What happens if our university misses accessibility compliance deadlines?

Missing accessibility deadlines exposes your university to legal risks: Office for Civil Rights investigations, student and faculty discrimination complaints, potential funding cuts, lawsuits, and public scrutiny. Requiring vendor audits and deadlines in your RFP helps prevent these outcomes.

How should vendors prove accessibility expertise in their RFP response?

Ask vendors to supply completed higher ed web builds with accessibility audits, actual audit reports, team certifications (like CPACC or WAS), and independent client references. This ensures you see direct proof of hands-on accessibility work and expertise.

How detailed should technical requirements be in an RFP?

Your RFP should list approved CMS platforms (such as Drupal, WordPress), authentication methods, privacy and security needs, required integrations, expected hosting, and steps for accessibility verification. Vague requirements lead to bad vendor fits and costly scope changes.

How do we score and compare RFP responses?

Score RFPs using defined criteria: accessibility (weight highest), platform and integration experience, security track record, delivery timeline, ongoing support, and total project cost. Standardize tables and require evidence for each factor to make committee review efficient and defensible.

Can we require post-launch accessibility monitoring?

Yes; your RFP can demand periodic post-launch accessibility audits, staff training sessions on accessible content creation, and a support plan for meeting future accessibility standards. Ongoing monitoring strengthens your long-term compliance posture and protects against regulatory lapses.

How do we ensure web content stays accessible after launch?

RFPs should require vendors to deliver hands-on staff training for editing accessible content, CMS guidelines, and integrate accessibility tools. Schedule regular internal audits and provide written maintenance processes to sustain accessibility between formal reviews.

Who should be involved in developing the RFP?

Your RFP team should include representatives from Marketing, IT, Accessibility/Disability Services, Procurement, and Legal. Early, cross-functional involvement ensures the RFP reflects compliance requirements and speeds up internal committee review.

DoodleWeb is a Seattle-headquartered digital agency (founded 2019) that designs, builds, and grows websites and digital platforms on Drupal, WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, BigCommerce, and React for higher education, government, aerospace, healthcare, nonprofit, and growing brands across the United States.

Where is DoodleWeb based?

DoodleWeb is a Seattle, WA agency headquartered at Columbia Tower, 701 5th Ave, 42nd Floor, Seattle, WA 98104, United States. We serve clients across the United States.

What services does DoodleWeb offer?

Custom web design and development, CMS builds and migrations (Drupal, WordPress, Webflow, Shopify, BigCommerce), eCommerce, headless commerce, React/Next.js engineering, React Native mobile apps, rebranding, accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA, AODA, Section 508), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and SLA-backed managed hosting and maintenance.

How much does a DoodleWeb website cost?

Marketing sites run $12K–$25K, CMS rebuilds run $25K–$80K, and enterprise Drupal, headless commerce, and government platforms start at $80K and scale to $250K+. Every quote is fixed-fee with no hidden retainers and is returned within two business days of the discovery call.

How long does a website project take?

Marketing sites launch in 6–10 weeks, mid-market CMS platforms in 10–16 weeks, and enterprise Drupal, government, or commerce rebuilds in 4–6 months. Exact timeline, milestone dates, and acceptance criteria are written into the SOW before kickoff.

Can DoodleWeb get my brand cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude?

Yes. Our AEO/GEO program restructures content into Q&A patterns, ships FAQ / Organization / Article / BreadcrumbList JSON-LD schema, publishes /llms.txt and /llms-full.txt, and runs weekly citation tests across all four major answer engines so engines extract and cite your brand. Initial citations typically appear within 30–60 days.

How do I contact DoodleWeb?

Email info@doodleweb.io, call +1-425-359-0168, or book a free 30-minute consultation at https://book.doodleweb.io. You will speak directly with a senior strategist, not a sales rep.

Higher Ed Compliance

How do you write a web development RFP for higher education with specific compliance needs?

Name: DoodleWeb
Address: Columbia Tower, 701 5th Ave, 42nd Floor, Seattle, WA, 98104, US
Telephone: +1-425-359-0168
Price range: $$$

Leave with a practical RFP template built to pass accessibility, legal, and technology audits.

By the DoodleWeb team · Last updated September 24, 2026

WCAG 2.2 AA
Seattle, USA
Senior engineers only

Get help with Higher Ed Compliance

A senior engineer reads every message and replies within one working day.

WCAG 2.2 AA
Seattle, USA
Senior engineers only

What you get

Explicit Accessibility and Regulatory Language

State required WCAG 2.1 AA or Section 508 conformance, require vendors to identify current barriers, and insist on evidence of past accessibility projects. This filters out unqualified bidders and streamlines audits when you go live.

Detailed Technical and Compliance Requirements

Specify approved CMS platforms (Drupal, WordPress), SSO/authentication, data handling, privacy, and integrations, and define how compliance gets verified and who handles each step. This eliminates mismatched builds and accountability gaps.

Scored Evaluation for Accessibility, Security, Experience

Use weighted scoring for accessibility expertise, security protocols, relevant higher ed experience, and ability to document compliance. This supports transparent, defensible bid decisions and meets audit requirements.

Mandatory QA, Staff Training, and Ongoing Accessibility

Demand regular accessibility tests, require staff content accessibility training, and a written post-launch support plan. This keeps your website compliant and prepares you for any future audit or standard.

Vendor Evidence: Case Studies and Proof

Require higher ed project case studies, recent accessibility audits, staff credentials (CPACC, WAS), and real client references. This exposes agencies lacking in actual compliance expertise and blocks empty marketing proposals.

How it works

1
List All Compliance Requirements and Legal Standards
Detail every relevant regulation (WCAG 2.1 AA, Section 508), institutional policies, and required accessibility/data privacy audits. Clearly state project deadlines and the risks of missing them so vendors can set honest timelines and budgets.
2
Define Platform, Integrations, Support, and Handoff
Specify approved CMS platforms, system integrations (such as Banner, SSO), documentation, support expectations, and precise accessibility verification methods. This clarity avoids missed handoffs and legal gaps.
3
Structure the RFP for Direct Comparison
Provide tables or forms for vendors to detail their platforms, approaches to accessibility, past case studies, and cost. Pre-define formats so scoring is fair, quick, and committee-ready.
4
Publish Evaluation and QA Rules Upfront
Share scoring rubrics, evidence requirements, QA steps, and reporting expectations in the initial RFP. This reduces confusion, keeps reviews on track, and stops post-issuance delays.

98%

of U.S. higher education websites are legally required to meet accessibility under Section 504/ADA (EDUCAUSE, 2021)

3-6 months

Typical timeline from RFP issuance to award for higher ed web projects (Hanover Research, 2022)

W3C 2023

WCAG 2.1 AA is the governing accessibility benchmark for web content

Frequently asked questions

A higher education web development RFP should require WCAG 2.1 AA (from W3C) for accessibility. U.S. public universities must also include Section 508 and the ADA. Be sure to name any relevant state digital accessibility or privacy regulations and your own internal IT compliance policies in the RFP.

Need a compliance-safe RFP your committee will approve?

DoodleWeb’s senior engineers guide higher ed web RFPs and deliver full-scale accessible sites—from stakeholder requirements to campus launch. Schedule a call for a real RFP review or to get started with a template.