VPAT report – Procurement and compliance teams must evaluate software vendors for accessibility. This evaluation should occur before making purchasing decisions.
Whether you’re procuring enterprise software, SaaS platforms, or digital services, reviewing a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) is essential. Reviewing an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) is also an essential step in the due diligence process.
A well-prepared VPAT/ACR helps buyers understand a product’s alignment with recognized accessibility standards. These standards include WCAG, Section 508, and EN 301 549.
This guide explains how procurement and compliance teams can evaluate a VPAT/ACR effectively. It also guides on what to look for during the review process.
What Is a VPAT?
VPAT Report Template- Once the template is completed with product-specific accessibility information, it becomes an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR).
Organizations commonly request an ACR during:
- Government procurement
- Enterprise software evaluations
- Educational institution purchasing
- Accessibility compliance reviews
- Vendor due diligence
Rather than serving as a certification, the ACR provides transparency about a product’s current accessibility status.
Why VPAT/ACR Reports Matter
Accessibility requirements are increasingly embedded into procurement policies and contractual obligations. Reviewing an ACR helps organizations:
- Compare vendors using a standardized format
- Understand accessibility strengths and limitations
- Reduce legal and compliance risks
- Support inclusive procurement practices
- Identify remediation requirements before deployment
For procurement teams, an ACR is an important risk assessment document not just an accessibility checklist.
Download our VPAT/ACR Checklist
A step-by-step guide helps procurement and compliance teams understand what buyers expect to see. It explains how conformance ratings work. It also highlights the five mistakes that make reviewers doubt an entire report.
Step 1: Verify Basic Report Information
Before reviewing accessibility details, confirm that the report includes:
- Product name
- Product version
- Report publication date
- VPAT edition
- Accessibility standards evaluated
- Evaluation methodology
An outdated report may no longer represent the current product.
Step 2: Confirm Applicable Accessibility Standards
VPAT report – Different procurement processes require different accessibility standards.
| Standard | Common Use Case |
|---|---|
| WCAG 2.1 / 2.2 | Global web accessibility |
| Section 508 | U.S. Federal agencies |
| EN 301 549 | European public sector procurement |
| International VPAT | Products serving multiple markets |
Ensure the report aligns with the accessibility requirements applicable to your organization.
Step 3: Review Conformance Levels
Each accessibility criterion is assigned a conformance status, such as:
- Supports
- Partially Supports
- Does Not Support
- Not Applicable
- Not Evaluated
Focus on the explanations provided for each criterion rather than simply counting how many items are marked “Supports.”
Detailed comments provide valuable context about limitations, exceptions, and known issues.
Step 4: Evaluate the Remarks and Explanations
The remarks section often provides the most meaningful information in an ACR.
Look for:
- Accessibility limitations
- Product exceptions
- Temporary workarounds
- Planned remediation
- Testing observations
Detailed explanations demonstrate that the product has undergone a thorough accessibility evaluation.
Step 5: Understand the Testing Methodology
Accessibility cannot be fully evaluated through automated tools alone.
A comprehensive VPAT report should describe:
- Manual accessibility testing
- Keyboard navigation testing
- Screen reader testing
- Automated testing tools
- Browser and platform coverage
- Assistive technology used during testing
Reports that clearly explain their testing methodology generally provide greater confidence during procurement.
Step 6: Check Product Coverage
VPAT report Confirm which parts of the product were evaluated.
The assessment should clearly indicate whether it covers:
- Web applications
- Mobile applications
- Desktop software
- PDFs
- Documentation
- Customer portals
- Administrative interfaces
Some VPATs evaluate only specific modules rather than the entire product.
Step 7: Identify Accessibility Risks
Not every accessibility issue has the same business impact.
Pay particular attention to issues affecting critical workflows, including:
- User authentication
- Form completion
- Navigation
- Checkout processes
- Keyboard accessibility
- Screen reader compatibility
These issues may significantly affect end users and should be prioritized during procurement.
Step 8: Ask Vendors the Right Questions
If information is missing or unclear, request additional details from the vendor.
Useful questions include:
- When was the VPAT completed?
- Has the product changed since the evaluation?
- Was testing performed internally or by an independent accessibility expert?
- Which assistive technologies were used?
- Are accessibility issues currently being remediated?
- How frequently is the VPAT updated?
These questions help determine how current and reliable the report is.
Common Red Flags to Watch For
While reviewing an ACR, procurement teams should be cautious if they notice:
- Reports that are several years old
- Minimal or generic comments
- Large sections marked “Not Evaluated”
- No explanation of testing methodology
- No evidence of manual testing
- Missing product versions or evaluation dates
These issues may indicate that additional clarification or accessibility testing is needed before procurement proceeds.
How Enabled.in Helps Organizations with VPAT Compliance
Creating a high-quality VPAT requires more than simply completing a template. It involves comprehensive accessibility testing, technical expertise, and a clear understanding of global accessibility standards.
Enabled.in helps organizations prepare accurate and procurement-ready VPAT/Accessibility Conformance Reports by combining accessibility expertise with structured documentation.
Accessibility Audits
Enabled.in conducts detailed accessibility audits. They use a combination of automated tools and manual testing. This evaluates websites, web applications, mobile applications, software products, and digital documents.
WCAG Compliance Assessments
The team assesses products against the latest WCAG 2.1 and WCAG 2.2 Success Criteria, identifying accessibility barriers and providing practical recommendations for remediation.
VPAT and ACR Documentation
Enabled.in prepares professional VPAT/ACR reports aligned with recognized standards, including:
- WCAG
- Section 508
- EN 301 549
- International VPAT editions
The reports are designed to help organizations respond confidently to procurement questionnaires, RFPs, government tenders, and enterprise accessibility requirements.
Manual Accessibility Testing
Beyond automated scans, Enabled.in performs manual evaluations using assistive technologies and keyboard testing to identify issues that automated tools often miss.
Remediation Guidance
Accessibility reports include actionable recommendations that help development teams understand:
- The accessibility issue
- Why it matters
- Which users are affected
- How to remediate it
This supports faster and more effective accessibility improvements.
Re-testing and Validation
After accessibility fixes are implemented, Enabled.in can conduct follow-up testing to verify that issues have been resolved and update the VPAT/ACR accordingly.
Ongoing Accessibility Support
Accessibility is an ongoing process. Enabled.in provides continued guidance. It helps organizations maintain compliance as products evolve. This ensures accessibility documentation remains current. The documentation stays aligned with procurement requirements.
Whether you’re preparing for a government contract, enterprise procurement, or regulatory compliance, Enabled.in helps simplify the VPAT process by delivering reliable accessibility assessments and comprehensive conformance reports that support informed purchasing decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
A VPAT is the standardized template used to document accessibility. Once completed with product-specific information, it becomes an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR).
A VPAT should be reviewed and updated whenever significant product changes occur or after major releases that may affect accessibility.
Procurement teams, compliance officers, accessibility specialists, legal teams, and IT stakeholders should review VPATs together to assess accessibility risks before purchasing a product.
Conclusion
A VPAT/ACR is a valuable resource for procurement and compliance teams evaluating the accessibility of digital products.
Organizations can better understand accessibility risks by reviewing the report’s scope, testing methodology, and conformance ratings. They can also analyze the supporting evidence to make more informed purchasing decisions.
Partnering with an experienced accessibility provider like Enabled.in can further strengthen this process.
Through comprehensive accessibility audits, manual testing, VPAT/ACR preparation, remediation guidance, and ongoing support, Enabled.in helps organizations produce accurate accessibility documentation and build more inclusive digital experiences while meeting procurement and compliance expectations.