Contact page with email, phone, and hours
Why it matters
Federal agencies are legally obligated to provide the public with direct, accessible means of contact. The 21st Century IDEA Act (Sec. 3) and OMB M-23-22 both require agencies to offer multi-channel contact options — not just a form, but email, phone, or mailing address that citizens can use without relying on the website being functional. A contact page with only one method creates a single point of failure; users who cannot use web forms — due to accessibility needs, connectivity issues, or preference — have no alternative path to reach the agency.
Severity rationale
High because a missing contact page or one with fewer than two contact methods violates the 21st Century IDEA Act's public accessibility requirements and leaves citizens — particularly those with disabilities or limited internet access — without a guaranteed path to agency services.
Remediation
Create app/contact/page.tsx with at least email, phone, and office hours. A contact form may supplement but not replace these direct channels.
// app/contact/page.tsx
export const metadata = {
title: 'Contact Us | Agency Name',
}
export default function Contact() {
return (
<main>
<h1>Contact Us</h1>
<p>Email: <a href="mailto:info@agency.gov">info@agency.gov</a></p>
<p>Phone: <a href="tel:+12025550100">(202) 555-0100</a></p>
<p>TTY: 711</p>
<p>Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM ET</p>
<p>Mailing: 123 Government Way, Washington, D.C. 20001</p>
</main>
)
}
Link the page from your root layout footer and, if applicable, from the primary navigation.
DetectionPro
The detection method for this pattern is part of AuditBuffet Pro.
The full method (what to look for, pass and fail conditions, and how results get reported) ships inside the Government Web Standards Audit. The pattern definition, severity rationale, and remediation remain openly licensed under CC-BY-4.0.
External references
- external · 21st-century-idea-act-sec-3 — 21st Century IDEA Act § 3 — Contact information as required content for federal websites
- external · omb-m-23-22 — OMB M-23-22 — Contact information and public feedback mechanisms for digital-first experience
Taxons
History
- 2026-04-18·v1.0.0·Initial import from gov-web-standards·automated