# Test 002 invalid pilot - Trial 1

## Requirements check — sourced facts

| Buyer requirement | Northline Web Co. | Spruce Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Home, Services, About, Gallery, Contact | Five required pages included. | Seven pages included; whether they include all five named pages: **Not stated**. |
| Existing Jobber request form | Included as an embed; no custom Jobber/API integration. | Included as an embed; no custom data synchronization. |
| Staff update text and photos | CMS editor access and one training session; ability to update both text and photos: **Not stated**. | Editor access and recorded handoff; ability to update both text and photos: **Not stated**. |
| First 12 months after launch ≤$7,000 before tax | Meets the stated cap based on known mandatory charges. | Meets the stated cap based on known mandatory charges. |
| Preference: live within six weeks of selection | Six weeks from kickoff, subject to agreement, payment, and two-business-day feedback—not from selection. | Four to five weeks after all listed inputs and cleared payment—not from selection. |
| Preference: own and move site/content | Transfers custom design, site files, and approved content after final payment; some third-party licenses may not transfer. | Client owns approved copy and supplied photos, but Spruce retains the template, design system, configuration, and source repository; only a content/image export is offered after termination. |
| Preference: predictable ongoing costs | Hosting is stated at $30/month after year one; other future mandatory costs: **Not stated**. | Care plan continues at $195/month after month 12, but may change with 30 days’ notice. |

## Calculations

- Northline calculated first-12-month cost: **$6,400** = $6,400 project fee + hosting included for 12 months.
- Spruce calculated first-12-month cost: **$6,540** = $4,200 setup + (12 × $195 required care plan).
- Both calculated totals are below the $7,000 cap before tax. Taxes: **Not stated**.

## Normalized commercial terms — sourced facts

| Term | Northline | Spruce |
|---|---|---|
| One-time | $6,400 fixed project fee | $4,200 setup fee |
| Mandatory recurring, first 12 months | Hosting included; other mandatory recurring charges: **Not stated** | $195/month care plan for 12 months from launch |
| Optional costs | Prices for excluded services: **Not stated** | Additional services beyond included care-plan work: scope and total cost **Not stated** |
| Hourly | Later content work: $140/hour | Other work: $125/hour; care plan includes 60 minutes monthly, with no rollover |
| Renewal | Hosting: $30/month after 12 months | Care plan continues at $195/month, subject to change with 30 days’ notice |
| Cancellation | Cancellation and refund terms: **Not stated** | During initial term: 50% of remaining monthly payments |
| Revisions | Two design-revision rounds; one pre-launch QA round | Revision count: **Not stated** |
| Support/service level | Thirty-day implementation-defect correction | Weekday response target within two business days; resolution time and uptime guarantee: **Not stated** |

## Material differences — sourced facts

Northline provides custom visual design and the stronger stated portability package, but requires the client to supply final copy and images. Spruce adapts a retained template and includes up to 1,500 words of draft copy plus continuing hosting, updates, backups, and limited monthly content changes.

Northline’s ownership transfer covers the design, site files, and approved content after final payment, with a third-party-license limitation. Spruce transfers content rights and offers an export, not the complete website, source repository, or design system.

## Risks and unknowns — judgment based on stated gaps

Neither timeline establishes launch within six weeks of vendor selection because each clock begins only after additional conditions. Northline’s cancellation/refund exposure is unknown. Spruce’s revision allowance, exact analytics dashboard, future care-plan price, and practical migration path remain uncertain. Editor access alone does not confirm that staff can update both required content types without vendor help.

## Conditional decision guide — judgment

If full-site portability, custom design, and a fixed first-year price matter most, Northline appears better aligned, subject to confirming editor capabilities and cancellation terms. If included draft copy and continuing managed assistance matter most, Spruce appears better aligned, subject to accepting its recurring plan, cancellation liability, and limited portability.

No overall winner is supportable because the buyer has not assigned preference weights.

## Five clarification questions

1. Northline: Can staff independently update both text and photos, and are any plugins, licenses, or mandatory fees additional?
2. Northline: What are the cancellation, refund, and schedule-delay terms?
3. Spruce: Do the seven pages include all five named required pages, and how many revision rounds are included?
4. Spruce: What exactly is delivered in the termination export, and can another provider recreate and operate the site from it?
5. Both: What selection-to-launch schedule will you commit to, including buyer dependencies and remedies for vendor delay?

## Confidence and review

Confidence is high for the arithmetic and direct comparison of stated terms, but material contractual and implementation details remain unresolved. Human review should verify final contracts, technical fit, portability, and vendor reliability.