Is a missing VPAT/ACR quietly stalling your next enterprise deal?
A step-by-step guide for procurement and compliance teams what buyers expect to see, how conformance ratings actually work, and the five mistakes that make reviewers doubt an entire report.
More enterprise and government buyers now ask for a conformance report before they’ll even open a security review.
A weak or missing ACR doesn’t just look incomplete – it can quietly remove you from the shortlist. This guide breaks down what a defensible report contains and how to get there without overclaiming.
Everything your team needs before the next procurement ask
Know the difference
VPAT is the standardized template a buyer expects to see. ACR is that template filled out with real, product-specific evidence — and it’s the ACR they’re actually asking for.
Get the basics right
Product name and version, publication date, VPAT edition, standards evaluated, and evaluation methodology – the five details a compliance team scans for first.
Rate it honestly
An honest “Partially Supports” beats a fake “Supports.” Experienced buyers read the remarks column, and overclaiming here is the fastest way to lose trust – or trigger a future audit.
Test it properly, then document it
Automated scans alone won’t hold up in review. Manual testing, keyboard navigation, and real screen-reader coverage across your actual product scope is what a defensible ACR is built on.
A preview of what the full guide walks you through
- VPAT vs. ACR explained in plain terms — and exactly when each gets requested during procurement
- The five details every report must state up front, and which VPAT edition buyers in each market expect
- The full conformance rating scale — Supports, Partially Supports, Does Not Support, Not Applicable, Not Evaluated
- What “real” accessibility testing includes, beyond an automated scan, and how to state your test scope
- The high-impact workflows evaluators check first — authentication, forms, checkout, keyboard and screen-reader access
- Five common mistakes in self-prepared VPATs that make buyers doubt the entire report
Real accessibility expertise behind the paperwork – not just a filled-in template
We combine manual testing with assistive technology, automated tooling, and structured VPAT/ACR documentation aligned to WCAG, Section 508, and EN 301 549 – so reports hold up under procurement scrutiny.
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