Deal Quality - Partner Checklist

This checklist helps Volume Licensing partners catch and correct the most common submission errors before a deal reaches the processing team. It is based on a global analysis of hold patterns across Volume Licensing submissions, covering issues and document types that generate the highest volume of preventable holds. Use it during deal preparation as a final quality gate before every submission.

Why deal quality holds matter

A hold delays deal processing; triggers rework for both the partner and the Microsoft operations team and can push a transaction past critical close dates. The scenarios below account for the majority of avoidable holds globally. Completing the relevant section of this checklist before submission eliminates the most common causes in each category.

Common Hold Scenarios How to Avoid Common Hold – Checklist
Signature Form (SF):
⚠️ Missing customer signature
⚠️ Missing or incomplete printed first name / last name, title, or date
⚠️ Invalid or unverifiable signatures
⚠️ Document alignment between listed and submitted		 ✅ Customer signature, printed name, title, and date are all present.
✅ Signature and text are clearly visible.
✅ Signature remains verifiable after upload (no rendering issues).
✅ Listed documents must match what is included in package incl. document codes & versions.
✅ Re-issue signature form if listed documents change.
✅ All signature blocks must be filled out (entity name, signature, contact name, title, date, tax ID if applicable) are mandatory.
Enrollment Form:
⚠️ Missing or invalid WSA for Notices Contact or Online Admin
⚠️ Missing or incomplete Reseller / Software Advisor information including signature, date, or name
⚠️ Previous enrollment number errors
⚠️ Customer/Partner contact data hygiene		 ✅ A valid and active WSA is available before package submission.
✅ Complete Reseller/Software Advisor's box with all fields including signature.
✅ Confirm previous enrollment number is compliant on TU/ZU before package submission.
✅ Validation of all required fields including legal entity name, contact name, contract type, and email/addresses/postal codes and alignment with the rest of the forms in package for all contacts.
Compliance Issues:
⚠️ Zero Usage (ZU) / True-Up (TU) not submitted
⚠️ Reservations not reconciled
⚠️ Late or missing compliance submissions across prior years		 ✅ Confirm previous enrollment number is compliant before package submission. Ensure all TU/ZU for previous enrollment are processed, and compliance status is checked and visible in system. Leverage weekly compliance report or VLC.
✅ Ensure ZU/TU is submitted for intended enrollment.
✅ Resolve reservation reconciliation before submitting enrollment. Leverage weekly open reservations report or how to identify and reconcile guidelines.
Product Selection Form (PSF):
⚠️ Missing, expired, or invalid Qualifying Enrollment for SCE enrollments
⚠️ Incorrect price/pool level section
⚠️ PSF not included, outdated, or wrong version
⚠️ Min. commitment/amendment dependencies not met
⚠️ PSF information not aligned with other documents		 ✅ Verify qualifying enrollment accuracy and included in form for SCE enrollments.
✅ Ensure pool level in PSF matches qualifying enrollment eligibility and quantities in CPS align with pool level for SCE enrollments.
✅ Confirm PSF is attached to package, listed on SF, has the correct version or type.
✅ Minimum commitments are met or amendment included to support; license quantities placed in correct PSF sections, and match CPS quantities.
✅ Cross-check PSF with rest of documents in package (SF, CPS, amendments).
Tenant Excel Form:
⚠️ Missing file or information in columns
⚠️ File mismatch with CPS
⚠️ PDF instead of Excel format		 ✅ Required tenant form is included in package with correct version.
✅ All required fields are completed as per Multitenant Form Guidelines.
✅ Cross-check tenant data matches CPS.
✅ Tenant Form must be submitted in Excel format.
Other Forms:
⚠️ Expired, invalid, or wrong version		 ✅ Validate latest published document versions in Contracts within VLC.
✅ Create contract packages directly from VL Central (VLC).
Tax and Credit Approvals:
⚠️ Tax email or credit approvals missing		 ✅ Ensure tax exemption approval email included (if applicable).
✅ Pre-credit approvals are included/attached to packages (when applicable).
WSA Account ✅ Licensing roles (Notices Contact and OSM) for EA, EAS, SCE, and AOS-G must use active Work or School Accounts (WSAs).

Get it right before signature

✅ Use pre-validation service to get a final review of the whole contract package before end customer signature to double check deal accuracy and quality.

✅ Follow these steps to submit full contract packages to Preval:

How to Submit a Pre‑Validation (PV) Request:

Submit via VLC (Preferred)

  • Open your deal in VLC Contracts

  • Locate and select “Pre‑Validation”

  • Click “Initiate Pre‑Validation”

Manual Submission (if not via VLC package)

  • Sign in to VL Central (VLC) and go to “My Cases & Support”

  • Select “Create Case”

  • Choose the PV topic path: Enterprise (Pre-Validation) > Pre-Validation > Submit for Pre-Validation. 

  • Enter required identifiers such as Enrollment ID and country/region (as prompted). 

  • Describe the request clearly and upload the full, final, unsigned manual document bundle. 

  • Submit the case. You will receive an acknowledgement and a Case reference number (5-00099999). 

     

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