Last Updated: June 26, 2025

Welcome to TenderZone! This Privacy Policy describes how TenderZone (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, processes, and discloses your information in connection with your access to and use of the TenderZone platform, including our websites, mobile applications, and other online services (collectively, the “Platform”).

TenderZone operates as a marketplace platform designed to connect ‘Clients’ (care providers seeking services such as tender writing, tender review, CQC compliance assistance, and other related consultancy needs) with ‘Service Providers’ (tender writers, consultants, and other professionals offering these services). By accessing or using our Platform, you signify that you have read, understood, and agree to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy and our Specific Terms for TenderZone Users. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not use our Platform.

Table of Contents

  1. Information We Collect
  2. How We Use Your Information
  3. How We Share and Disclose Your Information
  4. Data Security
  5. Your Rights and Choices
  6. Data Retention
  7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
  8. Third-Party Links
  9. Children’s Privacy
  10. International Data Transfers
  11. Specific Terms for TenderZone Users
  12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
  13. Contact Us

1. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to provide and improve our services, facilitate connections, and ensure the smooth operation of our marketplace. This information can be broadly categorized as follows:

  • Information You Provide to Us:
    • Account Information: When you register for an account, we collect your name, email address, password, company name, business type (e.g., care provider, consultant), and contact phone number.
    • Profile Information: You may choose to provide additional information for your profile, such as a company description, expertise (for Service Providers), service requirements (for Clients), qualifications, certifications, portfolio details, and links to professional profiles.
    • Tender & Requirement Details (for Clients): Information related to your tender requirements, CQC review needs, or other consultancy requests. This may include project descriptions, deadlines, budgets, specific challenges, and any uploaded documents pertinent to the project (e.g., tender documents, CQC reports, business plans).
    • Offer & Service Details (for Service Providers): Information related to the offers you submit, including pricing, service scope, proposed methodologies, and any supporting documentation or proposals.
    • Communications: When you communicate with us (e.g., customer support, feedback) or with other users through the Platform’s messaging features, we collect the content of these communications.
    • Payment Information: To facilitate transactions on the Platform, we collect payment card details (e.g., card number, expiration date, CVV) or other financial account information. This information is processed securely by our third-party payment processors, and we do not store full payment card details on our servers.
  • Information We Collect Automatically When You Use Our Platform:
    • Usage Information: We collect information about your interactions with the Platform, such as the pages or content you view, the searches you conduct, the tenders you post or bid on, the features you use, and the duration and frequency of your activities.
    • Log Data: Our servers automatically record information (“log data”) created by your use of the Platform, including your IP address, access times, hardware and software information, device information, device event information (e.g., crashes), unique identifiers, and the page you visited before navigating to our Platform.
    • Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to collect information, remember your preferences, and improve your experience. For more details, please see our section on Cookies and Tracking Technologies.
  • Information We Collect from Third Parties:
    • Verification Services: To verify your identity or qualifications (especially for Service Providers), we may obtain information from third-party verification services, subject to your consent where required.
    • Publicly Available Information: We may collect information from publicly accessible sources (e.g., company registers, professional networking sites) to enhance your profile or verify details.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, primarily to operate, maintain, and improve the TenderZone Platform and to facilitate the connection between Clients and Service Providers:

  • To Provide, Operate, and Maintain Our Platform:
    • To enable you to access and use the Platform’s features, including creating and managing accounts, posting requirements, submitting offers, and communicating with other users.
    • To process transactions and payments related to services facilitated through the Platform.
    • To provide customer support and respond to your inquiries.
  • To Facilitate Connections and Services:
    • To match Clients with suitable Service Providers based on their stated requirements and expertise.
    • To allow Service Providers to submit offers and engage with Clients regarding their tender requirements.
    • To enable secure communication between Clients and Service Providers on the Platform.
  • To Improve and Personalize Your Experience:
    • To understand how you use the Platform and to analyze trends to enhance user experience, optimize features, and develop new services.
    • To personalize content, recommendations, and advertisements based on your preferences and past interactions.
    • To perform analytics, conduct research, and gather statistical data to optimize performance.
  • For Security and Fraud Prevention:
    • To detect, prevent, and investigate fraudulent activities, unauthorized access, and other illegal activities.
    • To protect the security and integrity of our Platform, systems, and user data.
  • For Communication and Marketing:
    • To send you transactional emails (e.g., account verification, password reset, payment confirmations, notifications about tender updates or offers).
    • To send you marketing and promotional communications about TenderZone’s services, features, and offers that may be of interest to you, from which you can opt-out at any time.
    • To provide updates regarding the Platform, policy changes, or important announcements.
  • For Legal Compliance and Protection:
    • To comply with legal obligations, regulatory requirements, and enforce our Terms of Service and other agreements.
    • To respond to legal requests, court orders, or government inquiries.
    • To protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property, and/or that of our affiliates, users, or the public.

3. How We Share and Disclose Your Information

We may share your information with third parties in the following circumstances, subject to appropriate safeguards:

  • With Other Users:
    • When a Client posts a tender or requirement, relevant details will be shared with Service Providers who may be interested in submitting offers.
    • When a Service Provider submits an offer, their profile and offer details will be shared with the Client.
    • Once a match is made or an offer is accepted, communication tools on the Platform will facilitate the sharing of necessary information between the Client and Service Provider to proceed with the service.
  • With Service Providers and Third-Party Vendors: We work with third-party service providers to perform functions on our behalf, such as payment processing, hosting, data analytics, customer support, email delivery, and marketing services. These providers have access to your information only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for other purposes.
  • For Legal Reasons: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with legal obligations, protect and defend the rights or property of TenderZone, prevent fraud, enforce our agreements, or protect the personal safety of users or the public.
  • Business Transfers: In the event that TenderZone is involved in a merger, acquisition, reorganization, sale of assets, or bankruptcy, your information may be sold or transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email and/or a prominent notice on our Platform of any such change in ownership or control of your personal information.
  • With Your Consent: We may share your information for any other purpose with your explicit consent.
  • Aggregated or Anonymized Data: We may share aggregated or anonymized information (which cannot reasonably be used to identify you) with third parties for various purposes, including industry analysis, demographic profiling, marketing, and other business purposes.

4. Data Security

TenderZone is committed to protecting the security of your information. We implement a variety of technical, administrative, and physical security measures designed to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

  • Encryption: We use industry-standard encryption technologies (e.g., SSL/TLS) to encrypt data in transit over the internet.
  • Access Controls: Access to your personal information is restricted to authorized employees, contractors, and agents who need to know that information to process it for us, and who are subject to strict contractual confidentiality obligations.
  • Regular Security Audits: We regularly review our information collection, storage, and processing practices, including physical security measures, to guard against unauthorized access to systems.
  • Data Minimization: We strive to collect only the personal information that is necessary for the purposes for which it is processed.
  • Password Protection: Your account is protected by a password. We strongly recommend that you choose a strong, unique password and keep it confidential.

While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. You are also responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.

5. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction and applicable data protection laws, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

  • Access and Rectification: You have the right to access and obtain a copy of your personal information that we hold and to request that any inaccuracies be corrected. You can usually access and update much of your account information directly through your profile settings on the Platform.
  • Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): You may have the right to request the deletion of your personal information under certain circumstances, for example, if the data is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected. Please note that we may be required to retain certain information by law or for legitimate business purposes (e.g., for transaction records or dispute resolution).
  • Restriction of Processing: You may have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal information in certain situations, such as if you contest the accuracy of the data or if the processing is unlawful.
  • Object to Processing: You may have the right to object to the processing of your personal information for certain purposes, such as direct marketing.
  • Data Portability: You may have the right to receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and to transmit that data to another controller, where technically feasible.
  • Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
  • Lodge a Complaint: You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the Contact Us section. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable law.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide the services you have requested, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. The retention period may vary depending on the type of information and the purpose for which it was collected. For example, we will retain your account information for as long as your account is active. Transactional data will be retained for a period required by applicable tax and accounting laws. Communications and project details will be retained for a reasonable period to facilitate dispute resolution and service quality assurance. Once your information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

TenderZone uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our Platform. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us improve our Platform and your experience, see which areas and features of our Platform are popular, and count visits. We use cookies for the following purposes:

  • Strictly Necessary Cookies: These cookies are essential for the operation of our Platform, enabling core functionalities like security, network management, and accessibility. You cannot opt out of these cookies.
  • Analytical/Performance Cookies: These cookies allow us to recognize and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our Platform when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our Platform works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.
  • Functionality Cookies: These are used to recognize you when you return to our Platform. This enables us to personalize our content for you, greet you by name, and remember your preferences (for example, your choice of language or region).
  • Targeting/Advertising Cookies: These cookies record your visit to our Platform, the pages you have visited, and the links you have followed. We will use this information to make our Platform and the advertising displayed on it more relevant to your interests. We may also share this information with third parties for this purpose.

Most web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. If you prefer, you can usually choose to set your browser to remove or reject browser cookies. Please note that if you choose to remove or reject cookies, this could affect the availability and functionality of our Platform.

We may also use web beacons (also known as “tracking pixels”) and other similar technologies. These are small graphic files that contain a unique identifier that enables us to recognize when someone has visited our Platform or opened an email that we have sent them. This allows us, for example, to monitor the traffic patterns of users from one page within our Platform to another, to deliver or communicate with cookies, to understand whether you have come to our Platform from an online advertisement displayed on a third-party website, to improve site performance, and to measure the success of email marketing campaigns.

8. Third-Party Links

Our Platform may contain links to websites or services operated by third parties. This Privacy Policy does not apply to the practices of third parties. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit before providing them with any personal information.

9. Children’s Privacy

Our Platform is not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete such information from our records as quickly as possible.

10. International Data Transfers

TenderZone operates globally, and your information may be stored and processed in any country where we have facilities or where we engage service providers. By using our Platform, you understand that your information may be transferred to countries outside of your country of residence, which may have data protection laws different from those in your country. We take appropriate measures to ensure that your personal information is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy, including implementing standard contractual clauses or other legal mechanisms for data transfers where applicable.

11. Specific Terms for TenderZone Users

The following terms are specific to the operational framework of the TenderZone marketplace and apply to all Clients (care providers) and Service Providers (tender writers/consultants) utilizing our Platform. By using TenderZone, you explicitly acknowledge, understand, and agree to these critical provisions.

11.1. Payment, Pricing, and Refunds

  • Binding Agreement: Once a Client accepts an Offer submitted by a Service Provider through the TenderZone platform, and a Service Agreement is formed, the agreed-upon price for the services specified in that agreement becomes final, binding, and immediately liable for payment by the Client. The act of acceptance signifies a firm commitment to engage the Service Provider and pay the stipulated amount.
  • No Refunds Policy: TenderZone operates on a strict “no refunds” policy. All payments made or agreed to be made for services facilitated through the TenderZone Platform are non-refundable. This applies regardless of the outcome of the tender process (e.g., whether the tender is won or lost), the results of any CQC review, any subsequent dissatisfaction with the service provider’s performance (provided the Service Provider has substantially commenced or completed the agreed-upon work), or any changes in the Client’s circumstances or project requirements after the offer has been accepted. It is the Client’s responsibility to thoroughly review all offers, communicate clearly with Service Providers, and satisfy themselves with the terms before accepting an offer.
  • Payment Processing: All payments for services agreed upon through TenderZone must be processed via the Platform’s designated payment system. Circumventing the platform’s payment mechanism is a violation of our terms and may lead to account suspension or termination.

11.2. Platform Usage and Non-Circumvention

  • Exclusivity of Engagement: To protect the integrity of the TenderZone marketplace and its business model, Clients and Service Providers who connect with each other through the TenderZone Platform are strictly prohibited from directly or indirectly soliciting, negotiating, or contracting with each other for services similar to those facilitated by TenderZone, outside of the TenderZone Platform. This prohibition applies for a period of twelve (12) months following their initial connection through the Platform, or the completion of their last project facilitated by TenderZone, whichever is later.
  • Prohibition on Circumvention: Any attempt to circumvent the Platform’s payment mechanisms, communication channels, or engagement processes, or to take business relationships established through TenderZone off-platform, constitutes a material breach of this Privacy Policy and TenderZone’s broader Terms of Service. This includes, but is not limited to, sharing direct contact information (email, phone numbers, social media handles) with the intent to conduct business outside the platform, agreeing to off-platform payments, or using information obtained through TenderZone to solicit services directly.
  • Consequences of Breach: Any such circumvention may result in immediate and permanent suspension or termination of the offending party’s account(s), forfeiture of any pending payments or credits, and may subject the infringing party to liquidated damages (calculated as a reasonable percentage of the estimated value of the circumvented transaction, plus any legal costs) and other legal remedies available to TenderZone for breach of contract.

11.3. Limitation of Liability

  • Marketplace Facilitator Only: TenderZone acts solely as an online marketplace platform to connect Clients with Service Providers. TenderZone does not provide the services offered by Service Providers, nor does it supervise, direct, control, or endorse the work performed by Service Providers. TenderZone does not guarantee the quality, accuracy, legality, or suitability of services provided by Service Providers, or the success of any tender submission, CQC review, or any other outcome resulting from the services.
  • User Responsibility: All interactions, communications, agreements, and disputes between Clients and Service Providers are solely between those parties. TenderZone is not a party to any service agreements between Clients and Service Providers. Users are solely responsible for vetting prospective partners, negotiating terms, supervising the work, and resolving any disputes that may arise.
  • Disclaimer of Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, TenderZone expressly disclaims all liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages, including but not limited to, damages for loss of profits, goodwill, use, data, or other intangible losses (even if TenderZone has been advised of the possibility of such damages), arising out of or in connection with:
    • The use or inability to use the Platform.
    • The services rendered by Service Providers or the outcomes thereof (e.g., lost tenders, CQC non-compliance).
    • The conduct of any users of the Platform, whether online or offline.
    • Any unauthorized access to or alteration of your transmissions or data.
    • Statements or conduct of any third party on the Platform.
    • Any other matter relating to the Platform or the services facilitated through it.
  • No Recourse Against TenderZone: By using the Platform, you irrevocably agree that TenderZone, its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, and licensors shall not be liable for any claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, or costs arising from your use of the Platform or the services facilitated through it. You expressly waive any right to sue TenderZone for any claim arising from your use of the Platform or services.

11.4. Disclaimer of Warranties

The TenderZone Platform is provided “as is” and “as available” without any warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and non-infringement. TenderZone does not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free, that defects will be corrected, or that the Platform or the servers that make it available are free of viruses or other harmful components. TenderZone makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or timeliness of any content available on the Platform.

11.5. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless TenderZone, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, and licensors from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that arise from or relate to your use or misuse of the Platform, your breach of this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service, your violation of any rights of another (including intellectual property rights), or any service you provide or receive through the Platform.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. If we make material changes, we will notify you by revising the “Last Updated” date at the top of this Privacy Policy and, in some cases, we may provide you with additional notice (such as adding a statement to our homepage or sending you an email notification). Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of the revised Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for the latest information on our privacy practices.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please do not hesitate to contact us:

Email: care@tenderzone.com

We will endeavor to respond to your inquiries as promptly as possible.