Scope of Services
Precise description of management activities, deliverables, scheduling responsibilities, and any excluded tasks; tie deliverables to milestones and payment triggers.
A clear Project Management JCT Contract reduces scope disputes, clarifies who approves changes, assigns responsibility for permits and subconsultants, and establishes payment and termination mechanics. It also creates an evidentiary record useful for claims, liens, and performance monitoring; when signed electronically it must meet U.S. e-signature rules to remain enforceable under federal and state law (see ESIGN and UETA).
Use a tailored template that reflects the project delivery method (design-bid-build, design-build, CMAR) and the governing-state legal requirements before signing.
Precise description of management activities, deliverables, scheduling responsibilities, and any excluded tasks; tie deliverables to milestones and payment triggers.
Contract start and end dates, key milestone dates, and extension procedures for delays, force majeure, or design changes.
Fee structure (fixed, time-and-materials, percentage), expense reimbursement rules, invoicing frequency, and late-payment interest.
Procedures for issuing change orders, cost approval thresholds, and time-impact evaluation for schedule adjustments.
Minimum insurance coverages, additional insured requirements, waiver of subrogation, and mutual indemnity carve-outs for negligence or willful misconduct.
Preferred resolution path such as negotiation, mediation, adjudication, or arbitration and the governing law and venue.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Effective Date Field | Required; format MM/DD/YYYY |
| Signature Fields | One per authorized signer; include signer name/title |
| Attachment Field | Optional; used for exhibits or insurance certificates |
| Authentication | Email + SMS or stronger for high-value contracts |
Ensure the chosen solution preserves an audit trail (timestamps, IP addresses, signer actions) and supports compliant document retention.
Allow 3–7 business days for full execution with multiple signers
Certificates due before site access or mobilization
Owner decision typically within 10–14 days
Net 30–45 common; tie to milestone acceptance
Holdback release per contract milestone or final completion
| 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 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
A mid-size developer used a JCT-style contract to centralize approvals and reduce change-order disputes by clarifying approval thresholds.
A municipal program manager added procurement compliance and bonding clauses to the template to satisfy public bidding rules.