Use the eight as a filter, not a scorecard

Questions 1–4 decide whether a vendor is safe to pilot. Questions 5–8 decide whether a pilot is safe to buy.
Before the second meeting
Safe to pilot?
1 · Autonomy boundaries
2 · Production references
3 · Evaluations
4 · Failure handling
In the pilot & the contract
Safe to buy?
5 · Unit economics
6 · Data terms
7 · Exit path
8 · Accountability
Send in writing ➞ Pilot with criteria + end date ➞ Contract
A vendor who resents the questions has answered them.