Introduction

Open is NEPO's next-generation e-procurement platform, replacing the existing NEPO Portal and handling around 6,000 public sector procurement opportunities annually. With a wide user base across local authority buyers and suppliers, the platform needed to be fully accessible and compliant with the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 and WCAG 2.2 Levels A and AA from day one.

The Challenge

As Open approached launch, NEPO needed expert support to audit its accessibility and identify barriers, particularly for users relying on assistive technologies like screen readers, keyboard navigation, and custom display settings. The platform's scope, covering project creation, contract management, user registration, and more, meant accessibility had to be deeply integrated into design and development decisions, not treated as an afterthought.

What I Did

I carried out a comprehensive accessibility audit across key user flows including registration, procurement requests, project management, contract creation, and navigation. Using a combination of automated tools (Axe, WAVE, Lighthouse) and manual testing, keyboard navigation, screen readers, zoom, and text spacing adjustments, I assessed the platform against all 53 WCAG 2.2 Level A and AA success criteria.

I then wrote a detailed audit report outlining which guidelines were met, partially met, or not met, with severity ratings, annotated screenshots, and concrete recommendations tied to W3C references. The report included a prioritised action list so NEPO's development team could tackle the most critical issues first, alongside strategic guidance for embedding accessibility into future design sprints.