What is Vendor Scrutiny?

Vendor Scrutiny is an optional second engagement for clients who want Fullstride's independence carried through to signature. It includes demo scripts built from the critical levers documented during the System Fit Sprint, so every shortlisted vendor is measured against the same scenarios rather than the demo each vendor prefers to give; graded demo attendance; contract review for gotchas, omissions, and lock-in language; and a final ranked judgment on which vendors should progress to contracts — and which one Fullstride would pick.

It's quoted as a fixed fee alongside the Sprint deliverables, because once the shortlist exists the scope is known. The independence doesn't change between phases: Fullstride sits on the client's side of the table only, takes nothing from vendors at any stage, and still performs no implementation work. Staying through demos and contracts isn't a dilution of that independence — it's where independence matters most, because it's where vendor incentives concentrate.