Procurement Support
Make better accessibility decisions before you buy.
Our procurement support helps teams define clearer accessibility requirements, evaluate vendor claims with confidence and reduce risk before products or services are selected. It’s designed to support informed decisions that reflect real user needs and how products are actually built and delivered.
Why procurement decisions
matter for accessibility
Procurement plays a critical role in whether digital products and services are accessible in practice. Decisions made at the point of selection shape the accessibility outcomes delivered later on.
Organisations are often asked to assess vendors’ accessibility claims and supporting evidence without having the specialist knowledge needed to judge whether that evidence demonstrates an ability to meet accessibility requirements. Vendors may be selected in good faith, with accessibility gaps only becoming visible once work is underway, when change is harder and more costly.
What procurement
support looks like
Procurement support focuses on bringing informed accessibility judgement into the evaluation process, so decisions are based on understanding rather than assumptions.
Depending on the context, this can include:
Helping define accessibility requirements in the tender documentation
Supporting the development of evaluation criteria that assess vendor accessibility capability, experience and approach rather than compliance statements alone
Reviewing vendor responses and supporting evidence to identify strengths, gaps and areas of risk
Participating in evaluation panels to provide informed scoring and commentary on accessibility-related criteria
Developing accessibility evaluation rubrics that make expectations explicit and support shared understanding across the panel
Our approach to procurement support helps organisations assess accessibility with greater understanding, transparency and confidence at the point where decisions are made.
Who this support is for
This support is well suited to organisations that:
Are selecting digital products or services and want greater confidence in accessibility-related decisions
Are required to include accessibility requirements in procurement but are unsure how to apply or evaluate them in practice
Need to balance accessibility considerations with delivery constraints, timelines and commercial realities
Want to reduce the risk of accessibility issues emerging after contracts are signed
What organisations gain
Organisations are more confident that accessibility requirements can be met by their chosen vendor, right at the procurement stage.
This looks like:
Confidence that preferred vendors have the capability and experience to deliver against legislated accessibility requirements
Clear insight into how vendor claims translate into likely delivery outcomes
Early visibility of accessibility risks before commitments are made
Informed understanding of where additional work may be required if a vendor cannot fully meet requirements
Reduced risk of accessibility issues emerging late in delivery or after release
Assurance that the final product will meet accessibility requirements if independently assessed
Throughout the process, teams are supported with clear explanations, practical guidance and informed input, helping ensure decisions are shared, understood and defensible.
Make informed
procurement decisions
Get expert input on accessibility requirements and vendor claims before contracts are signed.