Accessibility in Public Procurement: An Underused Obligation
Integrating digital accessibility in public procurement is a legal obligation in France and Europe. EU Directive 2014/24/EU and the French Public Procurement Code require accessibility in ICT purchases. Yet accessibility clauses remain often absent or vague in specifications.
Regulatory Framework
Article 42 of Directive 2014/24/EU requires accessibility criteria. The French Code requires accessibility in technical specifications. EN 301 549 is the reference standard and RGAA 4.1 is the web evaluation framework.
Where to Integrate Accessibility
In the CCTP (technical specifications): RGAA 4.1 AA conformity requirement, EN 301 549 reference, audit deliverables, accessibility statement. In the CCAP (administrative clauses): non-compliance penalties, independent verification audit, and ongoing compliance maintenance.
Selection Criteria
Include accessibility in bid scoring: team a11y skills (5-10%), accessibility integration methodology (5-10%), accessible project references (5-10%), and compliance rate commitment (5-10%).
Standard Clauses
Include RGAA conformity clause, audit clause, training clause (minimum 1 day for content contributors), and warranty clause for fixing non-conformities at no extra cost.
Integrating accessibility from the specifications stage costs 10 times less than fixing an inaccessible site after delivery. It is an investment, not an extra cost.