About this opportunity
AI summaryThe County of Stearns seeks written proposals from qualified onshore USA vendors to provide digital accessibility audit services for County-owned websites and applications. The selected contractor must assess desktop and mobile experiences, evaluate compliance with ADA Title II regulations and WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, and address PDF remediation and monitoring through designated tools like Acquia Web Governance and Doc Access. Eligible vendors must submit separate technical and cost proposals through the Bids & Tenders bidding system by 11:00 AM on November 19, 2026. All questions must be submitted through the system's "Submit a Question" feature by November 12, 2026. The evaluation team will score proposals based on testing methodology (30%), proposal price (30%), quality of deliverables (20%), and vendor qualifications and experience (20%).
Buyer and opportunity details
- Client
- County of Stearns
- Solicitation No.
- 26-44
Scope of work
- Test designated websites against WCAG 2.1 Level AA and ADA Title II requirements
- Assess high-impact or complex content, including sample documents and multimedia
- Provide detailed reports or an accessible platform of audit findings
- Deliver recommendations and documentation summarizing findings for long-term improvements
- Provide clear remediation instructions understandable by technical and non-technical staff
- Provide required training for County staff
- Perform retesting to confirm fixes and document compliance readiness
- Provide a detailed project work plan including methodology, key tasks, deliverables, and timeline
How proposals are evaluated
| Criterion | Weight / scoring |
|---|---|
| The quality of deliverables of the proposal | 20% |
| The testing methodology | 30% |
| The qualifications and experience of the vendor | 20% |
| The price of the proposal | 30% |
Minimum qualifications
- Experience performing WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA audits for government entities
- Ability to test designated websites against WCAG 2.1 Level AA, as required under ADA Title II
- Testers expertise in WCAG 2.1 AA and ADA Title II compliance
- Ability to provide clear remediation instructions understandable by both technical and non-technical staff
Documents to include with your response
- Cover Letter
- Quality of Deliverables narrative and project timeline
- Testing Methodology documentation
- Statement of Qualifications and Experience
- Cost proposal with line-item breakdown, five-year software licensing/maintenance fees, and not-to-exceed total
- Written statement justifying trade secret designations (if applicable)
Key dates
- RFP Issued
- October 30th, 2026
- Deadline for Questions
- November 12th, 2026
- Deadline for Addendum
- November 16th, 2026
- Proposal Due Date
- 11:00 AM, Thursday, November 19th, 2026
- Evaluation
- December, 2026
- Anticipated award
- January 2027
How to submit
- Method
- Electronic via the Bidding System (Bids & Tenders)
- Instructions
- Electronic proposal submissions only via Bids & Tenders; hardcopy submissions not permitted. Technical proposal must be submitted separate from the cost proposal.
Contract details
- Insurance and bonding
- Coverage from insurer rated A-V or better, including Commercial General Liability written on ISO CGL form or equivalent, Automobile Liability, Workers Compensation complying with Minnesota law, Professional Liability/Errors and Omissions with full prior acts coverage, and umbrella or excess liability that follows form.