Can this document be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states when intent, consent, attribution, and retention are demonstrable.

When is notarization required?

Notarization is not typically required for a framing document, but is needed if the document will be recorded or converted into a legal instrument that state law requires to be notarized.

What authentication strength is recommended?

Use email plus code (SMS) or stronger signer authentication when approvals affect budgets or legal obligations; record timestamps and signer identity in the audit trail.

How do I correct a signed framing document?

Create a dated amendment or replacement version; obtain approvals and fresh signatures rather than altering a signed record to preserve auditability.

Are witness signatures required?

Witness requirements vary by state and document type. Most framing documents do not need witnesses, but check state rules if the document functions as a legal instrument.

What must be retained for audits?

Keep the signed document, contemporaneous approvals, version history, and the signing audit trail; retention periods depend on industry rules (IRS, HIPAA) and organizational policy.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Project Framing Document

Project Framing Document

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

PROJECT FRAMING DOCUMENT

This Project Framing Document ("Document") is made effective as of between Client Name: and Provider Name: .

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Client requires the planning, coordination and execution of the project identified herein (the "Project") to achieve the objectives set forth below; and

WHEREAS, Provider represents that it has the personnel, expertise and resources necessary to provide the services described in this Document and will perform such services in accordance with professional standards; and

WHEREAS, the parties wish to set out the scope, deliverables, governance, payment and other material terms that will guide the Project prior to entering into any further definitive agreements.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Project Title Primary Objective

SCOPE OF WORK

The Provider shall perform the following activities, deliverables and related tasks. All work will be performed in a manner consistent with industry standards and the schedule agreed in this Document.

Detailed Scope of Work Key Deliverables (list each deliverable and expected acceptance criteria)

RESPONSIBILITIES & ASSUMPTIONS

The parties acknowledge the following responsibilities and assumptions that form the basis of the Project. Changes to these assumptions may require adjustment through the Change Control process set forth below.

Client Responsibilities Provider Responsibilities

PAYMENT TERMS

The parties agree the pricing, invoicing and payment schedule for services rendered under this Document as follows.

Total Estimated Fee Payment Schedule Payment Method Late Payment Fee

Late payments shall accrue interest at percent per month on the outstanding balance, and the Provider may suspend work after ten (10) days' written notice for overdue amounts.

TERM AND TERMINATION

The term of this Document commences on and continues until , unless earlier terminated in accordance with this section.

Notice Period for Termination without Cause

Termination for cause may be effected by either party upon written notice if the other party materially breaches its obligations and fails to cure within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice specifying the breach.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Each party shall maintain in confidence all non-public information disclosed by the other party and shall not use such information except to perform under this Document. Confidential information does not include information that is (i) publicly known through no fault of the recipient, (ii) rightfully received from a third party without restriction, or (iii) independently developed without use of the discloser's confidential information. The confidentiality obligations shall survive termination for a period of three (3) years.

CHANGE CONTROL

Any change to scope, schedule or fees shall be documented in a written change order signed by authorized representatives of both parties. Provider shall not be obligated to perform changes in the absence of an executed change order.

Change Request Process

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

Acceptance of deliverables will be based on the criteria set forth below and any mutually agreed acceptance test plan. If Client does not provide written notice of rejection within ten (10) business days after delivery, the deliverable shall be deemed accepted.

LIABILITY, INDEMNITY & INSURANCE

Each party's liability to the other for direct damages arising from performance under this Document shall be limited to the aggregate fees paid to Provider under this Document, except for liability arising from willful misconduct or gross negligence. Provider shall maintain professional liability insurance in customary amounts while performing services.

GOVERNING LAW

This Document shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to its conflicts of laws principles.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Document constitutes the entire understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter and supersedes all prior discussions, proposals and agreements. No modification shall be effective unless executed in writing by authorized representatives of both parties.

NOTICES

All notices required or permitted under this Document shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses below via the parties' designated contacts.

Client Contact & Address Provider Contact & Address

Client Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Provider Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What the Project Framing Document Is and when teams use it

A Project Framing Document is a concise, structured record that establishes a project's purpose, scope, primary stakeholders, and initial success criteria. It sits upstream of a full project plan or charter and is used to gather approvals, align expectations, and authorize initial resource allocation. The document typically captures background, measurable objectives, key constraints, major milestones, initial budget estimates, and primary risks so decision-makers can approve a project for planning or funding. It is not a contract but can be used as a reference in later agreements.

Why a clear framing document matters for project outcomes

A well-written Project Framing Document reduces ambiguity, supports faster decision-making, and creates a single source of truth for scope and objectives. It clarifies what will be delivered, who is accountable, and what success looks like, which reduces rework and minimizes scope creep during early phases.

Typical users and stakeholders who prepare or review it

Teams use a Project Framing Document at project initiation to align leadership and stakeholders and to request approval for planning activities.

Project Manager or Delivery Lead — drafts the document, defines scope and milestones, and coordinates stakeholder input.
Project Sponsor or Business Owner — provides strategic intent, approves objectives and initial budget estimates.
PMO or Portfolio Manager — evaluates fit against other initiatives and prioritizes resource allocation.

Multiple reviewers (finance, legal, IT) may provide input before final sign-off; keep the document concise to speed reviews.

Core components every professional Project Framing Document should include

Organize the document into standard sections so reviewers can quickly validate goals, constraints, and resources and compare projects consistently across the portfolio.

Project Purpose

Explain the business need, strategic alignment, and high-level motivation so approvers can assess value and priority.

Scope Summary

Define included and excluded work, high-level deliverables, and boundaries to prevent scope ambiguity during planning.

Objectives

List measurable goals with target metrics, acceptance criteria, and how success will be evaluated by stakeholders.

Stakeholders

Identify project sponsor, delivery lead, key approvers, and dependencies with their roles and decision rights.

Initial Budget

Provide a top-level estimate, funding source, and major cost categories to enable gating and budgetary approval.

Risks & Constraints

Highlight known risks, assumptions, technical constraints, and regulatory considerations that could affect feasibility.

Required fields to include for a legally robust record

Project Title: Formal project name for records

Sponsor: Named business owner or approver

Effective Date: Start date in MM/DD/YYYY

Scope Summary: One-paragraph scope statement

Budget Estimate: Top-level USD amount

Signature Block: Designated approver signature/date

Step-by-step: complete a Project Framing Document

Follow these sequential steps to draft, review, and obtain approval for a Project Framing Document. Keep entries factual and concise to accelerate stakeholder review.

01

Draft: Populate purpose, scope, objectives, and initial estimates.
02

Validate: Share with sponsor and key stakeholders for factual checks.
03

Revise: Incorporate feedback and clarify acceptance criteria.
04

Approve: Obtain approver signature and record effective date.

Customize the online workflow for approvals

Set up a simple routing workflow that reflects approval order and required authentication so signers receive prompts in the correct sequence.

Field	Configuration
Template	Create a reusable Project Framing template
Conditional Fields	Show budget or vendor fields only when relevant
Authentication	Choose email, SMS code, or stronger methods
Routing Order	Define sequential or parallel approval steps

Delivery channels and technical integrations to consider

Decide how the document will be shared and which systems must be notified after approval to keep records synchronized.

Email Delivery: Secure sender email with audit trail
Cloud Storage: Save final document to a shared repository
Integrations: Connect to tools such as Salesforce or NetSuite

Verify the integration supports required file formats (PDF, DOCX) and that the chosen e-signature provider can produce an audit trail for regulatory and audit purposes.

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing the document

Vague objectives — lacking measurable acceptance criteria leads to differing expectations and rework requests.
Overbroad scope — failing to state exclusions opens the project to scope creep during planning and execution.
Missing approver authority — signatures from non-authorized parties can delay funding or invalidate decisions.
Incorrect dates or currency — inconsistent or missing effective dates and budget currency create administrative confusion.

Risks and potential consequences of an incomplete document

Contract Ambiguity: Legal disputes

Budget Overrun: Uncontrolled costs

Schedule Delay: Late milestone delivery

Regulatory Gap: Noncompliance risk

Accountability Loss: Unclear responsibilities

Procurement Delay: Vendor onboarding hold

Where to send and how the approved document is used

After approval, route the Project Framing Document to internal systems and stakeholders who need it for planning, procurement, and governance.

Record: Archive the signed document in the project repository.
Notify: Alert PMO, finance, and procurement teams with finalized details.
Trigger: Start detailed planning and resource allocation.
Reference: Use as baseline for charter and contracting documents.

How to update or revise the Project Framing Document

Use a controlled amendment process so changes are recorded and re-approved when they affect scope, budget, or timeline.

01

Identify:

Log reason for change and impacted sections.

02

Draft:

Prepare an amendment section with tracked changes.

03

Review:

Circulate to sponsor and stakeholders for comment.

04

Approve:

Obtain signatures from original approvers or delegated authorities.

05

Publish:

Replace archived version with new effective date.

06

Notify:

Inform teams and update dependent systems.

Example scenarios showing how organizations use a Project Framing Document

Practical examples illustrate different ways the document speeds alignment, enables approvals, and guides early planning decisions.

Martin Properties

A small property manager used a brief framing document to get board approval for a tenant retention program.

The document contained objectives and budget estimates.
After approval the team avoided a month of planning delays by starting vendor selection immediately and tracking milestones against the framed objectives.

Optica Ventures LLC

An investment-focused firm prepared a framing document before committing capital to a pilot product.

It specified success metrics and governance.
The clarity of the initial document allowed faster go/no-go decisions and ensured consistent reporting across the pilot and subsequent scale phases.

eSignature vendor comparison for signing and routing Project Framing Documents

Compare basic per-user pricing and common feature availability to choose a platform that fits approval volume and compliance needs.

	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	7-day trial	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently asked questions about using and signing the Project Framing Document

Answers to common questions about electronic signing, legal validity, notarization, and document control for Project Framing Documents.

Need help? Contact support

Can this document be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states when intent, consent, attribution, and retention are demonstrable.
When is notarization required?
Notarization is not typically required for a framing document, but is needed if the document will be recorded or converted into a legal instrument that state law requires to be notarized.
What authentication strength is recommended?
Use email plus code (SMS) or stronger signer authentication when approvals affect budgets or legal obligations; record timestamps and signer identity in the audit trail.
How do I correct a signed framing document?
Create a dated amendment or replacement version; obtain approvals and fresh signatures rather than altering a signed record to preserve auditability.
Are witness signatures required?
Witness requirements vary by state and document type. Most framing documents do not need witnesses, but check state rules if the document functions as a legal instrument.
What must be retained for audits?
Keep the signed document, contemporaneous approvals, version history, and the signing audit trail; retention periods depend on industry rules (IRS, HIPAA) and organizational policy.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now