Can this be signed electronically?

Yes. The ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA laws permit electronic signatures for most transactions when intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are present. Exceptions include wills, court orders, and certain real property filings that require wet signatures.

Which fields must be completed?

Complete legal names, effective date (MM/DD/YYYY), clear scope, deliverables with acceptance criteria, authorized signature blocks, and budget figures. Inaccurate or missing items can delay procurement, cause tax reporting issues, or invalidate acceptance.

How should signers be authenticated?

Choose authentication proportional to risk: email link for low-risk, SMS or access code for moderate risk, knowledge-based or SSO for higher assurance. For regulated records, consider two-factor or advanced signer authentication to meet 21 CFR Part 11 or HIPAA controls.

Are witnesses or notarization required?

Notarization and witness requirements vary by document and state. Many jurisdictions require notary acknowledgement for deeds and other property instruments; some require witnesses for wills or powers of attorney. Check state law or use RON where permitted.

How to store and retain signed Primers?

Retain the signed Primer per federal and industry rules: IRS records three years (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and company policy often requires seven years. Preserve tamper-evident files and maintain audit logs for legal admissibility.

What about disputes or change control?

Include a change control section describing how scope changes are proposed, approved, priced, and scheduled. Require documented approvals, revised deliverables, and updated acceptance criteria to prevent oral modifications and reduce contract dispute risk.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Project Management
Project Management Design Primer

Project Management Design Primer

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Project Management Design Primer

Project Identification

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

Primary Contact: Email: Phone:

Scope of Work

The Service Provider shall perform the design services and project management tasks described below. The Scope of Work defines deliverables, acceptance criteria, schedule constraints, assumptions, and dependencies. Any deviation from this Scope shall be governed by the change order process set forth in this document.

Detailed Scope Description Out-of-Scope Items Key Assumptions

Deliverables and Acceptance Criteria

Each deliverable shall be documented, submitted to the Client for review, and deemed accepted only upon written acceptance or failure of the Client to provide documented rejection with specific deficiencies within the acceptance period specified for the deliverable.

Deliverable 1 Title Deliverable 1 Description Deliverable 1 Acceptance Criteria Deliverable 1 Target Completion Date Deliverable 2 Title Deliverable 2 Description Deliverable 2 Acceptance Criteria

Timeline and Milestones

Project schedule and milestone dependencies are set forth below. Time is of the essence for milestones identified as critical.

Planned Start Date Planned End Date Milestone 1 Milestone 2

Budget, Payment & Change Orders

Fees and payment terms are set forth below. All amounts are in the currency specified in the Agreement. Payment is due in accordance with the schedule below and subject to acceptance criteria for deliverables.

Total Contract Value Payment Schedule (itemize) Invoicing Instructions

Change orders: any change to scope, schedule or price must be submitted in writing, include impact on cost and schedule, and be approved by authorized representatives of both parties prior to performance.

Change orders require signed written amendment by both parties Change Order Procedure (describe)

Confidentiality and Intellectual Property

Each party shall keep confidential all non-public information disclosed in connection with this engagement. Confidential Information does not include information that is publicly known through no fault of the receiving party, independently developed without use of Confidential Information, or rightfully received from a third party without restriction. Recipient may disclose Confidential Information to its employees, contractors and advisors on a need-to-know basis provided they are bound by confidentiality obligations at least as protective as those herein. Remedies for breach include injunctive relief and damages; confidentiality obligations survive termination for a period of three years unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Client and Provider acknowledge and accept the confidentiality obligations set forth above

Representations, Warranties and Liability

The Service Provider represents that services will be performed in a professional and workmanlike manner consistent with industry standards. Except as expressly stated, no other express warranties are given. Neither party shall be liable for indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages. The aggregate liability of the Service Provider for direct damages arising out of or relating to this Primer shall not exceed the total fees paid under this Primer for the affected scope, except for liability resulting from gross negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of confidentiality.

Acceptance Testing and Handover

Acceptance Test Plan / Criteria

Termination

Either party may terminate for convenience upon written notice to the other party with the notice period below. Upon termination, the Client shall pay the Service Provider for all work performed and reasonable demobilization costs incurred through the effective date of termination.

Termination Notice Period (days)

Governing Law

This Primer shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction specified below, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Exclusive venue for disputes shall be the courts of that jurisdiction unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

Governing Law (State or Jurisdiction)

Miscellaneous Provisions

Entire Agreement: This Primer, together with any referenced statements of work, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter and supersedes prior negotiations. Amendments must be in writing and executed by authorized representatives. Severability: If any provision is held unenforceable, remaining provisions remain in force. Notices: Notices shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth in this document or otherwise agreed in writing.

Signatures

Client Name:

By:

Date:

Service Provider Name:

By:

Date:

What the Project Management Design Primer Is

The Project Management Design Primer is a structured document used to capture scope, deliverables, roles, timeline, assumptions, risks, and acceptance criteria for a project before detailed planning begins. It standardizes initial design decisions, documents stakeholder responsibilities, and creates a reference for downstream approvals, procurement, and handoffs. The Primer supports consistent estimation, reduces rework by clarifying constraints early, and creates an auditable record of agreed design choices. Organizations use the Primer to align teams, validate budgets, and guide vendor selection while preserving traceability throughout the project lifecycle.

Why a Primer Matters for Project Outcomes

A Project Management Design Primer reduces ambiguity during project initiation by documenting scope, interfaces, and assumptions in one place. It improves stakeholder alignment, speeds approval cycles, and provides a defensible basis for estimates and change control while supporting regulatory and audit requirements.

Who Prepares and Uses the Primer

Project managers, solution architects, product owners, business analysts, and procurement leads typically prepare or review the Primer during initiation and feasibility studies.

Project managers draft scope, timeline, and primary risks for stakeholder review.
Solution Architects document interfaces, technical constraints, and integration requirements for early design validation.
Procurement/Product Owners capture deliverables, acceptance criteria, and procurement milestones for contracts.

The Primer also serves sponsors, contract managers, QA, and operations teams as a baseline for acceptance criteria, handover, and vendor onboarding.

Step-by-Step: Completing the Primer

Follow this sequential checklist to complete the Primer accurately and ensure each stakeholder receives required information for review and approval.

01

Prepare Project Header: Enter project name, sponsor, and effective date.
02

Define Scope: List in-scope and out-of-scope items clearly.
03

Identify Stakeholders: Assign roles, contact, and decision authority.
04

Document Risks & Assumptions: Record known risks, mitigation, and applied assumptions.

Security, Privacy, and Compliance Flags

Confidentiality Level: Classify as internal, restricted, or public

PII Included: Yes or No; list types briefly

HIPAA Considerations: Attach BAA if PHI is present

Audit Trail Required: Record timestamps, IP, and actions

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

Retention Flag: Set per retention policy and legal basis

Technical Requirements for eSubmission and Signing

Digital signing and eSubmission require a compatible PDF or DOCX file, signer contact information, and configured signature fields before routing.

File Types: PDF, DOCX, or fillable PDF
Authentication: Email, SMS, KBA, or SSO options
Integrations: Salesforce, Microsoft 365, NetSuite supported

Configuring an Online Primer Workflow

Configure the online Primer workflow to enforce fields, routing order, and signer authentication before distribution.

Field	Configuration
Assign Role	Set role and email; enforce required field.
Routing Order	Define signing sequence and conditional branches.
Authentication	Choose email, SMS, KBA, or SSO.
Notifications	Enable reminders, completion receipts, and escalations.
Storage Location	Select cloud storage: Box, Google Drive, or local.

Typical eSubmission Routing for the Primer

This outline shows typical routing for eSubmission and stakeholder review to reach a signed, auditable Primer ready for handover to operations.

Upload Document: Upload final draft as PDF or DOCX.
Place Fields: Add signature, date, initials, and conditional fields.
Assign Signers: Enter emails, set roles, and routing order.
Send for Signature: Route via email or shared signing link with authentication.

Common Timing Checkpoints to Plan Around

Key deadlines for completing, approving, and storing the Primer are project-dependent; below are common timing checkpoints to plan around.

Initial Draft Due:

Within 2 weeks of project kickoff or as agreed.

Stakeholder Review:

Allow 5–10 business days for consolidated feedback.

Final Approval:

Signed approval before procurement or baseline scheduling.

Handover to Ops:

Transfer signed Primer with artifacts at project start.

Retention Start:

Retention clock begins on the effective date.

Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

Incomplete scope descriptions that omit interfaces or exclusions lead to change orders, budget overruns, and schedule slips; include explicit boundaries and measurable acceptance criteria to reduce disputes.
Using vague acceptance language or failing to name an acceptance authority creates subjective signoff arguments; tie each deliverable to a pass/fail test and approval role.
Neglecting regulatory or security requirements early—HIPAA, data residency, or export controls—can force retroactive design changes; document compliance needs at initiation.
Submitting unsigned or improperly authorized Primers often invalidates vendor agreements or delays procurement; verify signer authority and include corporate resolution when required.

Short-Form Risks and Consequences

Contract Risk: Ambiguous terms can lead to disputes

Procurement Delay: Missing approvals halt purchasing

Compliance Exposure: Unrecorded PHI raises HIPAA risk

Financial Overrun: Hidden scope causes budget overruns

Audit Failure: Insufficient records impair audits

Invalid Signature: Improper authorization voids approval

eSignature Vendor Comparison for Primer Workflows

Comparison of typical eSignature plan features and starting prices for common vendor options, with signNow listed first per vendor dataset.

	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	Free trial available	Free trial available	Yes, limited trial	Yes, limited trial
Bulk Send	Yes (bulk send on higher tiers)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes (BAA required)	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 and Troubleshooting

Answers to common questions about completing, signing, and storing the Project Management Design Primer, including eSignature and compliance concerns.

Need help? Contact support

Can this be signed electronically?
Yes. The ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA laws permit electronic signatures for most transactions when intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are present. Exceptions include wills, court orders, and certain real property filings that require wet signatures.
Which fields must be completed?
Complete legal names, effective date (MM/DD/YYYY), clear scope, deliverables with acceptance criteria, authorized signature blocks, and budget figures. Inaccurate or missing items can delay procurement, cause tax reporting issues, or invalidate acceptance.
How should signers be authenticated?
Choose authentication proportional to risk: email link for low-risk, SMS or access code for moderate risk, knowledge-based or SSO for higher assurance. For regulated records, consider two-factor or advanced signer authentication to meet 21 CFR Part 11 or HIPAA controls.
Are witnesses or notarization required?
Notarization and witness requirements vary by document and state. Many jurisdictions require notary acknowledgement for deeds and other property instruments; some require witnesses for wills or powers of attorney. Check state law or use RON where permitted.
How to store and retain signed Primers?
Retain the signed Primer per federal and industry rules: IRS records three years (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and company policy often requires seven years. Preserve tamper-evident files and maintain audit logs for legal admissibility.
What about disputes or change control?
Include a change control section describing how scope changes are proposed, approved, priced, and scheduled. Require documented approvals, revised deliverables, and updated acceptance criteria to prevent oral modifications and reduce contract dispute risk.

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