Can this be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.

Do I need a notary or witnesses?

Most scope adjustments do not require notarization; however, state-specific rules or certain contract clauses may demand it. Verify deed, conveyance, or statutory requirements before execution.

How long should I retain executed adjustments?

Keep adjustments for the active contract term plus recommended post-termination retention—commonly 3 to 7 years—and follow industry rules like HIPAA's 6-year requirement when applicable.

What if parties disagree after signing?

Refer to dispute resolution clauses in the primary contract; retain all supporting change documentation and communications to support negotiation, mediation, or litigation.

Are scanned signatures acceptable?

Scanned signature images may be admissible if accompanied by a reliable audit trail and evidence of signer intent; consider platform audit logs or cryptographic signatures for higher assurance.

How do I update a signed adjustment?

Execute a new amendment or corrective adjustment signed by the same authorized parties; record the change in the change log and redistribute executed copies to stakeholders.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Project Management
Project Management Scope Adjustment

Project Management Scope Adjustment

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

PROJECT MANAGEMENT SCOPE ADJUSTMENT

Project Identification

Project Title Project ID Client Name Service Provider Project Manager

Original Statement of Work Date: . This Scope Adjustment documents agreed modifications to the scope, schedule, and/or budget set forth in the original Statement of Work.

Scope Adjustment Summary

Type of change (select all applicable): Add Remove Modify Clarification

Brief Summary of Adjustment Reason for Change

Detailed Scope Changes

For each change item below, provide the item number, a detailed description of work to be added/removed/modified, and any new acceptance criteria. Attach additional schedules if necessary; referenced attachments are incorporated by reference into this Adjustment.

Change Item 1 — Title Change Item 1 — Detailed Description Change Item 1 — In-Scope / Out-of-Scope Change Item 2 — Title Change Item 2 — Detailed Description Change Item 2 — In-Scope / Out-of-Scope

Deliverables and Acceptance Criteria

List each deliverable affected by this Adjustment and the objective measurable acceptance criteria. Unless stated otherwise, acceptance testing shall be performed in accordance with the terms of the original Statement of Work.

Deliverable 1 — Name Deliverable 1 — Acceptance Criteria Deliverable 2 — Name Deliverable 2 — Acceptance Criteria

Timeline and Milestones

Original Start Date: Original End Date:

Revised Start Date (if changed): Revised End Date (if changed):

Milestone 1 — Description

Milestone 1 Target Date:

Milestone 2 — Description

Milestone 2 Target Date:

Budget and Payment

Original Contract Value: $ Proposed Adjustment Amount: $

New Contract Total if Approved: $

Payment Schedule or Milestone Payments

Change Approval Fee Applied: Yes No

Impact Assessment

Resource Impact Dependencies and Risks

Change Order Process and Authorization

This Scope Adjustment modifies the Statement of Work only as expressly set forth herein. Except as modified by this Adjustment, all terms and conditions of the original Statement of Work remain in full force and effect. Implementation of changed work is contingent upon execution by authorized representatives of both parties. Execution of this document constitutes written authorization to proceed with the adjusted scope and any associated payment obligations described above.

Authorized Representative for Notifications

Confidentiality

All nonpublic information exchanged between the parties relating to this Adjustment shall be treated as confidential and handled in accordance with the confidentiality provisions of the original agreement. Disclosure is permitted only to the extent necessary for performance and where required by law, provided the disclosing party provides prompt notice to the other party when legally permissible.

Governing Law

This Scope Adjustment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction agreed under the original Statement of Work unless the parties specify otherwise below.

Governing State / Jurisdiction

Certifications and Acknowledgements

By signing below, each party certifies that: (i) it has the authority to execute this Scope Adjustment; (ii) the person signing has been duly authorized to bind the party; and (iii) the party accepts the scope, cost, and schedule changes set forth herein.

Signatures

Client — Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Title / Authority:

Service Provider — Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Title / Authority:

What a Project Management Scope Adjustment Is

A Project Management Scope Adjustment is a written amendment that modifies the scope, deliverables, schedule, or cost terms of an existing project agreement. It documents the specific change being made, the parties affected, the effective date, and any financial or schedule impacts. The adjustment typically references the original contract, attaches supporting exhibits (revised task lists, drawings, or budgets), and records approvals and signatures from authorized representatives so the revised scope becomes part of the contractual record.

Why a Clear Scope Adjustment Matters

A precisely drafted Scope Adjustment reduces ambiguity, documents agreed cost and schedule impacts, and creates an auditable decision trail. When signed, electronic or paper adjustments can be legally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, helping to limit disputes and preserve contract remedies.

Who typically completes a Scope Adjustment

The following parties most often prepare, review, or sign scope adjustments on projects.

Project manager or prime contractor — prepares amendment language and documents technical impact for review.
Client or owner representative — reviews scope, cost and schedule impacts and provides formal acceptance.
Subcontractor or consultant — confirms feasibility, revises deliverables, and signs off on changes affecting scope or price.

Coordination among these roles ensures changes are authorized, auditable, and implemented consistently across the project.

Who has authority to sign a Scope Adjustment

Project Manager

Project managers often initiate and negotiate scope adjustments but may require delegated signature authority. Confirm the contract's signature block and any internal delegation policies before execution; unauthorized signatures can be invalidated by the client or prime contractor.

Contracting Officer

A contracting officer or authorized client representative holds express authority to bind the owner. Their signature typically finalizes cost, schedule, and acceptance changes and triggers invoicing or payment obligations under the primary contract.

Core elements to include in a professional adjustment

A robust Scope Adjustment includes identification, a clear description of the change, financial and schedule effects, and formal approvals. Each element helps make the amendment enforceable and easy to audit.

Amendment ID

Assign a unique reference (amendment number or change order ID) and cite the original contract to avoid confusion across multiple changes and to preserve chronological order.

Effective Date

State the precise effective date in MM/DD/YYYY format; the date determines when revised duties, payments, and schedules take effect and affects billing and warranty timelines.

Scope Description

Provide a concise, itemized description of added, reduced, or modified work, including measurable deliverables, technical specifics, and any exclusions to prevent later interpretation disputes.

Cost Impact

Document the exact dollar change, payment schedule, and reference any provisional pricing or allowances; tie adjustments to budget codes or invoice references where applicable.

Schedule Impact

Record changes to milestones, new completion dates, and any interim deadlines. Note weather or permit dependencies that affect timing and subcontractor coordination.

Approvals & Signature

Include printed names, titles, dates, and signature blocks for all required signatories; specify whether electronic signatures are acceptable and record the signing order if sequential approvals are needed.

Step-by-step: completing and executing a scope adjustment

Follow a consistent workflow to avoid omissions and ensure the change is enforceable and auditable.

01

Draft Amendment: Prepare clear, numbered change language and attach supporting exhibits.
02

Obtain Internal Approval: Secure required manager and budget approvals before sending externally.
03

Execute Signatures: Collect signatures in the specified order, electronic or wet as allowed.
04

Distribute Records: Share executed copies with stakeholders and update contract repository.

Typical electronic routing process

An efficient e-signing workflow standardizes placement of signature fields, signer authentication, and distribution of the completed record.

Upload Document: Add the amendment PDF or DOCX to the eSignature platform.
Place Fields: Insert signature, initial, date, and input fields where required.
Send to Signers: Define signer order and authentication method; send invites.
Receive Completion: Download signed copy and audit trail; archive with original contract.

Configuring an online approval workflow

Set up role-based routing, required fields, and authentication to match your internal approval matrix.

Field	Configuration
Signer Order	Sequential or parallel routing depending on approvals
Authentication	Email link, SMS code, or KBA as needed
Required Fields	Signature, date, initials, numeric cost fields
Retention	Auto-archive to contract repository after completion

Digital signing and distribution considerations

Choose an e-signature platform that supports the file types, authentication, and compliance needs of your project.

File formats: PDF and DOCX supported
Integrations: Connects to project and document systems
Auth options: Email, SMS, or advanced verification

Ensure the platform preserves a tamper-evident audit trail and stores the certificate of completion; confirm HIPAA or other BAAs if protected data is present.

Supporting documents and export formats to include

Attach related exhibits and export the executed adjustment in standard formats for recordkeeping and downstream systems.

Change Order Log

A running log of all adjustments (ID, date, summary, cost impact) provides context for project accounting and claims resolution; include prior amendment references.

Revised Deliverables

Attach updated task lists, drawings, or specifications that precisely show how work changed and where responsibilities shift.

Cost Worksheets

Include line-item cost breakdowns, supporting quotes, and invoice references to support the monetary adjustment and audit reviews.

Export Formats

Save the executed package as PDF/A for archival and also retain native DOCX or XML for system ingestion and searchability.

Typical deadlines and timing expectations

Track critical dates to ensure timely approvals, invoicing, and implementation of the adjusted scope.

Request Window:

Submit proposed changes within contract-defined notice periods to preserve rights.

Approval Due:

Owner or client should respond within the agreed review timeframe to avoid schedule impacts.

Effective Date:

Specify when the amendment takes effect for billing and performance.

Billing Adjustment:

State the invoice date or procedure for changed payments.

Record Archival:

Archive executed adjustments promptly for audit and closeout.

Key milestones from request to implementation

A sequential milestone view helps teams coordinate evaluation, approvals, and execution of the adjusted work.

01

Request Submitted

Originator files the proposed change with attachments for review.

02

Impact Assessment

Technical and cost teams evaluate feasibility and propose pricing.

03

Formal Approval

Authorized signatories execute the amendment and record the decision.

04

Implementation Start

Teams begin work under the revised scope and updated schedule.

Common preparation mistakes to avoid

Vague descriptions that leave room for differing interpretations and later disputes over responsibilities or deliverables.
Failing to specify an effective date, which creates uncertainty about when billing and obligations begin or end.
Not attaching revised drawings, schedules, or cost backup, making verification during audits or claims difficult.
Executing without proper internal delegation or client authority, risking invalidation or later repudiation of the adjustment.

Potential consequences of incorrect or incomplete adjustments

Contract Breach: May trigger remedies

Delay Claims: Schedule disputes may arise

Cost Overruns: Unapproved work may not be paid

Regulatory Noncompliance: Industry rules may be violated

Tax Reporting Errors: Incorrect invoicing affects tax filings

Dispute Escalation: Increased litigation risk

Required security and compliance controls

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

Access Controls: Role-based permissions and SSO

Audit Trail: Capture timestamps, IP, and signer actions

HIPAA BAA: Execute BAA when PHI is present

Retention Controls: Maintain tamper-evident archives

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

How a Scope Adjustment differs from a change order

Compare the attributes customers often confuse when selecting a document type for project changes.

Criteria	Scope Adjustment	Change Order
Formality	high	transactional
Purpose	amend contract terms	execute field changes
Accounting Impact	contract-level adjustment	project-level line item
Typical Use	contract amendment	contractor-issued modification

eSignature vendor pricing and feature snapshot

Compare starting prices and basic capabilities relevant to executing and tracking scope adjustments; refer to vendor sites for plan details.

	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	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Varies
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Frequently asked questions about Scope Adjustments

Answers to common questions about validity, signatures, storage, and cross-jurisdiction issues when issuing an adjustment.

Need help? Contact support

Can this be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.
Do I need a notary or witnesses?
Most scope adjustments do not require notarization; however, state-specific rules or certain contract clauses may demand it. Verify deed, conveyance, or statutory requirements before execution.
How long should I retain executed adjustments?
Keep adjustments for the active contract term plus recommended post-termination retention—commonly 3 to 7 years—and follow industry rules like HIPAA's 6-year requirement when applicable.
What if parties disagree after signing?
Refer to dispute resolution clauses in the primary contract; retain all supporting change documentation and communications to support negotiation, mediation, or litigation.
Are scanned signatures acceptable?
Scanned signature images may be admissible if accompanied by a reliable audit trail and evidence of signer intent; consider platform audit logs or cryptographic signatures for higher assurance.
How do I update a signed adjustment?
Execute a new amendment or corrective adjustment signed by the same authorized parties; record the change in the change log and redistribute executed copies to stakeholders.

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