Open with the reason this software should exist, not your preferred technology. Who will use the system, how often, and how is the job done today? A vendor who grasps the purpose will suggest a simpler way to reach it; someone handed only a feature list prices the list as written.

Define what is included as concrete flows: a walk through each important path. Just as important, hire smm specialists list what the first release deliberately excludes. A written out-of-scope list prevents more argument at delivery time than almost anything else in the document. Also mark which decisions are settled and which are still under discussion — the difference changes the price, and hiding it helps no one.

Write down the hard constraints. The list covers existing systems the software has to talk to, existing databases and their quality, compliance requirements, custom education software development traffic expectations, which devices matter and any technology you are committed to. If a deadline is real, say why: an experienced team can often rearrange the plan to hit it, provided they hear about it early.

Define what done means for the important items. Testable acceptance criteria do not need any formal notation: a short list stating what must be true when the feature works will do. That one addition reduces acceptance testing by a surprising margin and eliminates the most common source of disputes.

To close, say what you expect back. Ask for angular vs vuejs a breakdown by feature or module, the assumptions used, the risks the team sees and an optimistic and a pessimistic figure. Treat a wide range as a signal about the brief: it usually points to exactly which requirement is unclear. From there rewrite that part and request a revised number — the second estimate is far closer to reality.