Fresno City Contracts: Proving WCAG Compliance

Technology and Data California 3 Minutes Read · published February 08, 2026 Flag of California

In Fresno, California, contractors and vendors bidding on city contracts must understand how the city evaluates digital accessibility and WCAG conformance during procurement and contract performance. This guide summarizes the practical steps to document compliance, identifies the departments that oversee enforcement, and shows where to submit complaints or appeals within city government. It draws on Fresno official procurement and accessibility pages and notes where specific fines, forms, or timelines are not published on those pages. Readers should follow contract-specific provisions and contact the procurement officer listed in solicitation documents for any mandatory submission formats.

Procurement requirements and documentation

City solicitations may include accessibility clauses and require bidders to state how web and mobile interfaces meet WCAG 2.1 or later; check the Purchasing Division solicitation documents for clause language and submission instructions Purchasing Division[1]. When a contract references WCAG, common requested materials include VPATs or accessibility test reports, but specific mandatory documents are not specified on the cited purchasing page.

Confirm accessibility clauses in each solicitation before preparing your bid.

Penalties & Enforcement

The City of Fresno enforces accessibility obligations through its Purchasing Division and the city ADA/Accessibility coordinator; formal complaints about accessibility are routed to those offices and to the contracting department. The cited city pages do not list specific fine amounts for WCAG noncompliance, so monetary penalties are not specified on the cited page.[2]

  • Fines: not specified on the cited page.
  • Escalation: first vs repeat/continuing offence procedures are not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: orders to remediate, contract suspension, withholding of payments, or debarment may be used by contracting authorities; specific measures are not listed on the cited page.
  • Enforcer and complaint pathway: Purchasing Division and ADA/Accessibility coordinator receive procurement and accessibility complaints via official contact pages; see Help and Support below.
  • Appeals and review: procurement protest or appeal procedures are governed by Purchasing Division rules; exact time limits for appeals are not specified on the cited page.
When in doubt, document remediation plans and timelines in writing to the contracting officer.

Applications & Forms

The Purchasing Division does not publish a specific WCAG compliance form on its general procurement pages; therefore, no single city-wide submission form is specified on the cited page. Contractors should follow solicitation instructions and attach test reports or vendor statements as requested in the solicitation documents.

How the city verifies compliance

Verification normally combines contract review, submitted evidence, and operational testing during implementation. Typical verification steps taken by contracting officers include reviewing submitted accessibility statements, requesting remediation plans, and coordinating with the ADA/Accessibility coordinator for complaints or technical review. If a contract requires periodic accessibility attestations or acceptance testing, follow those contract terms closely.

Common violations and typical outcomes

  • Missing alternative text for images — may trigger remediation orders or rejection of deliverables.
  • Poor keyboard navigation — typically remediated under an agreed schedule.
  • Nonconforming third-party plugins — vendors are often required to remove or fix components that block accessibility.

FAQ

How does Fresno verify WCAG compliance for city contracts?
The city reviews contract clauses and any submitted accessibility evidence, and may involve the ADA/Accessibility coordinator; exact verification procedures are not specified on the cited pages.
What documents should vendors prepare?
Prepare a clear accessibility statement, testing results, and remediation plans; no single city-wide form for WCAG compliance is published on the Purchasing Division page.
Where do I file a complaint about an inaccessible city website or service?
File complaints with the Purchasing Division for contract issues or with the city ADA/Accessibility contact for public-facing accessibility concerns; see Help and Support for links.
Keep copies of testing results and correspondence for contract records and potential appeals.

How-To

  1. Review the solicitation for accessibility clauses and required submission formats.
  2. Run both automated and manual WCAG tests and document results and remediation efforts.
  3. Prepare a written accessibility statement and, if requested, a VPAT or equivalent vendor report.
  4. Submit evidence to the contracting officer per solicitation instructions and retain proof of submission.
  5. If a complaint arises, respond quickly with a remediation plan and timeline to the Purchasing Division and ADA coordinator.

Key Takeaways

  • Check each solicitation for specific WCAG clauses and submission requirements.
  • Document accessibility testing and remediation plans and keep records for appeals.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Fresno Purchasing Division
  2. [2] City of Fresno Accessibility / ADA information

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