diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 962a612..67c790c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ This tranche is read-only. `hostname plan` emits proposed component operations,
 
 ## maildesk-cf lifecycle
 
-Use `cfctl maildesk-cf verify|snapshot|diff|plan|provision --plan` with JSON specs under [state/maildesk-cf](state/maildesk-cf) when a maildesk deployment needs Email Routing aliases, Workers, D1, R2, Queues, DNS sender authentication, and outbound identity readiness checked together.
+Use `cfctl maildesk-cf verify|snapshot|diff|plan|provision --plan` with JSON specs under [state/maildesk-cf](state/maildesk-cf) when a maildesk deployment needs Email Routing aliases, Workers, D1, R2, Queues, and mode-driven sender readiness checked together. The public template defaults to receive-only outbound mode; Cloudflare Email Service or Resend sender evidence is required only when the spec enables that provider.
 
 ```bash
 cfctl maildesk-cf init --domain example.com
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ cfctl maildesk-cf diff --file state/maildesk-cf/example.json
 cfctl maildesk-cf provision --file state/maildesk-cf/example.json --plan
 ```
 
-`maildesk-cf provision --plan` emits a local operation id and proposed component operations. `maildesk-cf provision --ack-plan <operation-id>` is blocked until those component writes are each available through preview-gated public `cfctl` surfaces. The verifier does not perform broad live sends; sender readiness comes from DNS/authentication and provider readback evidence unless a human explicitly asks for targeted delivery proof.
+`maildesk-cf provision --plan` emits a local operation id and proposed component operations. `maildesk-cf provision --ack-plan <operation-id>` is blocked until those component writes are each available through preview-gated public `cfctl` surfaces. The verifier does not perform broad live sends; enabled sender providers use DNS/authentication and provider readback evidence unless a human explicitly asks for targeted delivery proof.
 
 Token minting:
 
diff --git a/catalog/standards.json b/catalog/standards.json
index cb74753..18fbebe 100644
--- a/catalog/standards.json
+++ b/catalog/standards.json
@@ -235,19 +235,19 @@
           "id": "maildesk-cf.state-owns-complete-path",
           "level": "required",
           "title": "One spec owns the maildesk path",
-          "summary": "A maildesk lifecycle spec should declare domains, role aliases, personal aliases, Workers, D1, R2, Queues, sender authentication, and outbound policy together."
+          "summary": "A maildesk lifecycle spec should declare domains, role aliases, personal aliases, Workers, D1, R2, Queues, sender mode, and outbound policy together."
         },
         {
           "id": "maildesk-cf.verify-before-provision",
           "level": "required",
           "title": "Verify every dependency before planning provisioning",
-          "summary": "Maildesk readiness must prove template validation, instance policy, Worker/storage bindings, Email Routing aliases, sender authentication, provider status, and outbound proof posture with evidence artifacts."
+          "summary": "Maildesk readiness must prove template validation, instance policy, Worker/storage bindings, Email Routing aliases, sender mode, and any enabled provider status with evidence artifacts."
         },
         {
           "id": "maildesk-cf.component-writes-preview-gated",
           "level": "required",
           "title": "Do not composite-apply before component writes are gated",
-          "summary": "Composite provisioning must remain plan-only until Worker, D1, R2, Queue, Email Routing, DNS authentication, and sender-provider operations are each available through preview-gated public cfctl surfaces."
+          "summary": "Composite provisioning must remain plan-only until Worker, D1, R2, Queue, Email Routing, and enabled sender-provider operations are each available through preview-gated public cfctl surfaces."
         },
         {
           "id": "maildesk-cf.targeted-mail-proof-only",
diff --git a/catalog/surfaces.json b/catalog/surfaces.json
index 59ff1c0..57b3c1b 100644
--- a/catalog/surfaces.json
+++ b/catalog/surfaces.json
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@
       ]
     },
     "maildesk-cf": {
-      "description": "Composite maildesk-cf lifecycle readiness across Email Routing aliases, Workers, D1, R2, Queues, sender authentication, and outbound identity evidence.",
+      "description": "Composite maildesk-cf lifecycle readiness across Email Routing aliases, Workers, D1, R2, Queues, and mode-driven sender evidence.",
       "standards_ref": "maildesk-cf",
       "docs_topics": ["email-routing", "email-workers", "d1", "r2", "queues", "api-auth"],
       "backend": "maildesk_cf_lifecycle",
diff --git a/commands/cfctl.sh b/commands/cfctl.sh
index 24da27e..233466b 100644
--- a/commands/cfctl.sh
+++ b/commands/cfctl.sh
@@ -3488,8 +3488,7 @@ cfctl_find_maildesk_cf_plan_receipt_path() {
     return 1
   fi
 
-  for candidate in "${runtime_dir}"/*.json; do
-    [[ -f "${candidate}" ]] || continue
+  while IFS= read -r candidate; do
     if jq -e \
       --arg ack_plan "${ack_plan}" \
       '
@@ -3503,7 +3502,7 @@ cfctl_find_maildesk_cf_plan_receipt_path() {
       printf '%s\n' "${candidate}"
       return 0
     fi
-  done
+  done < <(find "${runtime_dir}" -maxdepth 1 -type f -name 'maildesk-cf-maildesk-cf-*.json' -print | sort -r)
 
   return 1
 }
diff --git a/docs/runbooks/cfctl.md b/docs/runbooks/cfctl.md
index 76ec870..b009c84 100644
--- a/docs/runbooks/cfctl.md
+++ b/docs/runbooks/cfctl.md
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ CF_TOKEN_LANE=global cfctl apply edge.certificate order --zone example.com --hos
 - `apply <surface> sync` performs selective desired-state reconciliation on supported surfaces
 - `hostname verify|diff|plan` checks one YAML hostname lifecycle spec across DNS, TLS, Worker route, Access, Worker script, HTTP response, D1, and R2
 - `hostname apply` is blocked until composite mutation is backed by preview-gated component surfaces
-- `maildesk-cf init|verify|snapshot|diff|plan|provision --plan` checks one JSON maildesk spec across Email Routing aliases, Workers, D1, R2, Queues, DNS sender authentication, and outbound identity readback
+- `maildesk-cf init|verify|snapshot|diff|plan|provision --plan` checks one JSON maildesk spec across Email Routing aliases, Workers, D1, R2, Queues, sender mode, and enabled provider readback
 - `maildesk-cf provision --ack-plan <operation-id>` is blocked until composite mutation is backed by preview-gated component surfaces
 - `maildesk-cf` does not perform broad live sends; targeted delivery proof must be requested explicitly
 - destructive operations require explicit confirmation such as `--confirm delete`
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ The current implementation is read-only. It emits evidence for each component su
 
 ## maildesk-cf Lifecycle
 
-Use `maildesk-cf` when the question is whether a maildesk deployment is ready across inbound routing, storage, Workers, sender authentication, and outbound identity, not whether one isolated Cloudflare resource exists.
+Use `maildesk-cf` when the question is whether a maildesk deployment is ready across inbound routing, storage, Workers, and mode-driven sender posture, not whether one isolated Cloudflare resource exists.
 
 ```bash
 cfctl maildesk-cf init --domain example.com
@@ -215,8 +215,9 @@ cfctl maildesk-cf provision --file state/maildesk-cf/example.json --plan
 The current implementation is read-only. `provision --plan` emits a preview
 operation id plus proposed component operations; `provision --ack-plan` is
 blocked until each component mutation is present as a public preview-gated
-surface. Sender readiness uses DNS/authentication and provider readback
-evidence. Broad live sends are never attempted by default.
+surface. The public template defaults to receive-only outbound mode; enabled
+sender providers use DNS/authentication and provider readback evidence. Broad
+live sends are never attempted by default.
 
 ## Result Envelope
 
diff --git a/scripts/cf_maildesk_cf_lifecycle.py b/scripts/cf_maildesk_cf_lifecycle.py
index 7018144..85c76e9 100644
--- a/scripts/cf_maildesk_cf_lifecycle.py
+++ b/scripts/cf_maildesk_cf_lifecycle.py
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ def init_spec(domain: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
             "queue": "maildesk-cf-jobs",
         },
         "sender": {
-            "mode": "cloudflare_first",
-            "authenticated_domains": [domain],
+            "mode": "disabled",
+            "authenticated_domains": [],
         },
         "verification": {
             "allow_broad_live_sends": False,
@@ -694,95 +694,84 @@ def append_sender_checks(
         )
         return
     if mode in {"disabled", "receive_only"}:
-        drifts.append(
-            drift(
-                "sender_adapter_receive_only",
-                "error",
-                "sender.mode",
-                "Sender adapter is configured without outbound sending",
-                "outbound sender provider",
-                sender_spec.get("mode"),
+        checks["sender"]["ready"] = True
+    else:
+        for domain in [str(value) for value in authenticated if value]:
+            domain_evidence = (evidence.get("domains") or {}).get(domain) or {}
+            dns_items = items(domain_evidence.get("dns.record"))
+            spf_ok = has_txt(dns_items, domain, "v=spf1")
+            dmarc_ok = has_txt(dns_items, f"_dmarc.{domain}", "v=DMARC1")
+            domain_status = sender_domain_status(sender_evidence, domain)
+            provider_status = domain_status or {}
+            provider_verified = bool(
+                provider_status.get("verified")
+                or str(provider_status.get("status") or "").lower() in {"verified", "active", "ready"}
             )
-        )
-        checks["sender"]["ready"] = False
-        return
-
-    for domain in [str(value) for value in authenticated if value]:
-        domain_evidence = (evidence.get("domains") or {}).get(domain) or {}
-        dns_items = items(domain_evidence.get("dns.record"))
-        spf_ok = has_txt(dns_items, domain, "v=spf1")
-        dmarc_ok = has_txt(dns_items, f"_dmarc.{domain}", "v=DMARC1")
-        domain_status = sender_domain_status(sender_evidence, domain)
-        provider_status = domain_status or {}
-        provider_verified = bool(
-            provider_status.get("verified")
-            or str(provider_status.get("status") or "").lower() in {"verified", "active", "ready"}
-        )
-        domain_check = {
-            "provider": mode,
-            "provider_readback": provider_status if domain_status else None,
-            "spf_dns": spf_ok,
-            "dmarc_dns": dmarc_ok,
-            "provider_verified": provider_verified,
-        }
-        checks["sender"][domain] = domain_check
-        if not spf_ok:
-            drifts.append(
-                drift(
-                    "dns_authentication_drift",
-                    "error",
-                    f"dns.record:{domain}:SPF",
-                    "SPF TXT record is missing for sender authentication",
-                    "TXT v=spf1",
-                    [dns_name(record) for record in dns_items],
+            domain_check = {
+                "provider": mode,
+                "provider_readback": provider_status if domain_status else None,
+                "spf_dns": spf_ok,
+                "dmarc_dns": dmarc_ok,
+                "provider_verified": provider_verified,
+            }
+            checks["sender"][domain] = domain_check
+            if not spf_ok:
+                drifts.append(
+                    drift(
+                        "dns_authentication_drift",
+                        "error",
+                        f"dns.record:{domain}:SPF",
+                        "SPF TXT record is missing for sender authentication",
+                        "TXT v=spf1",
+                        [dns_name(record) for record in dns_items],
+                    )
                 )
-            )
-        if not dmarc_ok:
-            drifts.append(
-                drift(
-                    "dns_authentication_drift",
-                    "error",
-                    f"dns.record:_dmarc.{domain}",
-                    "DMARC TXT record is missing for sender authentication",
-                    "TXT v=DMARC1",
-                    [dns_name(record) for record in dns_items],
+            if not dmarc_ok:
+                drifts.append(
+                    drift(
+                        "dns_authentication_drift",
+                        "error",
+                        f"dns.record:_dmarc.{domain}",
+                        "DMARC TXT record is missing for sender authentication",
+                        "TXT v=DMARC1",
+                        [dns_name(record) for record in dns_items],
+                    )
                 )
-            )
-        if domain_status is None and not sender_readback_available(sender_evidence):
-            drifts.append(
-                drift(
-                    "provider_status_unavailable",
-                    "error",
-                    f"sender_domain:{domain}",
-                    "Sender-provider domain status readback is not available",
-                    {"provider": mode, "domain": domain},
-                    None,
+            if domain_status is None and not sender_readback_available(sender_evidence):
+                drifts.append(
+                    drift(
+                        "provider_status_unavailable",
+                        "error",
+                        f"sender_domain:{domain}",
+                        "Sender-provider domain status readback is not available",
+                        {"provider": mode, "domain": domain},
+                        None,
+                    )
                 )
-            )
-        elif domain_status is None:
-            drifts.append(
-                drift(
-                    "sender_domain_drift",
-                    "error",
-                    f"sender_domain:{domain}",
-                    "Sender-provider domain is not present in readback",
-                    "verified",
-                    {"provider": mode, "domains": sender_evidence.get("domains") or []},
-                    sender_domain_enable_plan_command(domain),
+            elif domain_status is None:
+                drifts.append(
+                    drift(
+                        "sender_domain_drift",
+                        "error",
+                        f"sender_domain:{domain}",
+                        "Sender-provider domain is not present in readback",
+                        "verified",
+                        {"provider": mode, "domains": sender_evidence.get("domains") or []},
+                        sender_domain_enable_plan_command(domain),
+                    )
                 )
-            )
-        elif not provider_verified:
-            drifts.append(
-                drift(
-                    "sender_domain_drift",
-                    "error",
-                    f"sender_domain:{domain}",
-                    "Sender-provider domain is not verified",
-                    "verified",
-                    provider_status,
-                    sender_domain_enable_plan_command(domain),
+            elif not provider_verified:
+                drifts.append(
+                    drift(
+                        "sender_domain_drift",
+                        "error",
+                        f"sender_domain:{domain}",
+                        "Sender-provider domain is not verified",
+                        "verified",
+                        provider_status,
+                        sender_domain_enable_plan_command(domain),
+                    )
                 )
-            )
 
     verification_spec = spec.get("verification") or {}
     if verification_spec.get("targeted_send_required"):
diff --git a/scripts/verify_maildesk_cf_contract.sh b/scripts/verify_maildesk_cf_contract.sh
index cab4ed5..64aadfa 100755
--- a/scripts/verify_maildesk_cf_contract.sh
+++ b/scripts/verify_maildesk_cf_contract.sh
@@ -22,8 +22,9 @@ require_source_line() {
 fixture_file="$(mktemp "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/maildesk-cf-fixture.XXXXXX")"
 missing_fixture_file="$(mktemp "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/maildesk-cf-missing-fixture.XXXXXX")"
 unverified_sender_fixture_file="$(mktemp "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/maildesk-cf-unverified-sender.XXXXXX")"
+cloudflare_sender_spec_file="$(mktemp "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/maildesk-cf-cloudflare-sender-spec.XXXXXX")"
 caller_spec_dir="$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/maildesk-cf-caller-spec.XXXXXX")"
-trap 'rm -f "${fixture_file}" "${missing_fixture_file}" "${unverified_sender_fixture_file}"; rm -rf "${caller_spec_dir}"' EXIT
+trap 'rm -f "${fixture_file}" "${missing_fixture_file}" "${unverified_sender_fixture_file}" "${cloudflare_sender_spec_file}"; rm -rf "${caller_spec_dir}"' EXIT
 
 require_source_line "worker evidence lane" '"worker.script": run_cfctl(["list", "worker.script"], lane="global"),' "${ROOT_DIR}/scripts/cf_maildesk_cf_lifecycle.py"
 require_source_line "d1 evidence lane" '"d1.database": run_cfctl(["list", "d1.database"], lane="global"),' "${ROOT_DIR}/scripts/cf_maildesk_cf_lifecycle.py"
@@ -140,6 +141,14 @@ cat >"${unverified_sender_fixture_file}" <<'JSON'
 }
 JSON
 
+jq '.sender = {"mode": "cloudflare_email_service", "authenticated_domains": ["example.com"]}' \
+  "${ROOT_DIR}/state/maildesk-cf/example.json" >"${cloudflare_sender_spec_file}"
+
+jq -e '
+  .sender.mode == "disabled"
+  and (.sender.authenticated_domains | length) == 0
+' "${ROOT_DIR}/state/maildesk-cf/example.json" >/dev/null || die "checked-in maildesk-cf example must default to disabled outbound sender mode"
+
 output="$(
   MAILDESK_CF_EVIDENCE_FILE="${fixture_file}" \
   MAILDESK_CF_ACTION=verify \
@@ -154,7 +163,11 @@ jq -e '
   and .readiness.instance_ready == true
   and .readiness.edge_ready == true
   and .readiness.mail_ready == true
+  and .checks.sender.mode.normalized == "disabled"
+  and .checks.sender.ready == true
   and (.drift_classes | index("provider_status_unavailable")) == null
+  and (.drift_classes | index("sender_adapter_receive_only")) == null
+  and (.drift_classes | index("sender_domain_drift")) == null
   and (.drift_classes | index("optional_live_send_not_requested")) != null
   and (.plan.operations | length) == 0
 ' "${artifact_path}" >/dev/null || die "fixture readiness contract did not match"
@@ -172,7 +185,8 @@ jq -e '
   .readiness.edge_ready == false
   and (.drift_classes | index("missing_resource")) != null
   and (.drift_classes | index("email_routing_alias_drift")) != null
-  and (.drift_classes | index("dns_authentication_drift")) != null
+  and (.drift_classes | index("dns_authentication_drift")) == null
+  and (.drift_classes | index("sender_adapter_receive_only")) == null
   and any(.plan.operations[]; .surface == "d1.database" and .preview_command == "cfctl wrangler d1 create maildesk-cf-db --plan" and .blocked == null)
   and any(.plan.operations[]; .surface == "d1.database" and .preview_command == "cfctl wrangler d1 create maildesk-cf-preview-db --plan" and .blocked == null)
   and any(.plan.operations[]; .surface == "r2.bucket" and .preview_command == "cfctl wrangler r2 bucket create maildesk-cf-raw-mail --plan" and .blocked == null)
@@ -183,7 +197,7 @@ jq -e '
 unverified_sender_output="$(
   MAILDESK_CF_EVIDENCE_FILE="${unverified_sender_fixture_file}" \
   MAILDESK_CF_ACTION=verify \
-  SPEC_FILE="${ROOT_DIR}/state/maildesk-cf/example.json" \
+  SPEC_FILE="${cloudflare_sender_spec_file}" \
   python3 "${ROOT_DIR}/scripts/cf_maildesk_cf_lifecycle.py"
 )"
 unverified_sender_artifact_path="$(printf '%s\n' "${unverified_sender_output}" | tail -n 1)"
diff --git a/state/maildesk-cf/README.md b/state/maildesk-cf/README.md
index 86729ac..e0c3616 100644
--- a/state/maildesk-cf/README.md
+++ b/state/maildesk-cf/README.md
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 # maildesk-cf State
 
 `maildesk-cf` specs describe the Cloudflare account resources needed for one
-maildesk deployment: Email Routing aliases, Workers, D1, R2, Queues, sender
-authentication, and outbound identity readiness.
+maildesk deployment: Email Routing aliases, Workers, D1, R2, Queues, and
+mode-driven sender readiness. The public example defaults to receive-only
+outbound mode; sender authentication is required only when a provider is
+enabled in the spec.
 
 Use the composite command when the question is deployment readiness rather than
 one isolated Cloudflare resource:
@@ -19,6 +21,6 @@ operation id. `maildesk-cf provision --ack-plan <operation-id>` is intentionally
 blocked until the component write paths are each preview-gated through public
 `cfctl` surfaces.
 
-The verifier does not perform broad live sends. Sender readiness is based on
+The verifier does not perform broad live sends. Enabled sender providers use
 DNS/authentication and provider readback evidence; targeted send proof remains
 an explicit human-requested check.
diff --git a/state/maildesk-cf/example.json b/state/maildesk-cf/example.json
index 144ed59..298d801 100644
--- a/state/maildesk-cf/example.json
+++ b/state/maildesk-cf/example.json
@@ -41,10 +41,8 @@
     "queue": "maildesk-cf-jobs"
   },
   "sender": {
-    "mode": "cloudflare_first",
-    "authenticated_domains": [
-      "example.com"
-    ]
+    "mode": "disabled",
+    "authenticated_domains": []
   },
   "verification": {
     "allow_broad_live_sends": false,