Secure eSignature
Legally binding electronic signature capture with tamper-evident seals and an auditable certificate that documents signer identity, timestamp, and cryptographic integrity for each signed proposal.
Digitizing proposals reduces turnaround time, improves traceability, and supports compliance with U.S. electronic signature laws and industry regulations while keeping sensitive research and patient-related data protected.
Oversees study execution and evaluates vendor proposals for feasibility, timelines, and deliverables. Responsible for comparing technical scopes, ensuring the proposal aligns with protocol milestones, and coordinating internal stakeholder reviews prior to routing for signature.
Manages contractual language, negotiates terms with vendors, and ensures signatures are captured from authorized signatories. Tracks redlines and maintains a finalized, auditable copy of the executed proposal for sponsor and inspection purposes.
Cross-functional teams including clinical operations, regulatory affairs, procurement, and legal commonly prepare and approve vendor proposals and contracting documents for life sciences engagements.
External partners such as CROs, medical device suppliers, and software vendors interact with these proposals to finalize scope, compliance language, and execution, creating a clear audit trail for sponsors and regulators.
Legally binding electronic signature capture with tamper-evident seals and an auditable certificate that documents signer identity, timestamp, and cryptographic integrity for each signed proposal.
Centralized, versioned templates for commonly used clauses—technical scope, confidentiality agreements, and data protections—so proposals remain consistent and reduce review cycles across projects.
Programmatic integration points to automate proposal generation, pre-fill fields from study management systems, and trigger signing workflows from existing pipelines or portals.
Native connectors and prebuilt integrations with CRM, document repositories, and eTMF systems to keep proposal data synchronized without manual exports and imports.
Ability to distribute identical proposals or NDAs to multiple recipients with individualized tracking and per-recipient audit records for large partner or investigator distributions.
Comprehensive logs capturing every action—views, edits, signer confirmations—supporting regulatory inspections and contractual dispute resolution with verifiable records.
Direct import and export with Google Docs to preserve formatting, allow collaborative drafting within familiar editors, and then convert the final document into a secure proposal package ready for signature.
Two-way connectors for Salesforce and other CRMs that populate customer and opportunity data into proposal templates and archive signed agreements back to the account record for procurement reference.
Automatic saving of signed proposals to enterprise Dropbox or other cloud repositories, ensuring consistent backup and simplifying records management for audit readiness.
Developer-facing APIs that enable bespoke integrations with clinical systems, procurement platforms, or eTMF for automated document creation, signing triggers, and archival workflows.
| Workflow Setting Name and Configuration Header | Configuration and default values |
|---|---|
| Reminder Frequency | 48 hours |
| Signing Order Enforcement | Sequential |
| Signature Authentication Method | Email plus access code |
| Document Retention Period | 7 years |
| Auto-archival Destination | Enterprise storage |
Review supported platforms and minimal device requirements to ensure all signers and reviewers can access proposal workflows from their preferred devices.
Ensure mobile and desktop users have up-to-date browsers or app versions and that corporate device policies allow secure access; confirm single sign-on or MFA integration where required to meet internal security standards.
A biotech sponsor prepares a comprehensive CRO proposal with scope and timelines for a Phase II study, including data handling and monitoring responsibilities
Resulting in an auditable, signed MSA that preserves regulatory commitments and shortens negotiation cycles.
A medical device vendor submits a proposal outlining software integration, telemetry plans, and patient data anonymization procedures
Leading to executed contracts where security obligations and technical acceptance criteria are clearly documented and traceable.
| Feature and compliance criteria list | signNow (Recommended) | DocuSign | Adobe Acrobat Sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESIGN and UETA compliance status | |||
| HIPAA readiness | |||
| API and developer tools | Robust REST API | Extensive API | Comprehensive API |
| Bulk send capability |
| Plan or Metric | signNow (Recommended) | DocuSign | Adobe Acrobat Sign | OneSpan Sign | HelloSign |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level plan description | Starter plan from $8 per user per month billed annually offering core signing and templates | Standard individual plan from $10 per user per month with basic workflow tools | Small business plan from $9 per user per month including core eSign features | Basic cloud signing plan from $19 per user per month focused on enterprise security | Essentials plan from $15 per user per month with core signing and audit logs |
| Enterprise features available | Advanced admin controls, SSO, and custom retention policies for enterprises | Enterprise-grade workflow orchestration and global compliance features | Integrated document workflows with Adobe Document Cloud and enterprise controls | Advanced authentication, e-seals, and compliance-focused modules | Team management, SSO, and compliance options for businesses |
| API and developer support | Comprehensive REST API, SDKs, and developer documentation supporting automation and integrations | Mature API ecosystem with broad partner marketplace and SDKs | Strong API with Adobe Sign SDKs and cloud integration examples | Focused API with strong security and signing features | Developer-friendly API and SDKs with basic automation |
| Support and onboarding options | Standard email support and optional enterprise onboarding packages with SLAs | Tiered support including phone and premium onboarding services | Enterprise support with dedicated success options and training | Priority support and professional services for complex deployments | Email and limited phone support with paid onboarding |
| Compliance and certifications | SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA-ready configurations, and U.S. data residency options | SOC 2, ISO certifications, and strong global compliance coverage | SOC 2, ISO 27001, and enterprise compliance features | FIPS and PKI support with compliance modules | SOC 2 compliance and standard security controls |