1. The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain detailed information from Vendors. The CBSA has outlined a list of questions and is requesting Vendors to respond in detail, so that the CBSA can compile information about acquiring professional services in a collaborative role to support and guide employees on how to conduct accessibility testing against current standards, to build accessibility best practices into development standards, to mentor and provide knowledge transfer to AATP employees on accessibility processes, and to identify, evaluate, and test the accessibility of existing and in-flight CBSA IT applications and tools.
2. In July 2019, the Government of Canada passed the legislation An Act to Ensure a Barrier-Free Canada (the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), which introduced new accessibility legislation to facilitate the interactions of Canadians with disabilities within all areas of federal jurisdiction. The overarching goal is to make Canada barrier-free by January 1, 2040.
The new accessibility legislation aims to increase the inclusion and participation of Canadians who have visible or invisible disabilities, by identifying and removing barriers such as those that exist in information and communication technologies (ICT).
The AATP was formed in January 2022 in response to the legislative requirements of the ACA. This team will work with all CBSA IT stakeholders to ensure that all existing information technology applications and tools are accessibility compliant within the timelines stated by the new act and its relevant supporting policies and directives.
