Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Log into your dashboard at app.adacertify.io and run a full accessibility scan on the website or web application you need to certify for government compliance.

2. Navigate to Reports > Compliance Report and select Section 508 as your compliance standard. This generates a report mapped to Section 508 criteria — the correct framework for US federal government contracts.

3. To generate a VPAT 2.4 (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template), go to Reports > VPAT Export. Complete the product name, vendor details, and evaluation date fields, then click Generate VPAT.

4. Review the generated VPAT document carefully before submitting to a government procurement office. Section 6 (Support Documentation and Services) and Section 7 (Quality Assurance and Testing) must be completed manually based on your specific product.

5. Download the VPAT as a PDF or Word document from the Reports tab. Government procurement offices typically require the Word format so they can incorporate it into their documentation.

6. For ongoing Section 508 compliance, schedule monthly rescans and generate updated VPAT reports. Federal procurement often requires documentation that compliance is maintained, not just demonstrated at one point in time.

Common Questions

Does ADAcertify cover all Section 508 criteria?
ADAcertify covers the web-based components of Section 508 (WCAG 2.1 AA equivalent). Hardware, closed functionality, and telecommunications criteria in Section 508 are outside the scope of a web accessibility tool and must be addressed separately.

Can I use the VPAT for any federal agency?
Yes. VPAT 2.4 is the current standard accepted by all US federal agencies for IT procurement. It is also increasingly required by state governments and large enterprise procurement processes.

How do I handle PDFs in a government contract context?
PDF remediation is a separate service available in ADAcertify. Government websites often have hundreds of legacy PDFs that require manual remediation. Contact support to discuss bulk PDF remediation options for your contract scope.

Troubleshooting

VPAT export button is not visible: VPAT generation is available on Agency and Enterprise plans. If the button is missing, check your plan level under Account > Subscription.

Section 508 report showing violations I already fixed: Rescans pick up the live state of your site. If the widget is applying real-time overlays, some violations may appear fixed in browser but still flag in a code-level scan. Use Manual Audit for code-level remediation documentation.

✅ Pro Tip: Request a Manual Audit before submitting a VPAT. The audit provides human-verified findings that carry more weight than automated scan results when a contracting officer reviews your accessibility documentation.