Can this contract be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states, provided the parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and record retention capability.

When is notarization required?

Notarization is required when state law or recording practice demands it (for example, deeds); witness or notary needs vary by state, and remote online notarization follows state rules and identity proofing standards.

How long must I keep the executed contract?

Retain the agreement for the active term plus post‑termination periods; follow federal baselines like IRC §6501(a) for tax documents and 45 CFR §164.530(j) for HIPAA items where applicable.

What if a party needs to change terms after signing?

Amendments require mutual written agreement signed by authorized parties. Track amendments as separate signed exhibits to preserve the original audit trail and avoid ambiguity.

Who is authorized to sign for a company?

An authorized signer is an individual with delegated authority per corporate resolution, bylaws, or board authorization; include signer title and authority basis in the signature block.

Can I use a cloud eSignature platform securely?

Yes, provided the provider supports strong encryption, audit trails, and relevant compliance (for example TLS 1.2/1.3, AES‑256 at rest, SOC 2 Type II, and a HIPAA BAA where required). Confirm the vendor’s compliance certifications and configuration options.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Project Management
Project Management A&E Contract

Project Management A&E Contract

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

PROJECT MANAGEMENT A&E CONTRACT

Project Identification

Project Title:

Project ID:

Client Client Address Service Provider (A&E Firm) Provider Address Project Manager (Provider)

Contact (Phone): Email:

Recitals

This Project Management Agreement for Architectural and Engineering services (the "Agreement") is entered into by and between the Client and the Service Provider identified above. The parties agree as follows:

Scope of Work

Primary Scope Out of Scope

Deliverables & Acceptance Criteria

Deliverable 1 — Description:

Acceptance Criteria:

Deliverable 2 — Description:

Acceptance Criteria:

Project Timeline & Milestones

Contract Start Date: Contract End Date:

Milestones

Milestone 1:

Target Date:

Milestone 2:

Target Date:

Budget & Payment

Total Contract Sum Payment Schedule Invoice Submission Change Order Process

Insurance, Indemnity & Liability

Insurance: The Service Provider shall maintain insurance coverage customary for A&E firms engaged in projects of similar size, including professional liability, commercial general liability, and workers' compensation. Evidence of insurance shall be furnished upon request and prior to commencement of services.

Indemnity: The Service Provider agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Client harmless from third-party claims arising out of the negligent performance of professional services, subject to limitations set forth under applicable law and the terms of this Agreement.

Limitation of Liability: Except as caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct, the liability of either party for direct damages arising from this Agreement shall be limited to the total compensation paid under this Agreement.

Confidentiality

Each party shall treat as confidential all non-public information disclosed by the other party in connection with the performance of this Agreement. Confidential information shall not be used for any purpose other than performance and shall not be disclosed except as required by law or with prior written consent.

Intellectual Property

Ownership: Unless otherwise agreed in writing, documents and deliverables prepared by the Service Provider pursuant to this Agreement are instruments of service and the Client is granted a non-exclusive license to use such documents for the Project. Reuse for other projects or modifications by third parties requires the Service Provider's prior written consent.

Termination

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon written notice to the other party. Termination for convenience requires a notice period of days. Upon termination, the Client shall pay for services performed to the date of termination and reimbursable expenses incurred.

Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state specified below. Disputes shall first be addressed through good-faith negotiation and, if unresolved, through mediation. If mediation fails, the parties may pursue binding arbitration or litigation as specified:

Governing Law State:

Representations & Warranties

Each party represents that it has authority to enter into this Agreement and that performance will not violate other agreements. The Service Provider warrants that services will be performed in a professional manner consistent with industry standards.

Administrative Provisions

Notices Entire Agreement

This Agreement, including referenced exhibits and accepted change orders, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes prior negotiations and understandings.

Client:

By:

Date:

Service Provider:

By:

Date:

What the Project Management A&E Contract Covers

A Project Management A&E Contract is a written agreement between a project owner and an architecture and engineering (A&E) firm that defines project management services, scope of work, deliverables, schedule, compensation, risk allocation, insurance, change management, and closeout obligations. It sets who manages design coordination, construction administration, schedule monitoring, quality control, and approvals. The contract commonly addresses fee structure, reimbursable expenses, subcontractor engagement, intellectual property ownership for design documents, dispute resolution, and termination rights to reduce ambiguity across the project lifecycle.

Why a Clear A&E Project Management Contract Matters

A well‑drafted Project Management A&E Contract clarifies roles, limits scope creep, allocates professional liability, and ties payments to milestones so disputes are less likely and project milestones are enforceable under agreed terms.

Primary Users and Signers

Typical participants include the project owner, the A&E firm, and construction stakeholders who rely on the contract for responsibilities and schedule control.

Project owner or client managing budget, approvals, and final acceptance of deliverables.
Architecture & engineering firm providing design, coordination, and construction administration services.
General contractor or construction manager who coordinates field execution and responds to design clarifications.

Each party should confirm authorized signers, insurance certificates, and delegated authorities before execution to prevent later challenges.

Core Sections to Include in the Contract

A comprehensive Project Management A&E Contract organizes obligations, risk, and payment into discrete sections so each party understands responsibilities and acceptance criteria.

Scope of Work

Define specific project management tasks, design phases, deliverables, and excluded services to limit ambiguity during execution and change order review.

Schedule & Milestones

List milestone dates, critical path responsibilities, and procedures for extension requests, delay notices, and acceleration to manage time-related risks.

Compensation

Specify fee type (lump sum, hourly, percentage), invoicing cadence, reimbursables, retainage, and payment terms tied to approved milestones.

Insurance & Bonds

Detail required professional liability, commercial general liability, worker’s compensation, and any performance or payment bond obligations and certificate requirements.

Changes & Revisions

Establish change order procedures, approval authority, cost adjustment method, and time impact analysis for modifications to scope or schedule.

Termination & Remedies

Describe grounds for termination, cure periods, final accounting, responsibilities for incomplete work, and dispute resolution processes.

Required Information and Core Fields

Parties: Full legal names

Scope identifier: Concise scope title

Effective date: MM/DD/YYYY

Compensation: Fee structure

Insurance: Policy limits

Signatures: Authorized signers

How to Complete the Contract Step by Step

Follow a consistent sequence to prepare, review, sign, and distribute the Project Management A&E Contract to reduce omissions and approval delays.

01

Draft: Populate parties, scope, dates, and fees accurately.
02

Review: Circulate to legal, insurance, and project leads for redlines.
03

Authorize: Confirm signer authority and insurance certificates before signing.
04

Execute: Sign, date, and distribute executed copies to all parties.

Configuring an Online Execution Workflow

Set up a digital signing workflow that enforces signing order, required fields, and authentication for each signer to maintain a compliant audit trail.

Field	Configuration
Signer order	Owner → A&E → Contractor
Required fields	Signature, date, initials on each page
Authentication	Email plus SMS code or KBA
Notifications	Automatic reminders and completion receipt

Where to Send and File the Executed Contract

Designate distribution points and central storage to ensure all stakeholders and compliance teams have access to the executed agreement.

Owner records: Owner’s contract administration folder
A&E archive: Design firm project file
Construction team: General contractor records
Compliance copy: Risk/insurance department archive

Digital Signing and Platform Needs

Choose a platform that supports secure eSigning, audit trails, role-based signer flows, and the file formats you use for construction drawings and contracts.

File formats: PDF and DOCX supported
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365
Security: TLS in transit; AES‑256 at rest

Ensure the chosen platform provides tamper-evident signed PDFs, a complete audit trail, and the authentication strength required by the project owner or regulators.

Common Contract Timelines and Payment Deadlines

Include explicit dates and measurement rules to align expectations; ambiguity often causes disputes over progress payments and milestone acceptance.

Effective date:

Date obligations and warranty periods begin

Notice to proceed:

Issue within stated days after execution

Deliverable milestones:

Specify dates for schematic, design, and construction phases

Payment terms:

Net 30, net 45, or milestone-triggered payments

Warranty period:

Define duration and start event

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Leaving scope undefined or relying on general references instead of a clear exhibit leads to disputes and costly change orders.
Failing to confirm signer authority or corporate resolutions can render the agreement unenforceable or invite repudiation claims.
Omitting insurance minimums, certificate holders, or required endorsements increases exposure and can delay mobilization.
Not indexing or attaching drawings, budgets, and schedules as enforceable exhibits causes conflicts over what was agreed.

Risks and Consequences of Errors

Payment disputes: Withheld payments or liens

Schedule claims: Delay damages and acceleration costs

Bond forfeiture: Loss of performance bond funds

Insurance gaps: Denied coverage for claims

Regulatory fines: Noncompliance penalties

Litigation: Court costs and legal exposure

eSignature Vendor Pricing and Feature Snapshot

Comparing basic price and core capabilities can help select an eSignature provider for contract execution workflows; signNow appears first in the comparison per product data.

	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 free trial	Trial available	Trial available	Trial available	Trial available
Bulk Send	Yes (Business Premium)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common execution, enforceability, and storage questions for Project Management A&E Contracts and electronic signing.

Need help? Contact support

Can this contract be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states, provided the parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and record retention capability.
When is notarization required?
Notarization is required when state law or recording practice demands it (for example, deeds); witness or notary needs vary by state, and remote online notarization follows state rules and identity proofing standards.
How long must I keep the executed contract?
Retain the agreement for the active term plus post‑termination periods; follow federal baselines like IRC §6501(a) for tax documents and 45 CFR §164.530(j) for HIPAA items where applicable.
What if a party needs to change terms after signing?
Amendments require mutual written agreement signed by authorized parties. Track amendments as separate signed exhibits to preserve the original audit trail and avoid ambiguity.
Who is authorized to sign for a company?
An authorized signer is an individual with delegated authority per corporate resolution, bylaws, or board authorization; include signer title and authority basis in the signature block.
Can I use a cloud eSignature platform securely?
Yes, provided the provider supports strong encryption, audit trails, and relevant compliance (for example TLS 1.2/1.3, AES‑256 at rest, SOC 2 Type II, and a HIPAA BAA where required). Confirm the vendor’s compliance certifications and configuration options.

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