From Procurement Risk to Procurement Ready
How ADACP Helped a Global Technology Manufacturer Build an Ongoing Accessibility Program
Procurement delays eliminated
VPATs accepted by reviewers
Legal review confidence improved
Accessibility centralized across products
About the Client
Global Technology Manufacturer
A global manufacturer of workplace collaboration and computing technology with a product ecosystem that includes hardware devices, device management software, mobile applications, conferencing tools, web-based configuration platforms, and related documentation.
Because its products are purchased by government agencies, universities, and other public institutions, accessibility documentation became a recurring requirement during procurement and contract renewal reviews.
The Challenge
Internal Accessibility Materials No Longer Held Up
The client first engaged ADACP when a pending contract required a defensible VPAT for a web-based application. What initially appeared to be a documentation request quickly revealed a broader issue. The company was managing accessibility internally, with product managers self-reporting accessibility without a formal testing methodology.
As procurement reviewers began asking more detailed questions, those internal materials no longer held up. Accessibility documentation started to:
Delay procurement approvals
Create risk during contract reviews
Reduce confidence in accessibility claims
This was not limited to a single application. The client's accessibility obligations extended across a complex product ecosystem:
The company needed more than a one-time audit. It required:
- Defensible accessibility validation
- Structured VPAT development
- Support for procurement and legal reviews
- A repeatable process for future products and releases
What ADACP Did
From Immediate Need to Structured Accessibility Program
Structured Manual Accessibility Testing
ADACP implemented structured manual accessibility testing across the client's digital products.
- WCAG 2.1 AA manual audits
- Cross-platform testing
- Assistive technology testing (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, TalkBack)
- Validation of real user workflows
Product Ecosystem Evaluation
ADACP evaluated accessibility across the broader product ecosystem, including physical devices and their software dependencies.
- Tactile operability of hardware controls
- Indicators and feedback mechanisms
- Accessibility of configuration utilities
- Interaction between hardware and companion software
Ongoing Procurement & Legal Support
ADACP became an ongoing resource for procurement, legal, and product teams.
- VPAT 2.4 Accessibility Conformance Report drafting
- Review of accessibility questionnaires in RFPs
- Evaluation of contract accessibility clauses
- Advisory guidance ahead of product releases
Over time, accessibility support evolved from a reactive documentation task into a structured operational process. VPAT requests began flowing directly from the legal department to ADACP, creating a more consistent and defensible approach to handling accessibility during sales and contracting.
The Outcome
From Ad Hoc Reporting to Procurement-Ready Process
With ADACP's support, the client moved from ad hoc internal accessibility reporting to a more consistent and procurement-ready process.
Accessibility documentation became more credible, more proactive, and better aligned with the expectations of public sector buyers and procurement reviewers. Contract reviews were no longer slowed by weak or incomplete accessibility materials, and the legal team gained a reliable partner for handling accessibility-related questions during negotiations and vendor onboarding.
Just as important, the engagement created a long-term accessibility workflow that could support new products and future releases. Instead of treating accessibility as a last-minute documentation problem, the client now has an ongoing process for testing, documentation, and procurement support across a complex hardware and software environment.
Procurement delays eliminated
VPATs accepted by reviewers
Legal review confidence improved
Accessibility centralized across products
Making Accessibility a Procurement Advantage
For organizations selling into government, education, or other regulated procurement environments, accessibility requirements often surface late and create unnecessary deal risk. ADACP helps product, legal, and compliance teams prepare defensible accessibility documentation and build repeatable processes before accessibility becomes a blocker.
Schedule Your Consultation