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Frequently asked

The questions both sides ask before signing.

Plain answers. If something you need is not here, the contact form reaches a human within one business day.

For buyers

If you're hiring through a vetted team.

01 ·Does Prevouched deliver the software?
No. We never write code, manage your project, or invoice you. The agency you hire owns delivery end-to-end. Prevouched vets the agency against a public rubric, issues a revocable verified badge, and on supported engagements provides a named US contact who joins the calls where the relationship is most fragile.
02 ·What does the verified badge actually guarantee?
That the agency passed our five-pillar rubric (technical, past-work, references, communications, security) at the date stamped on their verification page, and that the badge has not been revoked. It does not guarantee any specific engagement outcome. Outcomes are between you and the agency.
03 ·What happens if the engagement goes badly?
If the agency is in Backed or Managed, the named US liaison is your standing point of contact for escalation. They acknowledge in writing within one business hour, convene a recovery call within 48 hours, and put the outcome in writing within 24 hours of that call. If you hired a Verified-tier agency, there is no Prevouched liaison on the engagement. The badge confirms they passed vetting, but escalation is directly with the agency. If you want a standing US contact, filter the directory to Backed or Managed. See the escalation-recovery playbook.
04 ·Can a vetted agency lose the badge?
Yes. The badge is revocable. Material misrepresentation, repeated SLA breaches, undisclosed subcontracting, security incidents, or pattern-of-life issues against the rubric all trigger review. Revocation is published on the verification page within 15 minutes of the decision.
05 ·Do I pay Prevouched?
Not as a buyer. Prevouched only ever invoices the agency. Membership and, where applicable, a success fee on sourced deals. There is no markup on your engagement and Prevouched is never a payee on your contract.
For agencies

If you're applying or already vetted.

01 ·How long does vetting take?
Typical pass is two to four weeks from a complete application. References and security review are the most common bottlenecks. We will not rush either.
02 ·What does a failed vetting look like?
We share the rubric scores, the specific criteria that did not clear the pass bar, and a re-application window. Most failed first attempts are references and security artifacts, not technical depth.
03 ·What is the difference between Backed and Managed?
Backed gives the buyer a named US liaison who owns the relationship in writing. Business-hours email SLA, escalation handling, expectation-setting comms. Plus two covered live calls per month (pitch, kickoff, escalation, milestone gate). Managed adds a senior named liaison, a tighter SLA, five covered calls per month, and an opt-in prime/SLA contract layer. Daily standups and project management are never covered.
04 ·Does the liaison manage our client projects?
No. The liaison is not a project manager, delivery lead, or agency staff. They join four kinds of call. Pitch, kickoff, escalation, and milestone gate. And own the buyer relationship in writing. Your team continues to run standups, sprints, backlog, and day-to-day delivery. Prevouched never invoices the client, signs the client contract, or directs your people.
05 ·How is the success fee calculated?
A percentage of first-year contract value. Higher tiers pay less per deal because the retainer already covers more. Backed: 12% when Prevouched sourced the introduction and helped close (prevouched_sourced), 4% when the agency sourced the lead but a Prevouched liaison materially helped close (liaison_assisted). Managed: 10% sourced, 3% liaison-assisted. 0% when there was no Prevouched involvement (agency_sourced). Attribution is encoded per deal, not negotiated after the fact.
06 ·Can I use the badge before I am fully approved?
No. The badge is live-rendered from our database. An applicant or suspended agency will not pass verification, and using the badge before approval is grounds for permanent disqualification.
Policy

On contracts, scope, and the rubric.

01 ·Is Prevouched a party to my MSA, SOW, or DPA with the agency?
No. Prevouched is not a party to your MSA, SOW, or DPA by default. You contract directly with the agency, they invoice you, and they carry delivery liability. Prevouched's role is credentialing and. On Backed and Managed engagements. A named US liaison. Managed offers an optional prime/SLA layer where Prevouched signs a separate accountability addendum; that path is priced and legal-reviewed per deal.
02 ·What liability does Prevouched carry?
For the credentialing itself: professional standard of care in vetting, capped at fees paid for that vetting cycle. For engagements: none by default, because Prevouched is not on the delivery contract. On the optional Managed prime/SLA layer, Prevouched carries the accountability defined in the signed addendum. Commonly a service-credit SLA, not delivery indemnity.
03 ·Can procurement get a W-9, insurance certificates, and a DPA?
Yes. Verified US entity, W-9, general and professional liability certificates, and a standard DPA are available on request from any listing page. Turnaround is typically one business day. Ask via the contact form or your liaison.
04 ·Who owns the IP the agency produces?
You do, subject to the terms in your MSA/SOW with the agency. Prevouched does not touch the code, does not accept a license, and does not co-own deliverables. Confirm the assignment language reads work-made-for-hire with a backstop present assignment; the buyer's guide has the exact clause we recommend.
05 ·Where does Prevouched sit on the agency-client contract?
Nowhere by default. Prevouched is not a party to your delivery contract. Managed tier offers an opt-in prime/SLA layer where Prevouched carries additional accountability; that arrangement requires legal review and is priced accordingly.
06 ·How does Prevouched handle subcontractor disclosure?
Vetted agencies must disclose material subcontractors and update disclosures within 30 days of any change. Undisclosed subcontracting against the rubric is a revocation trigger.
07 ·How is the rubric versioned?
Versioned and dated. Every agency's verification page records the rubric version they cleared. Material changes are announced in the changelog with a re-attestation window.