Statement of Work Template

From a contractual perspective, the statement of work (SOW) is a critical project management document because it sets forth the contractual obligations. If you are a vendor or contract project manager, this document may be a part of the RFP you received from your client. Because it typically establishes your legal obligations for performance, it should be referenced throughout the project. Think of it as the holy grail of what must be accomplished. Changes to the statement of work should be reduced to writing and signed by both parties.

The statement of work describes the products or services to be delivered by the project. It captures and defines the work activities, the schedule requirements and the project deliverables.

The free statement of work template below captures introductory and background information regarding the project. Besides the scope of work, it also captures the period and place of performance, applicable standards for performance, requirements, specific vendor responsibilities, client responsibilities, project risks, assumptions and completion criteria. In addition, this template speaks to payment terms and the procedures for change control. Like all project management templates, it should be modified to fit the project needs.

For internal projects, the statement of work is created by the project initiator or sponsor. On occasion, the project manager creates it. For external projects, it’s received from the client as part of their bid document. For example, it may accompany a request for quote or a request for proposal.

Inputs to the statement of work may include the business need, the business case, the project scope description and the strategic plan.

The statement of work is used to specify the products or services that must be delivered. It defines the boundaries of the project and typically becomes a part of the contract. In most instances, the statement of work is used to create contractual obligations. It becomes a binding contract.