plan to deliver any accessible outputs or features the contract requires. The exact obligations depend on the solicitation and the resulting contract.