Vendor Evaluation Wizard
Answer 15 questions about your current or prospective vendor. Get a risk score across five domains and actionable next steps.
Where this comes from: Adapted from vendor risk assessment frameworks used in legal tech knowledge management, reworked for library technology contracts through real consulting engagements and contract negotiations.
Understanding Your Score
The wizard scores vendors on a 45-point scale across five domains: stability, contract terms, support, security, and equity.
Low Risk (15-22 points)
Manageable risks across all domains. Move forward with confidence. Negotiate standard terms: auto-renewal outs, price increase caps, SLA penalties. Get accessibility and AI training language in writing.
Moderate Risk (23-35 points)
Some concerns that need attention before you sign. Identify your highest-risk domain and prioritize negotiation there. Build exit optionality into the contract. If you're accepting moderate risk, negotiate harder on the exit clause.
High Risk (36-45 points)
Significant issues across multiple domains. Either get dramatic contract concessions or walk away. If you must proceed: demand shorter terms (2 years, not 5), hard exit rights, aggressive SLA penalties, and monthly performance reviews.
Want the full breakdown? Read the Five Vendor Risk Domains deep dive for detailed evaluation criteria, red flag contract language, and replacement clauses you can use in negotiations.
Next Steps
- Read the full risk domains guide -- detailed evaluation criteria and red flag contract language for each domain.
- Contract Audit Checklist -- walk through your vendor contract line by line.
- AI Clauses Vendors Are Sneaking In -- the specific contract language to watch for.
- Get consulting support -- if you need help reading a specific contract or preparing for vendor conversations.