Can a contract be e-signed?

Yes. Federal ESIGN (15 U.S.C. §7001) and state UETA laws make electronic signatures legally valid for most contracts when intent, consent, attribution, and retention are documented. Exceptions include wills, certain court filings, and other statutorily excluded documents.

What if a signer lacks authority?

Confirm signatory authority before execution. If a signer lacks corporate or delegated authority, the agreement may be voidable; require a corporate resolution, power of attorney, or officer designation. For public entities follow procurement rules to validate signatures and approvals.

Are notarizations required?

Notarization is not generally required for most contracts, but certain instruments (deeds, affidavits) do require acknowledgments. Some states allow remote online notarization (RON) with identity proofing and recorded audio-video; verify state notary rules prior to relying on electronic acknowledgments.

How long to retain agreements?

Retain signed contracts for the duration of the agreement plus a recommended post-termination period. Federal minimums include IRS records for three years (IRC §6501(a)) and HIPAA records for six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)); industry rules may require longer retention.

Can I require specific sign-in methods?

Yes. You may require signer authentication methods such as email links, SMS one-time codes, knowledge-based authentication, or multi-factor SSO. Match authentication strength to transaction risk; regulated records may require stricter controls (for example 21 CFR Part 11).

What if a field is filled incorrectly?

Minor data errors often require an executed amendment or signed change order to correct material terms; preserve the audit trail. Errors affecting tax reporting (incorrect TIN) can trigger backup withholding at 24% and may require issuing corrected information returns.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Project Management
Project Management Contract Agreement

Project Management Contract Agreement

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

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONTRACT AGREEMENT

Project Identification

Project Title:

Project ID Client Name Client Address Service Provider Service Provider Address Project Manager (Client) Project Manager (Provider)

Effective Date: Agreement Execution Date:

Scope of Work

Statement of Work: The Service Provider shall perform project management services as described below. The services include planning, scheduling, resource coordination, risk management, status reporting, and coordination of deliverable acceptance as further detailed in this Agreement.

Detailed Scope of Work Out-of-Scope Items

Deliverables and Acceptance

Deliverables shall be accepted only after successful completion of the acceptance criteria set forth for each deliverable and formal written acceptance by the Client or designated approver within the acceptance period.

Deliverable 1 — Description

Acceptance Criteria: Due Date:

Deliverable 2 — Description

Acceptance Criteria: Due Date:

Timeline & Milestones

Project Start Date: Project End Date:

Milestone 1

Target Date:

Milestone 2

Target Date:

Budget & Payment

Total Contract Value (USD):

Payment Schedule — Installment 1

Amount: Due:

Payment Schedule — Installment 2

Amount: Due:

Final Payment

Amount: Due:

Change Order Process: All changes to scope, schedule, or price require a written Change Order signed by authorized representatives of both parties. The Service Provider shall submit a written change proposal; the Client shall respond within days. Payment for approved change orders will be invoiced in accordance with the payment terms above unless otherwise agreed in the Change Order.

Change Order Authority (name/title)

Confidentiality

Each party acknowledges that in performing under this Agreement it may receive Confidential Information of the other party. "Confidential Information" means non-public information disclosed in connection with this Agreement, excluding information that is publicly available, already lawfully known by the recipient, independently developed, or required to be disclosed by law. Each party shall (i) use Confidential Information solely for performance under this Agreement; (ii) protect it with at least the same degree of care it uses to protect its own confidential information; and (iii) not disclose it to third parties except to employees, contractors, or advisors who need access to perform obligations and are bound to protect it. This obligation survives termination for a period of three (3) years.

Client and Service Provider each confirm that they have read and will comply with the Confidentiality obligations set forth above.

Liability, Insurance & Indemnity

The Service Provider shall maintain professional liability insurance and general liability insurance in commercially reasonable amounts and provide certificates of insurance upon request. Each party agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the other party from third-party claims arising from the indemnifying party's gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of this Agreement. Except for liability arising from gross negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of confidentiality, neither party's aggregate liability shall exceed the amount paid under this Agreement.

Insurance Requirements / Limits

Termination

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach by the other party upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice describing the breach and the breach remaining uncured at the expiration of the notice period. Either party may terminate for convenience with sixty (60) days' prior written notice. In the event of termination, the Service Provider shall be entitled to payment for all services performed and reimbursable expenses incurred through the effective date of termination, subject to any setoffs for breach.

Termination Notice Period (days):

Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the jurisdiction indicated below without regard to conflict of laws principles. The parties will attempt in good faith to resolve disputes through negotiation between senior representatives. If unresolved, disputes shall be resolved by binding arbitration in the agreed jurisdiction, with costs allocated as set forth in the arbitration agreement.

Governing Law (State/Jurisdiction)

Representations & Warranties

Each party represents and warrants that it has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement and that performance of its obligations will not violate any agreement or law. The Service Provider further represents that services will be performed in a professional and workmanlike manner consistent with generally accepted industry practices.

Acceptance of Terms

By signing below, the authorized representatives of the Client and Service Provider acknowledge that they have read, understand, and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Project Management Contract Agreement.

Client Name:

By:

Date:

Service Provider Name:

By:

Date:

What a Project Management Contract Agreement Covers

A Project Management Contract Agreement is a written contract that sets the scope, responsibilities, deliverables, schedule, budget, and payment terms between a project owner and a project manager or managing firm. It defines roles, acceptance criteria, change-order procedures, milestones, termination rights, and dispute-resolution methods. The agreement allocates risk, specifies insurance and indemnity obligations, and records any subcontracting rules. For U.S. engagements the contract commonly references governing law, payment schedules, and confidentiality terms; parties may also incorporate regulatory or industry-specific clauses such as HIPAA safeguards or construction lien waivers where relevant.

Why a Clear Contract Matters for Project Delivery

Use a Project Management Contract Agreement to reduce scope disputes, clarify responsibilities, and set enforceable payment and delivery terms. A clear contract lowers legal risk, enables consistent change-order handling, and creates measurable milestones that support timely delivery and accountability.

Who Commonly Prepares and Signs This Agreement

Project owners, PMOs, contractors, and independent project managers use this agreement to document responsibilities, timelines, and delivery expectations across commercial projects.

Project owners: define deliverables, acceptance criteria, and payment milestones for contractor-managed initiatives.
Contractors and subcontractors: record scope, timelines, change-order processes, and liability allocations.
Internal PMOs: standardize templates, track performance, and reduce disputes through consistent contract terms.

Use the agreement as a reference for audits and to support claims in the event of disputes or inspections.

Essential Sections to Include

A professional Project Management Contract Agreement should include clear scope, timelines, payment, change control, liability, and termination provisions to minimize risk and enforce performance.

Scope of Work

Describe deliverables, responsibilities, excluded tasks, acceptance criteria, milestones, and deliverable formats. Use measurable criteria to prevent scope creep and facilitate objective acceptance testing. Include change-order triggers.

Schedule & Milestones

Enumerate milestone dates, critical path dependencies, reporting cadence, and remedies for missed deadlines. Tie payment milestones to verifiable milestone acceptance to align incentives and change-control response times.

Payment Terms

Specify fees, billing schedule, invoicing requirements, late fees, retainage, and acceptable payment methods. State currency and tax responsibilities to avoid disputes and attach sample invoice format.

Change Control

Define how scope or schedule changes are submitted, reviewed, priced, and authorized. Include approval authorities, documentation standards, and timelines for cost and schedule adjustments and emergency procedures.

Liability & Insurance

Allocate risk through indemnities, liability caps, and insurance minimums. Specify required coverages, policy limits, certificates, and procedures for claims handling and subrogation, and cyber liability where relevant.

Termination & Dispute

State termination for convenience and cause, notice periods, cure opportunities, and liquidated damages if applicable. Provide dispute resolution steps, including mediation, arbitration, or court venue.

Step-by-Step: From Draft to Signed Agreement

Follow these steps to complete, review, sign, and enforce a Project Management Contract Agreement for a U.S. engagement.

01

Prepare Document: Draft core terms, scope, and schedule.
02

Review & Negotiate: Circulate to legal and PM.
03

Execute Signatures: Obtain dated signatures from authorized parties.
04

Store & Monitor: Archive signed copy and track milestones.

Typical eSigning Workflow

Typical workflow for eSigning and distributing a Project Management Contract Agreement across multiple stakeholders efficiently.

Upload Document: Prepare final PDF or DOCX.
Add Fields: Place signature, date, and initial fields.
Set Signers: Assign signing order and authentication.
Send & Track: Distribute invites and monitor completion.

Recommended Digital Workflow Settings

Suggested digital workflow settings for completing and routing a Project Management Contract Agreement with minimal friction.

Platform Workflow Field Setting Name	Suggested configuration for automation and routing
Signer Authentication Level (SMS or Email)	Use email link for low-risk; SMS code or KBA for higher assurance.
Signing Order and Role Assignment	Establish sequential or parallel signing and name each role clearly.
Required Fields and Validation Rules	Enable field validation for dates, currency, and required attachments to prevent errors.
Notification and Reminder Email Cadence	Configure reminders, escalation contacts, and completion notifications to close the loop.

Platform Capabilities to Consider

Platform capabilities to consider when eSigning and storing Project Management Contract Agreements for enterprise and SMB workflows.

File Formats: PDF and DOCX preferred for compatibility.
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace supported.
Authentication: Email, SMS, SSO, or advanced methods.

eSignature Pricing and Feature Comparison

Compare common eSignature plan criteria relevant to executing Project Management Contract Agreements and managing document volume across vendors.

	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 free trial	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 envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Security and Compliance Highlights

Encryption: Transport TLS 1.2/1.3; AES-256 at rest.

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

HIPAA: Business Associate Agreement available; HIPAA compliant.

eSignature Laws: Compliant with ESIGN Act and UETA.

FDA / 21 CFR: 21 CFR Part 11 support for regulated workflows.

Audit Trails: Comprehensive timestamps, IP addresses, and action logs.

Key Risks and Potential Consequences

Unenforceable Terms: Missing signatures or ambiguous scope.

Payment Disputes: Vague payment terms trigger late claims.

Tax Withholding Risk: Incorrect TINs trigger backup withholding.

Notarization Failures: Improper notary or missing journal.

HIPAA Exposure: Insufficient BAA or access controls.

Change-Order Liability: Unapproved changes cause cost overruns.

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

Answers to frequent questions about completing, signing, and storing Project Management Contract Agreements in U.S. workflows.

Need help? Contact support

Can a contract be e-signed?
Yes. Federal ESIGN (15 U.S.C. §7001) and state UETA laws make electronic signatures legally valid for most contracts when intent, consent, attribution, and retention are documented. Exceptions include wills, certain court filings, and other statutorily excluded documents.
What if a signer lacks authority?
Confirm signatory authority before execution. If a signer lacks corporate or delegated authority, the agreement may be voidable; require a corporate resolution, power of attorney, or officer designation. For public entities follow procurement rules to validate signatures and approvals.
Are notarizations required?
Notarization is not generally required for most contracts, but certain instruments (deeds, affidavits) do require acknowledgments. Some states allow remote online notarization (RON) with identity proofing and recorded audio-video; verify state notary rules prior to relying on electronic acknowledgments.
How long to retain agreements?
Retain signed contracts for the duration of the agreement plus a recommended post-termination period. Federal minimums include IRS records for three years (IRC §6501(a)) and HIPAA records for six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)); industry rules may require longer retention.
Can I require specific sign-in methods?
Yes. You may require signer authentication methods such as email links, SMS one-time codes, knowledge-based authentication, or multi-factor SSO. Match authentication strength to transaction risk; regulated records may require stricter controls (for example 21 CFR Part 11).
What if a field is filled incorrectly?
Minor data errors often require an executed amendment or signed change order to correct material terms; preserve the audit trail. Errors affecting tax reporting (incorrect TIN) can trigger backup withholding at 24% and may require issuing corrected information returns.

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