GSA Seeks OMB Approval for Centralized Accessibility Conformance Report Repository
The General Services Administration's Regulatory Secretariat Division has published a notice stating it will submit a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to review and approve a new information collection requirement covering the Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) Repository. The notice was published in the Federal Register on September 9, 2026, and public comments are due by October 9, 2026.
GSA's Office of Governmentwide Policy is developing the application to provide a centralized repository of ACRs for information and communication technology (ICT) products. ACRs, typically produced using the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) format, document how a product conforms to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the underlying WCAG success criteria. Federal agencies commonly require vendors to submit ACRs as part of quotes and bids in response to procurement solicitations.
The repository responds to a requirement in OMB Memorandum M-24-08, which directed agencies to "explore options for establishing a standardized accessibility conformance reporting process for government procurement of ICT, which should include a central repository of vendor accessibility conformance reports." An earlier 60-day notice was published on June 24, 2026, at 90 FR 37982, and drew eight public comments.
In its supporting estimates, GSA projects 2,500 vendor administrator respondents and 1,500 vendor user respondents, with an average of two ACRs per vendor account, for a total of 5,000 ACRs uploaded and 907 total burden hours. The notice states there is no obligation for product owners to submit ACRs for any product, and that participation would be at the product owner's discretion. GSA said the repository is designed to reduce, rather than create, acquisition burden by centralizing vendor-provided information.
Responding to comments, GSA said the repository will be accessible to non-federal entities, including state and local governments and educational institutions; that vendors retain control over ACR visibility; and that listing does not constitute GSA approval or certification of a product's accessibility. The agency cited version management and integration with the ACR Editor as measures meant to prevent outdated or duplicate information.
The notice, signed by GSA Deputy Chief Data Officer Richard Speidel, advances the repository toward OMB clearance. If approved, the platform would consolidate vendor accessibility claims into a standardized, searchable format intended to support market research and due diligence by federal buyers, as well as interested members of the public.