Can this contract be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states, provided the signing demonstrates intent, consent, attribution, and record retention.

Do some states require notarization?

Notarization is not generally required for private contracts, but specific states or industries may require notarized acknowledgements for certain documents; check state rules before relying on notarization for proof.

What makes an electronic signature admissible?

Maintain an audit trail showing signer identity, timestamps, authentication method, and consent to transact electronically to support admissibility and rebut repudiation claims.

When should I use advanced authentication?

Use multi-factor, SMS, or identity-proofing for high-value contracts, projects with regulatory sensitivity, or when parties require additional assurance of signer identity.

Are there exceptions to e-signature use?

Certain documents (wills, court orders, some family law decrees, and a few notices) may be excluded from ESIGN/UETA coverage; verify exceptions before relying on electronic execution.

How long should signed contracts be kept?

Retain signed contracts for the active term plus at least 3 years; follow IRS (IRC §6501(a)) and HIPAA (45 CFR §164.530(j)) rules when applicable and consult counsel for state-specific periods.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Project Management
Project Management Service Contract

Project Management Service Contract

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PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICE CONTRACT

Project Identification

This Project Management Service Contract (the Contract) is entered into effective on Effective Date: by and between Client Name: and Service Provider Name: .

Project Title Project ID Client Address for Notices Service Provider Address for Notices Project Manager (Service Provider)

Scope of Work

The Service Provider shall perform professional project management services as described below. The Service Provider will plan, coordinate, monitor and report on activities necessary to deliver the project within the approved schedule and budget. Services include stakeholder coordination, schedule and budget control, risk management, quality oversight, status reporting and change control administration.

Detailed Scope of Work Out-of-Scope Items

Deliverables and Acceptance

The Service Provider will deliver the following items. Each deliverable must include acceptance criteria; acceptance is by Client written approval or absence of a rejection notice within the acceptance period.

Deliverable 1 — Description Acceptance Criteria Due Date Deliverable 2 — Description Acceptance Criteria Due Date

Timeline and Milestones

Planned Project Start Date Planned Project End Date Milestone 1 — Name Milestone 1 — Target Date Milestone 2 — Name Milestone 2 — Target Date

Budget and Payment

Client agrees to pay the Service Provider for services performed in accordance with the payment schedule below. All fees are due in the currency specified and are exclusive of applicable taxes unless otherwise stated.

Total Contract Price Payment Schedule Expenses and Reimbursables Late Payment Terms

Change Order Procedure

Any changes to scope, schedule or price shall be implemented only by written Change Order signed by authorized representatives of both parties. Change Orders shall state the scope change, impact on schedule, impact on price, and any other adjustments. The Service Provider is not required to perform changed work without an executed Change Order.

Confidentiality

Each party shall treat as Confidential Information all non-public information disclosed by the other party that is designated as confidential or that reasonably should be understood to be confidential. Confidential Information shall be used solely for the performance of this Contract. Confidentiality obligations survive termination for a period of three (3) years except for trade secrets, which are protected for as long as they remain trade secrets.

Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Service Provider retains ownership of pre-existing tools, templates and methodologies. Client is granted a non-exclusive, perpetual license to use deliverables for its internal business purposes upon full payment. Any third-party materials remain subject to their respective licenses.

Liability, Insurance and Indemnification

Each party shall defend and indemnify the other against third-party claims arising from its negligence or willful misconduct. Except for indemnification obligations and willful misconduct, neither party's aggregate liability for direct damages under this Contract shall exceed the Total Contract Price.

Liability Cap (if different)

Acceptance Testing

Client shall have an acceptance period commencing upon delivery of a deliverable. If Client does not provide written rejection citing specific non-conformities within the acceptance period, the deliverable shall be deemed accepted.

Acceptance Period (days)

Termination

Either party may terminate this Contract for material breach if the breach is not cured within the notice period specified below. Client may terminate for convenience upon written notice and payment for services performed and non-cancellable commitments incurred through the effective date of termination.

Notice and Cure Period (days)

Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

Parties shall first attempt to resolve disputes in good faith through escalation and negotiation. If unresolved, disputes shall be submitted to mediation followed by binding arbitration if mediation fails. This Contract is governed by the laws of the state identified below, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Governing Law (State)

Representations and Warranties

Each party represents that it has the full right, power and authority to enter into this Contract and to perform its obligations. The Service Provider warrants that services will be performed in a professional and workmanlike manner in accordance with generally accepted industry standards.

Miscellaneous

This Contract constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter. Amendments must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives. Neither party may assign this Contract without the other party's prior written consent, except to a successor in interest in connection with a merger or sale of substantially all assets.

Additional Provisions / Notes

Client:

By:

Date:

Service Provider:

By:

Date:

What the Project Management Service Contract Is and when it applies

A Project Management Service Contract is a written agreement that sets out the scope, responsibilities, schedule, payment terms, and acceptance criteria for a party providing project management services. It clarifies deliverables, milestones, change-order handling, intellectual property assignment, insurance and liability limits, and dispute-resolution procedures so both client and provider have a clear roadmap for performance and remedies.

Why a clear contract benefits both parties

A well-drafted Project Management Service Contract reduces disputes, speeds approvals, and provides measurable acceptance and payment triggers. It protects commercial terms and creates a record that supports invoicing, auditability, and risk allocation.

Who typically completes this contract

Project owners, professional project managers, general contractors, and third-party PM firms commonly use this contract to set expectations and governance.

Project owners and sponsors who need documented acceptance criteria and payment milestones to manage risk and payments.
Independent project management firms or PMO teams contracting to deliver management services and requiring clear fee and liability limits.
General contractors or construction managers engaging PM resources for coordination, permitting, and subcontractor oversight on site.

Use this contract whenever one party is engaged to manage scope, schedule, budget, or subcontractors on a discrete project or program.

Key contract sections to include in every Project Management Service Contract

Include the following elements to create an enforceable and operationally useful contract that aligns expectations and reduces disputes.

Scope of Work

Define services, specific tasks, deliverables, and acceptance criteria to avoid scope creep and to tie payments to measurable outputs.

Schedule & Milestones

List milestone dates, dependencies, and approval windows. Tie milestone signoffs to billing events and define remedies for missed deadlines.

Payment Terms

Specify fees, invoicing frequency, retainers, late-payment interest, expense reimbursement rules, and conditions for withholding payment.

Change Orders

Describe how scope changes are requested, priced, approved, and scheduled; require written change orders before new work begins.

Liability & Insurance

Cap liability where appropriate, require insurance types/limits, and allocate indemnity obligations for third-party claims or IP infringement.

Termination & Remedies

Set termination for convenience and for cause, notice periods, cure windows, and post-termination obligations such as data return and final accounting.

Step-by-step: completing the Project Management Service Contract

Follow these sequential steps to prepare, review, and execute the contract to reduce errors and accelerate onboarding.

01

Draft core terms: Populate scope, deliverables, schedule, and fees.
02

Review legal items: Check liability, IP, and termination provisions.
03

Confirm signatures: Identify authorized signers and notarization needs.
04

Execute and distribute: Obtain signatures and circulate final copies to all parties.

Typical online signing workflow for this contract

Digital execution follows a predictable flow; prepare the document, assign fields, send to signers, then capture the completed package and audit trail.

Upload Document: Import the contract PDF or DOCX to the signing platform.
Place Fields: Add signature, date, initial, and text fields where required.
Invite Signers: Send email invites or create signing links for each authorized signer.
Capture Audit Trail: Retain timestamps, IP, and authentication records for each action.

Example digital workflow settings for a typical contract

Configure authentication, routing order, and reminders to match internal approval processes and risk tolerance.

Field	Configuration
Routing Order	Sequential signer order with optional parallel lanes.
Authentication	Email link default; add SMS or KBA for higher risk.
Reminders	Auto-reminders at configurable intervals until signed.
Template	Save as reusable template for repeat projects.

Platform and integration considerations for e-signing

Ensure chosen platform supports audit trails, exportable signed PDFs, and the integrations your workflows require.

File formats: Accepts PDF, DOCX, and HTML-based contracts.
Integrations: Connects with Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace, and Box.
Authentication options: Email, SMS, KBA, SSO and advanced methods available.

Security and compliance basics to document when using an eSignature platform

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

Audit Trail: Detailed timestamped signing record

Regulatory Compliance: ESIGN and UETA compliance

HIPAA: BAA available for health workflows

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001

Accessibility: WCAG 2.0 Level AA support

Common risks and legal stakes if the contract is incorrect

Breach damages: Monetary liability for nonperformance

Payment disputes: Delayed invoicing or withheld funds

Invalid signatures: Enforceability challenges if authentication weak

IP disputes: Ambiguous ownership of deliverables

Regulatory exposure: Industry-specific fines or sanctions

Confidentiality loss: Unauthorized disclosure risks

Frequent mistakes to avoid when preparing the contract

Vague scope language that fails to tie deliverables to acceptance criteria and causes disputes over completion and payment.
Omitting change-order procedures, which creates disagreements about what constitutes billable additional work and how it will be priced.
Using non‑authorized signers or failing to confirm who may bind the party, which can jeopardize enforceability of commitments.
Not recording milestones or testing criteria clearly, causing disagreement on whether a milestone was achieved and whether payment is due.

Key dates and timing commonly tracked in the contract

List and track dates that trigger obligations, approvals, invoicing, and warranty or maintenance periods to reduce ambiguity.

Effective Date:

MM/DD/YYYY — when obligations commence and billing cycles begin.

Milestone Deadlines:

Specific dates for deliverables and approval windows per milestone.

Invoice Due Dates:

Net terms and late-payment interest start date.

Warranty Period:

Begin and end dates for defect correction obligations.

Final Acceptance:

Date when client formally accepts the completed scope.

Sequential project contract milestones

Use a numbered milestone sequence to link performance events to payment and acceptance actions.

01

Project Kickoff

Initiate project, confirm team, and receive initial payment.

02

Planning Approval

Deliver project plan and obtain client signoff for execution.

03

Execution Milestones

Complete phased deliverables with client acceptance at each stage.

04

Project Closeout

Handover final documentation and issue final invoice.

Real-world examples of digital contract use

These short examples show how organizations use electronic contracts to streamline project management engagements and approvals.

Tech Data

Tech Data used eContracts to speed approvals and centralize records

Rapid internal routing reduced turnaround
The company reported faster revenue recognition and simplified customer interactions by standardizing contract templates and digital signatures.

Martin Properties

A regional real estate firm processed PM agreements online for project oversight

Mobile signing enabled site execution
Staff completed approvals remotely, maintained audit trails, and reduced delays for contractor onboarding and payments.

Selected eSignature vendor comparison for executing contracts

Basic pricing, bulk-send capability, audit trail, and HIPAA availability vary by vendor and plan; signNow is listed first for easy comparison.

	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 card	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
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

Frequently asked questions about using and enforcing this contract

Answers to common questions about enforceability, notarization, e-signatures, and post-execution handling for Project Management Service Contracts.

Need help? Contact support

Can this contract be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states, provided the signing demonstrates intent, consent, attribution, and record retention.
Do some states require notarization?
Notarization is not generally required for private contracts, but specific states or industries may require notarized acknowledgements for certain documents; check state rules before relying on notarization for proof.
What makes an electronic signature admissible?
Maintain an audit trail showing signer identity, timestamps, authentication method, and consent to transact electronically to support admissibility and rebut repudiation claims.
When should I use advanced authentication?
Use multi-factor, SMS, or identity-proofing for high-value contracts, projects with regulatory sensitivity, or when parties require additional assurance of signer identity.
Are there exceptions to e-signature use?
Certain documents (wills, court orders, some family law decrees, and a few notices) may be excluded from ESIGN/UETA coverage; verify exceptions before relying on electronic execution.
How long should signed contracts be kept?
Retain signed contracts for the active term plus at least 3 years; follow IRS (IRC §6501(a)) and HIPAA (45 CFR §164.530(j)) rules when applicable and consult counsel for state-specific periods.

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