Is an electronic signature binding?

Yes. Electronic signatures are broadly enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA laws (where adopted). Ensure intent, consent, attribution, and reliable record retention to meet the four-part legal test for e-signature validity.

Do I need a notary or witnesses?

Most project management deliverable agreements do not require notarization or witnesses. Certain state-specific instruments (e.g., deeds, some powers of attorney) need witnesses or notarization; check state law and include notarization if a counterparty requests it.

Can I use remote online notarization?

Remote Online Notarization (RON) is permitted in most states but requirements vary (identity proofing, audio‑video recording, retention). Verify your state's rules before relying on RON for executed agreements.

What if deliverable dates change?

Follow the contract's change-control clause: document the change, obtain written approvals from authorized signatories, and update payment milestones. Inform project stakeholders and preserve the approval trail for auditability.

How should I store executed copies?

Retain executed PDFs with audit trails in encrypted storage, preserve original metadata, and keep them for applicable retention periods (IRS 3 years, HIPAA 6 years) depending on the document's regulatory context.

What causes enforceability problems?

Common issues include unsigned pages, mismatched party names, absent acceptance criteria, and failure to evidence signer authority. Correct these before execution to reduce the risk of later disputes.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Project Management
Project Management Deliverables Agreement

Project Management Deliverables Agreement

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

PROJECT MANAGEMENT DELIVERABLES AGREEMENT

Project Identification

Project Title Project ID

Client Name:

Client Address:

Service Provider Name:

Provider Address:

Project Management Contacts

Project Manager (Provider) Contact Email Contact Phone

Scope of Work

The Service Provider shall perform the services and produce the deliverables described below in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Provider's obligations are limited to the Deliverables and Tasks expressly set forth in this Scope of Work.

Detailed Scope of Work Out of Scope Items Assumptions and Constraints

Deliverables and Acceptance Criteria

The following deliverables shall be produced by the Provider and are subject to the Acceptance Criteria. Acceptance requires written confirmation from the Client within the Acceptance Period or the deliverable will be deemed accepted per the acceptance process below.

Deliverable 1 — Title Deliverable 1 — Description

Due Date: Fee:

Deliverable 1 — Acceptance Criteria Deliverable 2 — Title Deliverable 2 — Description

Due Date: Fee:

Deliverable 2 — Acceptance Criteria Deliverable 3 — Title Deliverable 3 — Description

Due Date: Fee:

Deliverable 3 — Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance Period (days): If no written rejection within Acceptance Period, deliverable shall be deemed accepted:

Timeline and Milestones

Project Start Date: Project End Date:

Milestone 1

Due Date:

Milestone 2

Due Date:

Milestone 3

Due Date:

Budget, Fees, and Payment

Total Project Cost Payment Schedule

Retainer Amount: Invoicing Frequency:

Late Payment Change Order Process

Change Order Fee or Rate:

Confidentiality

Each party acknowledges that confidential information may be disclosed in connection with performance under this Agreement. Confidential information excludes information that is publicly known through no fault of the recipient, already lawfully in the recipient’s possession, or independently developed without use of the discloser’s confidential information. The recipient shall use confidential information solely to perform obligations under this Agreement and shall protect it with at least the same degree of care it uses to protect its own confidential information, but no less than reasonable care.

Confidentiality Term (years): Client acknowledges confidentiality obligations:

Warranties, Liability, and Remedies

Provider warrants that the Services and Deliverables will be performed in a professional manner in accordance with generally accepted industry standards. Except for this express warranty, the Deliverables are provided "as is" and Provider disclaims all other warranties to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Limitation of Liability: Except for liability arising from willful misconduct or gross negligence, each party’s aggregate liability for direct damages arising under this Agreement shall be limited to the total fees paid to Provider under this Agreement. Neither party shall be liable for consequential, incidental, special or punitive damages.

Termination

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach that remains uncured for the applicable notice period. Upon termination, Provider shall deliver all completed work and Client shall pay for all services performed and Deliverables delivered through the effective date of termination.

Notice Period for Cure (days):

Notices

Client Notice Contact Client Notice Address Provider Notice Contact Provider Notice Address

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction specified below, without regard to conflict of laws principles. The parties consent to exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in that jurisdiction for disputes arising under this Agreement.

Governing Law (State or Jurisdiction)

Miscellaneous Provisions

Entire Agreement: This Agreement, including any exhibits or attachments, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements. Amendments must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Assignment: Neither party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party, except that Provider may assign to an affiliate or in connection with a merger or sale of substantially all assets.

Signature

Client:

By:

Date:

Service Provider:

By:

Date:

What the Project Management Deliverables Agreement Is

A Project Management Deliverables Agreement is a written contract that defines the specific outputs, acceptance criteria, schedule, responsibilities, and payment terms for project management services. It allocates risk between client and service provider by documenting milestones, deliverable descriptions, testing or approval steps, change-control procedures, and remedies for missed obligations. The agreement typically includes attachments such as a statement of work, schedule of deliverables, resource allocations, and reporting requirements. Electronic execution is permitted under U.S. law when the parties meet e‑signature requirements set out by ESIGN and state UETA statutes.

Why a Clear Deliverables Agreement Matters

A precise deliverables agreement reduces disputes, sets objective acceptance criteria, and links payment milestones to verifiable outputs. It clarifies scope, change processes, and escalation paths so both parties know when obligations are met and payments are due.

Who Typically Prepares and Signs This Agreement

The agreement suits projects where outcomes, schedules, and acceptance tests must be explicit between a client and a managing party.

Client / Owner — Purchaser or project sponsor responsible for defining desired outcomes and approving deliverables within agreed windows.
Project Manager — Individual or firm retained to deliver, coordinate vendors, and certify completion against acceptance criteria.
Contractor / Consultant — Subcontracted parties who supply deliverables, documentation, status reports, and corrections per the agreement.

Use it when deliverables are discrete, payments are milestone-based, or external review and audit trails are required.

Core Sections Every Professional Deliverables Agreement Should Include

A well-drafted agreement contains discrete sections that map obligations, timing, measurement, payment, change rules, and governance so performance can be objectively assessed.

Scope of Work

Describe each deliverable precisely, including format, acceptance criteria, and any dependent outputs or inputs required from the client.

Deliverable Schedule

List milestone dates, submission windows, and any interim review checkpoints; tie dates to business days and time zones where relevant.

Acceptance Criteria

Define how deliverables will be tested, who will approve them, acceptable defect thresholds, and the time allowed for rejection and remediation.

Change Control

Specify how scope, schedule, or price changes are requested, evaluated, approved, and documented, including turnaround times and approval authorities.

Payment Terms

Link compensation to specific, verifiable milestone acceptance events, include invoicing cadence, late-payment remedies, and withholding rights.

Reporting & Metrics

Identify required status reports, KPIs, delivery formats, escalation contacts, and frequency for steering committee or sponsor updates.

Step-by-Step: Completing the Agreement

Follow these sequential steps to produce a usable, enforceable agreement and expedite approval.

01

Draft: Populate scope, milestones, and payment fields.
02

Internal Review: Legal and finance review for risk and payment terms.
03

Client Review: Share draft and collect acceptance comments.
04

Execute: Sign electronically and distribute executed copies.

Configuring an Online Completion Workflow

Below are typical workflow settings to enable secure routing, authentication, and record retention for electronic execution.

Field	Configuration
Signer Order	Sequential or parallel signing based on role
Authentication	Email with optional SMS code or multi-factor
Notifications	Email reminders and completion notices
Storage	Encrypted cloud storage with audit trail

Delivery Channels and Platform Considerations

Choose a platform that supports secure e‑signatures, audit trails, and integration with your document repository and PM tools.

Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365
Formats Supported: PDF, DOCX, HTML, Excel
Security Basics: AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.2/1.3

Where to Send or File the Executed Agreement

Distribute executed copies to the internal stakeholders and maintain a single authoritative record in a secure repository.

Project Office: PMO retains the official executed copy for project records
Client Sign-off: Client legal and finance receive countersigned versions
Document Repository: Store in encrypted cloud folder with versioning
Accounting: Send invoices and accepted milestone evidence to accounting

Common Timing Elements and Response Windows

Track key dates in the agreement and calendar them with clear response expectations to avoid disputes and payment delays.

Milestone Due Date:

Date when deliverable must be submitted for review

Acceptance Window:

Client has X business days to accept or provide rejection reasons

Payment Due:

Number of days after acceptance when payment is payable

Change Request Response:

Timeframe for evaluating and pricing scope changes

Record Retention:

How long executed agreements are retained by each party

Key Milestones and Processing Stages

A concise milestone sequence clarifies signoffs, remediation loops, and the final handover schedule for deliverables.

01

Drafting

Prepare the statement of work and milestone list.

02

Internal Approval

Legal, finance, and PMO approve contract terms.

03

Execution

Parties sign and retain executed PDF with audit trail.

04

Handover

Deliverable accepted, invoice issued, knowledge transfer completed.

Penalties and Risks of an Incorrect Agreement

Payment Delay: Withheld or disputed payments

Scope Creep: Uncompensated work from vague scope

Contract Breach: Exposure to damages or termination

Audit Risk: Incomplete records during financial or compliance audits

Lien Exposure: Construction contexts may permit mechanic liens

Enforceability Issue: Missing signatures or improper authorization

Common Preparation Errors to Avoid

Vague deliverable descriptions that leave acceptance subjective and invite disputes over completion standards.
Using imprecise dates or unspecified time zones, which creates disagreement about deadline compliance and day counts.
Omitting acceptance criteria, causing unclear remediation obligations and repeated review cycles for the same deliverable.
Failing to tie payment to acceptance, which leads to cash‑flow disputes and strained client–vendor relationships.

eSignature Vendor Pricing Comparison for Deliverables Agreements

Comparing basic pricing and key capabilities helps select an eSignature provider that meets security, compliance, and volume needs without assuming envelope caps or feature limitations.

	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, no credit card	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Yes (Business Premium)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes (BAA required)	Yes	Yes	No	No

Real-World Examples of How Teams Use Deliverables Agreements

Below are two representative use cases that show practical applications and outcomes when the agreement is used correctly.

Construction Project Closeout

A general contractor used a deliverables agreement to define punch list completion times and testing criteria.

The owner withheld final payment until certified inspections passed.
The explicit acceptance criteria removed ambiguity, enabling on‑time closeout and avoiding a payment dispute that might otherwise have required mediation.

Software Implementation

A consulting firm tied milestone payments to measurable configuration and UAT outcomes.

Client sign-off occurred after 3 successful test cycles.
Defining acceptance tests upfront reduced rework, shortened the go‑live window, and clarified warranty obligations for post‑implementation fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

Answers to common legal, execution, and storage questions to help avoid delays and ensure enforceability.

Need help? Contact support

Is an electronic signature binding?
Yes. Electronic signatures are broadly enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA laws (where adopted). Ensure intent, consent, attribution, and reliable record retention to meet the four-part legal test for e-signature validity.
Do I need a notary or witnesses?
Most project management deliverable agreements do not require notarization or witnesses. Certain state-specific instruments (e.g., deeds, some powers of attorney) need witnesses or notarization; check state law and include notarization if a counterparty requests it.
Can I use remote online notarization?
Remote Online Notarization (RON) is permitted in most states but requirements vary (identity proofing, audio‑video recording, retention). Verify your state's rules before relying on RON for executed agreements.
What if deliverable dates change?
Follow the contract's change-control clause: document the change, obtain written approvals from authorized signatories, and update payment milestones. Inform project stakeholders and preserve the approval trail for auditability.
How should I store executed copies?
Retain executed PDFs with audit trails in encrypted storage, preserve original metadata, and keep them for applicable retention periods (IRS 3 years, HIPAA 6 years) depending on the document's regulatory context.
What causes enforceability problems?
Common issues include unsigned pages, mismatched party names, absent acceptance criteria, and failure to evidence signer authority. Correct these before execution to reduce the risk of later disputes.

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