District/School Administration PK-16 Program Support
Educational Technology

Including NIMAS in Contracts and Purchase Orders

School districts' contracts or purchase orders with curriculum publishers should include a provision requiring the publisher to create NIMAS files and send them to the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC). This will help build a library of files at the NIMAC, and it will not add any cost to the contract. Most curriculum publishers have been involved in discussions relating to NIMAS and are well aware of its requirements. Model contract language is included below:

"By agreeing to deliver the materials marked with "NIMAS" on this contract or purchase order, the publisher agrees to prepare and submit, on or before ___/___/_____ a NIMAS file set to the NIMAC that complies with the terms and procedures set forth by the NIMAC. Should the vendor be a distributor of the materials and not the publisher, the distributor agrees to immediately notify the publisher of its obligation to submit NIMAS file sets of the purchased products to the NIMAC. The files will be used for the production of alternate formats as permitted under the law for students with print disabilities. This is page ___ of ___ of this contract or purchase order."

Keep in mind that NIMAS files need to be converted before for students can use them. In order to ensure that students with disabilities receive their materials at the same time as their peers, be sure to build in extra time for service providers to create the alternate formats that may be needed.

NIMAS Development and Technical Assistance Centers

National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC)