Information Technology (IT) is consistently one of the top industries in federal contracting, especially within the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program. As an IT contractor, you may be very aware of all the extra regulations you have to follow to make sure everything aligns with IT and cybersecurity policies. The government takes security very seriously, but they also put an emphasis on accessibility through Section 508 standards. Did you know there’s an accessibility document specifically for communication technology products?
The Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is a report that provides information on how accessible a particular product such as software, hardware, or electronic content really is. Here’s what you need to know about VPAT accessibility and compliance.
As mentioned above, VPAT stands for Voluntary Product Accessibility Template. VPAT is often used by organizations to evaluate and compare the accessibility of different products and technologies, particularly applies in the procurement or development of software or technology.
The VPAT includes an itemized checklist that covers different characteristics of accessibility, such as support for assistance technology, keyboard access, and color contrast. The VPAT is often used in combination with accessibility standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to guarantee that a product or technology will meet the needs of people with disabilities.
A VPAT is often required by the government to ensure that the products and technologies they are using are accessible to people with disabilities. According to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act in the United States, federal agencies must use technology that meets specific accessibility standards. In addition, many organizations have their own accessibility policies and requirements.
A VPAT can also help agencies assess the potential impact of technology on their personnel or user base, identify potential accessibility obstacles, and make educated decisions about the technology they choose to use or develop.
GSA recommends contractors generate a VPAT document for any Information Communication Technology (ICT) that’s intended to be marketed to the federal government. So, if you are planning on selling related products on your Schedule, you’ll need to fill out a VPAT.
Before we begin, be sure to use the most current VPAT template, which you can find here. The first part of the template is the “Essential Requirements and Best Practices for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Vendors.” It’s important to read this section thoroughly as it provides directions for reporting product compliance on the three main accessibility standards and guidelines using VPAT.
The next section of the VPAT is the “Company Accessibility Conformance Report.”
The vendor will be required to complete the following in the Conformance Report Sections:
Here’s an example of what a Conformance Report would look like:
It’s important to note there are three levels included in a VPAT, which we’ll outline below.
In this level, the product will need to meet the minimum accessibility standards. This conveys that some accessibility features may not be present, or some may only be partially implemented. A VPAT Level A product may still have accessibility obstacles that make it challenging for some clients with disabilities to use the technology.
For example:
This level requires that the product meets a more comprehensive set of accessibility standards. A VPAT Level AA product provides a higher level of accessibility accommodation and should be more functionable for clients with disabilities. This level includes all the checkpoints under Level A, along with supplementary requirements to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards.
For example:
Level AAA is the highest level of accessibility provided by a product. It meets the most comprehensive and rigorous set of accessibility standards. In addition to the Level A and Level AA requirements, products with a VPAT Level AAA provide the most comprehensive level of accessibility accommodation obtainable and are more likely to be functional by as many clients with disabilities as possible. Nevertheless, it is important to note that achieving Level AAA accessibility can be demanding, and often requires considerable effort and resources to accomplish.
For detailed information on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0
There are various benefits to having a VPAT, including:
Overall, a VPAT helps promote more inclusive technology systems by encouraging contractors to be concerned about accessibility problems, and by delivering a document for government agencies to make educated judgements about technology that accommodates everyone’s challenges.
We know getting started and keeping up to date with your GSA Schedule can be challenging. If you have questions about VPAT, other aspects of contract maintenance, or how get started with a GSA Schedule, we would be happy to help you. For additional information on Section 508, check out our blog Section 508 for Contractors: What is it and Who Has to Comply?