Can a DPS be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are valid under the federal ESIGN Act and state UETA laws for most commercial procurement documents when intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are present. Exceptions such as wills and certain court filings remain ineligible for electronic signatures.

Is notarization required?

Not typically for a DPS, but some jurisdictions or specific attachments (for example, affidavits or powers of attorney) may require notarization or witness signatures. Remote online notarization (RON) is available in many states subject to state rules and identity-proofing requirements.

What about HIPAA-covered data?

If the DPS includes protected health information, workflows must comply with HIPAA; execute a business associate agreement (BAA) with the eSignature provider. signNow supports HIPAA compliance and offers a BAA when required by clients.

Which signNow plan includes bulk send?

The Business Premium plan includes bulk send functionality for distributing identical documents to many recipients. Enterprise and Site License tiers add advanced integrations and API access for programmatic bulk distribution when higher volume or custom workflows are required.

How long should I retain DPS records?

Retention depends on record type: financial records generally three years per IRS guidance; healthcare-related records six years under HIPAA; securities or audit documentation often six to seven years. Maintain signed PDFs, audit trails, and access logs as part of compliance evidence.

What if a vendor refuses electronic signing?

If a vendor declines electronic signing, capture written consent or provide a paper alternative. Expect longer turnaround, potential courier or notarization costs, and manual archival. Document the refusal and the chosen method to preserve enforceability and auditability.

Business Services DPS

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

BUSINESS SERVICES DPS

This Business Services Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into as of Effective Date: by and between:

Client Name Client Address Service Provider Name Service Provider Address

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Client requires certain business development, project support, and professional services (collectively, the "Services") as set forth in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Service Provider represents that it has the skill, personnel, and resources necessary to perform the Services in a professional manner consistent with industry standards; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth their respective rights and obligations with respect to the Services and compensation therefor.

SCOPE OF WORK

Service Provider shall perform the Services described below. The Services shall include deliverables, timelines, and acceptance criteria as agreed in writing by the parties.

Detailed Scope of Work

PAYMENT TERMS

In consideration for the Services, Client shall pay Service Provider the fees and expenses set forth below in accordance with the schedule provided. All fees are payable in U.S. dollars unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Total Fee Payment Schedule Late Payment Fee

All invoices must be submitted in writing and, unless otherwise agreed, are due within the invoice terms set out in the Payment Schedule. Client shall pay all undisputed amounts when due. If Client disputes any portion of an invoice, Client must notify Service Provider in writing within ten (10) days of receipt identifying the disputed items and the basis for the dispute; undisputed amounts shall remain due and payable.

TERM AND TERMINATION

This Agreement shall commence on Start Date: and shall continue until End Date: unless earlier terminated as provided herein.

Notice Period for Termination Without Cause

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach by the other party if such breach is not cured within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice specifying the breach. Termination shall not relieve Client of the obligation to pay for Services rendered and reimbursable expenses incurred prior to termination.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Each party (the "Receiving Party") shall hold in confidence and shall not disclose to any third party any Confidential Information of the other party (the "Disclosing Party") except as expressly permitted by this Agreement. "Confidential Information" means non-public information disclosed in any form that is designated as confidential or that a reasonable person would understand to be confidential given the nature of the information and the circumstances of disclosure.

Scope of Confidential Information / Special Terms

The confidentiality obligations shall continue for a period of following termination or expiration of this Agreement, except with respect to trade secrets, for which obligations shall continue as long as permitted under applicable law.

GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to its conflict of laws principles. The parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within that state for the resolution of disputes arising under this Agreement.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement, including any exhibits and schedules attached hereto, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous negotiations, proposals, representations, and agreements, whether written or oral. No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

MISCELLANEOUS

The relationship of the parties is that of independent contractors. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to create a partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship between the parties. Each party shall be responsible for its own taxes, insurance, and benefits for its personnel.

Service Provider:

By:

Date:

Client:

By:

Date:

What the Business Services DPS Is and Why It Exists

The Business Services DPS is a standardized procurement and service-delivery package used by organizations to document vendor qualifications, scope of work, pricing, and compliance requirements for business services. It combines a detailed statement of work, evaluation criteria, contractual terms, and administrative attachments to support competitive sourcing and vendor onboarding. Agencies and companies use the DPS to prequalify vendors, streamline procurement, and reduce repetitive paperwork across projects. When completed accurately, the DPS serves as an auditable record of selection criteria, negotiated terms, and authorized service delivery parameters for future contract management.

How a DPS Improves Procurement Consistency

Using a Business Services DPS centralizes vendor data, enforces consistent evaluation standards, and reduces procurement cycle time. It improves recordkeeping for audits and supports compliance with contracting policies while providing a single reference for scope, pricing, and service-level obligations.

Who Typically Prepares and Signs a Business Services DPS

Organizations that manage recurring services, procurement teams, and compliance officers commonly use the Business Services DPS.

Procurement teams responsible for sourcing and evaluating vendors across departments.
Compliance and audit staff preserving records and documenting selection criteria for reviews.
Business unit managers defining scope, performance metrics, and acceptance criteria for services.

The DPS supports cross-functional collaboration by capturing approvals, responsibilities, and contractual terms in a reusable format.

Primary Roles Involved

Procurement Director

Oversees vendor selection, ensures the DPS aligns with organizational sourcing policies, and coordinates evaluation panels. Responsible for approving shortlisted vendors and maintaining complete records for audit and contract award documentation.

Compliance Officer

Maintains policy compliance, reviews DPS content for regulatory risk, and validates required attachments such as insurance certificates and W-9 forms. Works with legal counsel when statutory or industry-specific clauses require bespoke language.

Essential Sections to Include in a Professional DPS

Core sections of a Business Services DPS define scope, pricing, performance metrics, compliance requirements, evaluation criteria, and contract management attachments.

Scope of Work

Describe deliverables, milestones, locations, and key exclusions. Include measurable performance indicators and deliverable acceptance processes to reduce ambiguity during execution and contracting phases and specify payment triggers.

Pricing

List firm prices, fee schedules, hourly rates, expense reimbursement rules, and escalation clauses. Specify currency, invoicing frequency, and any volume discounts or price adjustment mechanisms.

Performance Metrics

Define service level agreements, measurement intervals, reporting formats, remediation steps, and liquidated damages or service credits tied to performance shortfalls, including thresholds and measurement tools.

Compliance

Specify statutory and contractual compliance obligations, required certifications, insurance limits, data protection controls, and audit rights for regulatory or internal reviews, including evidence submission timelines.

Evaluation Criteria

List qualification thresholds, scoring methodology, weighting of technical and cost factors, reference checks, and mandatory documentation with tie-break rules and clarification request procedures for prequalification.

Attachments

Include sample contract templates, insurance certificates, licensing proof, W-9 forms, vendor questionnaires, and any industry-specific addenda to be completed with submissions and document format requirements.

Sequential Steps to Complete and Finalize a DPS

Follow these sequential steps to complete and approve a Business Services DPS from draft to executed record.

01

Prepare Document: Gather SOW, pricing, and compliance attachments.
02

Populate Fields: Enter party data, dates, and evaluation criteria.
03

Review & Approve: Legal and procurement review with tracked changes.
04

Execute & Archive: Obtain signatures, save final PDF, and store audit trail.

Configuring an Online DPS Workflow

Configure the online DPS workflow to automate routing, signer authentication, and version control before distributing to vendors.

Field	Configuration
Routing	Sequential routing to procurement, legal, then business owner
Authentication	Email link or SMS code; optional KBA for vendors
Notifications	Auto-reminders at 3, 7, and 14 days
Versioning	Attach version number; enforce final-sign lock

Where to Submit a Completed Business Services DPS

Typical routing destinations and submission actions for a completed Business Services DPS are outlined here for clarity.

Procurement Office: Upload to contract repository and notify purchasing staff.
Vendor Portal: Submit through vendor portal with attachments and signed DPS.
Legal Department: Provide final for compliance review and countersignature if required.
Archive: Store final PDF and audit trail in records management system.

Platform Capabilities to Support DPS Distribution

Platform must support secure eSigning, common file formats, integration with procurement systems, and configurable authentication for signers.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX, and Excel supported
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365
Authentication: Email, SMS code, or SSO options

Security and Compliance Baseline for DPS Records

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, PCI DSS

Privacy Laws: GDPR compliant; CCPA data controls

Healthcare: HIPAA compliant with BAA available

Regulatory: ESIGN and UETA compliant

Accessibility: WCAG 2.0 Level AA support

Typical Timelines and Processing Expectations

Common deadlines and typical processing timeframes for issuing, receiving, evaluating, and awarding a Business Services DPS are listed below.

RFP Issuance:

Vendor response window typically 2–4 weeks depending on complexity.

Proposal Evaluation:

Evaluation panels usually require 1–3 weeks after submission deadline.

Negotiation Period:

May take 1–4 weeks depending on legal and pricing issues.

Contract Award:

Award notice often within 1–2 weeks post-negotiation.

Mobilization:

Service start commonly 2–4 weeks after award and onboarding.

Comparison: signNow and Common eSignature Providers

Comparative pricing and feature availability across common eSignature providers relevant to Business Services DPS workflows. This summarizes starting price, trial availability, bulk-send, audit trails, HIPAA support, and envelope limits.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	Yes, 7-day	No	No	Yes, limited	Yes, limited
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Common Preparation Errors to Avoid

Incomplete vendor documentation leads to delays during evaluation and may result in disqualification or requests for clarification that extend timelines.
Vague scope descriptions cause disputes over deliverables and increase negotiation time for change orders and acceptance criteria.
Mismatched signatures or incorrect dates undermine enforceability and can trigger re-execution or notarization requirements.
Failure to confirm compliance attachments (insurance, licenses, W-9) can invalidate offers or slow award approval during audits.

Consequences of Incorrect or Incomplete DPS Submissions

Late 1099 Filings: Penalties $60–$330 per form

Intentional Disregard: Penalty $660+ per form; no cap

I-9 Paperwork: $281–$2,789 per violation

Missing TIN: 24% backup withholding rate

Incorrect Notarization: Document may be invalidated

Data Breach Risk: Civil penalties and remediation costs

Frequently Asked Questions About the Business Services DPS

Answers to frequent questions about preparing, signing, and managing a Business Services DPS, including eSignature and compliance considerations.

Need help? Contact support

Can a DPS be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are valid under the federal ESIGN Act and state UETA laws for most commercial procurement documents when intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are present. Exceptions such as wills and certain court filings remain ineligible for electronic signatures.
Is notarization required?
Not typically for a DPS, but some jurisdictions or specific attachments (for example, affidavits or powers of attorney) may require notarization or witness signatures. Remote online notarization (RON) is available in many states subject to state rules and identity-proofing requirements.
What about HIPAA-covered data?
If the DPS includes protected health information, workflows must comply with HIPAA; execute a business associate agreement (BAA) with the eSignature provider. signNow supports HIPAA compliance and offers a BAA when required by clients.
Which signNow plan includes bulk send?
The Business Premium plan includes bulk send functionality for distributing identical documents to many recipients. Enterprise and Site License tiers add advanced integrations and API access for programmatic bulk distribution when higher volume or custom workflows are required.
How long should I retain DPS records?
Retention depends on record type: financial records generally three years per IRS guidance; healthcare-related records six years under HIPAA; securities or audit documentation often six to seven years. Maintain signed PDFs, audit trails, and access logs as part of compliance evidence.
What if a vendor refuses electronic signing?
If a vendor declines electronic signing, capture written consent or provide a paper alternative. Expect longer turnaround, potential courier or notarization costs, and manual archival. Document the refusal and the chosen method to preserve enforceability and auditability.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now