RFI for AI Enabled Accessibility Tooling
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), through its Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for AI-Enabled Accessibility Tooling. The purpose is to identify solutions that can improve DOL's compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act by providing tools, guidance, and data to identify, prioritize, and remediate accessibility defects. This RFI is for informational purposes and may or may not lead to a future procurement. Responses are due by May 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM EDT.
Purpose & Scope
DOL currently lacks a robust, methodical capability for capturing Section 508 conformance status and accessibility risk across its digital properties. This RFI seeks information on tools that use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to supplement and complement accessibility testing and remediation efforts. The solution must incorporate AI-enabled capabilities as a core functional component; legacy rule-based scanning tools without AI integration will not be considered.
In-scope assets include public-facing and internal websites/web applications (Drupal, Appian, Salesforce), PDF documents, Microsoft SharePoint content, and Microsoft 365 applications (Word, PowerPoint). The solution should support approximately 50 users across developers, QA testers, and the Section 508 Program Office.
Core Tooling Capabilities
Vendors should propose solutions offering, at a minimum:
- Automated Accessibility Scanning and Testing (Section 508 / WCAG 2.1 A & AA)
- Guided Manual Accessibility Testing
- Document Remediation and Tagging Assistance (PDF, Microsoft Office/365)
- Code Review and Repair Suggestions
- Chatbot or Copilot Capability for Section 508 and WCAG guidance
- Dashboards and Compliance Analytics
- Accessibility Training and embedded authoring assistance
Additional Requirements
- Mandatory AI Capability: Solutions must be AI-enabled for testing, remediation guidance, or workflow assistance.
- AI-Enabled Actions: Support AI-assisted and, where authorized, automated actions including remediation and modification of source files.
- Deployment: Flexible (SaaS, on-premises, hybrid) meeting federal security requirements (FISMA, NIST SP 800-53). FedRAMP authorization is preferred.
- Integration: Compatibility with CI/CD platforms (Jenkins, GitHub Actions) and major browsers.
Submission Details
Interested parties should submit responses via email to wright.eric.w@dol.gov and McKeever.Jennifer@dol.gov by May 22, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT. Submissions must reference RFI No. OAA-26-00311 and include:
- Company Capabilities Statement
- Responses to all questions in the "Industry Feedback" section
- Business name, address, POC, type, size, socio-economic status, UEI, and DUNS Numbers.
Contract & Set-Aside
- Contract Opportunity Type: Sources Sought (RFI)
- Product Service Code: DA10 (SaaS/Subscription for Application Development Support)
- Set-Aside: None specified.
Notes
This RFI is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or commitment to award a contract. No funds are available for response preparation.