A VPAT, or Voluntary Product Accessibility Prototype, is a guide that helps the business or agency to provide a thorough overview of your compliance to Section 508 of the Recovery Act accessibility requirements. The report framework outlines the main functionality criteria while also presenting a guide for the vendor to describe the extent of compliance and provide explanatory information. The Information Technology Industry Council developed the VPAT, which is accessible to procurement departments, such that contracting officers and other customers can make preliminary judgments on information systems software and service offers more effectively. It can be a crucial part of the RFP procedure towards any entity (private or government) whereby usability (and, by implication, Section 508 compliance) is necessary. The respective website may be used for this purpose.
In other words, the VPAT is particularly important for someone who offers computer and information technology (EIT) that may or may be used by federal employees. Section 508 allows all goods and software used by government workers to be legal. If the commodity is used by someone who receives government funding, whether directly or indirectly, you are federally subsidized as well, and the rules apply to you.
Organizational Structure
In other words, it is quite probable, if not unlikely, that the company is missing revenue opportunity because it is not Section 508 compatible or does not have a VPAT that adequately describes its enforcement. Since many companies use a VPAT to analyze vendor solutions and resources during the acquisition process, it is necessary to learn how well these organizations function.
Uses by Organizations
The default VPAT script, which many companies can access from the ITIC’s website, is used. A Word version of the standard document is available online via Microsoft Office Apps. That being said, it is critical to review the organization’s guidelines for performing a VPAT to decide whether any improvements have been made to the design or whether further detail is required. Jargon can also be used in organizational guidelines. The purchasing agency can determine the language to use in the VPAT to evaluate the product efficiently. The guarantee that the organization will render their decision in a reasonable time by customizing your VPAT responses to the institution’s required wording. Also, it demonstrates that you are paying much attention to the buyer’s requirements.
RFP
As in an RFP, you may want to mitigate any flaws in the offering, even though you are making headway on them. The VPAT default prototype has plenty of space for comments. These observations will process steps you are undertaking to correct the situation while ensuring that the company is not left accountable if contractual wording states that your VPAT must be accurate. Otherwise, negative repercussions may arise. If your product is not a suitable match for the company in consideration, or the company has taken an inadequately formed decision to buy your product, updating your services to deliver upon the agreement will be more costly than missing the deal. Therefore, the uses and needs of VPAT have successfully been outlined.