San Bernardino Website Accessibility Rules for Contractors
San Bernardino, California requires that public-facing digital services meet recognized accessibility standards to ensure equal access for people with disabilities. Contractors who design, build, or maintain city web content and applications should follow WCAG guidelines and federal accessibility laws when delivering services to the city or to the public on behalf of the city. This guide explains the applicable standards, enforcement pathways, practical compliance steps, and where contractors can find official resources and forms.
Penalties & Enforcement
Enforcement for inaccessible digital services affecting municipal programs can involve federal and local remedies. Exact monetary fines for web accessibility violations are not specified on the cited federal or standards pages; contractors should assume injunctive relief and corrective orders are a likely outcome plus possible civil actions where authorized.[1] [2]
- Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page.
- Escalation: first notice and cure period, then enforcement action or litigation; specific escalation timelines not specified on the cited page.
- Non-monetary sanctions: corrective orders, required remediation plans, injunctions, access mandates, and potential court enforcement.
- Enforcer: federal enforcement (U.S. Department of Justice) for Title II ADA matters, and the City of San Bernardino through its ADA/Accessibility coordinator and relevant departments for local compliance and procurement oversight.
- Inspection and complaints: complaints may be filed with the DOJ or through city ADA complaint channels; contractors must respond to city notices and cooperate with remediation requests.
- Appeal/review: appeal and litigation routes exist; specific statutory time limits for administrative appeals are not specified on the cited page.
Applications & Forms
The city does not publish a universal "contractor web accessibility" form on the federal WCAG or DOJ pages; contractors should review procurement documents and the city vendor or IT requirements for any specific accessibility certification or form. If no city form is provided, include a signed accessibility statement and testing report with bid submissions.
- Published forms: not specified on the cited page; check municipal procurement documents or the city's ADA coordinator for any required declarations.
- Testing reports: include automated scan results and representative manual test notes demonstrating WCAG conformance levels.
Compliance Standards & Technical Requirements
Contractors should implement the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as the technical baseline for accessible content and applications. The W3C WCAG standards define testable success criteria at A, AA, and AAA levels; most public-sector contracts require WCAG 2.1 AA or later as the target conformance level.[1]
- Target standard: WCAG 2.1 AA or later where specified by the contract or city policy.
- Testing: combination of automated tools, manual keyboard testing, and assistive technology verification.
- Documentation: accessibility statement, test reports, and remediation plans.
Contractor Responsibilities & Best Practices
When contracted by the City of San Bernardino, vendors should:
- Embed accessibility criteria in procurements, designs, and acceptance testing.
- Deliver WCAG conformance evidence with deployments.
- Provide remediation timelines and assign a point of contact for accessibility issues.
- Plan for ongoing maintenance to preserve accessibility after updates.
Action Steps for Contractors
- Review contract language for required WCAG level and acceptance tests.
- Run automated scans and manual tests, and prepare a remediation plan for any failures.
- Submit an accessibility statement and test artifacts with your deliverables.
- If notified of a complaint, respond promptly and begin remediation according to the cure period in the notice or contract.
FAQ
- What WCAG level should contractors meet?
- Most public contracts require WCAG 2.1 AA or later; confirm the contract or solicitation documents for the required level.
- Who enforces accessibility for city websites?
- Federal enforcement is handled by the U.S. Department of Justice for Title II ADA matters; the City of San Bernardino also manages local compliance through its ADA/Accessibility coordinator.
- Are there standard forms for accessibility certification?
- The city may require accessibility statements or test reports in procurement submissions; if no form is published, provide documented evidence of testing and remediation commitments.
How-To
- Review the contract requirements and identify the required WCAG conformance level.
- Perform automated accessibility scans and document the results.
- Conduct manual keyboard and screen reader testing for key user journeys.
- Create a remediation plan with timelines for any identified defects.
- Deliver an accessibility statement and test artifacts with the project handover.
- Respond promptly to any city or public accessibility complaints and begin remediation.
Key Takeaways
- Use WCAG as the technical baseline for municipal web work.
- Provide evidence of testing and remediation with bids and deliverables.
- Maintain a clear point of contact and rapid response plan for complaints.
Help and Support / Resources
- City of San Bernardino official site - contact and department listings
- San Bernardino Municipal Code (Municode)
- U.S. Department of Justice ADA home (complaints and resources)
- W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WCAG standards and guidance)