FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Getting started
Is the first tender really free?
Yes. The Free plan lets you run one real, live tender with up to 10 invited suppliers, with no card required.
What happens after my free tender?
Your tender and its records stay available. To run another tender, choose Starter or above.
Do I need procurement experience?
No. The AI Tender Builder asks the right questions and Red Team checks the result before you publish.
Suppliers
Do suppliers pay to respond?
Never. Invited suppliers always respond free.
Can suppliers see each other's bids or questions?
No. Each supplier only ever sees their own bid and their own questions. Answers you publish to everyone do not reveal who asked.
Can a supplier change their bid?
Yes, until the deadline. Every version is kept.
Sealed bidding
Can the buyer open bids early?
No. Bids are sealed on the server until the deadline and then open together.
What about late bids?
Submissions after the deadline are refused automatically.
AI governance
Does the AI make decisions?
No. It drafts, checks and suggests, always with evidence. People publish, score and award.
Where does the AI get its answers?
Only from your tender and the documents and answers suppliers submit. Every finding links back to its source.
What if a document cannot be read?
TenderLock tells you, and never claims to have analysed something it could not read.
Credits and billing
What are credits?
One balance per organisation that covers launching tenders and AI actions. Launching a tender uses 100 credits and an AI assistant message uses 1. Every plan includes a monthly allowance, and the full price list is in our terms.
What if I run out?
Buy a top-up pack at any time, or turn on auto top-up so you never stop mid-tender. We email the account owner as you approach your allowance.
Can I cancel?
Yes. Cancel at any time from Billing and your plan runs to the end of the period you have paid for.
Are prices shown with VAT?
Prices exclude VAT.
Data and security
How is my data protected?
Two-factor sign-in, malware scanning of uploads, role-based access, and an append-only audit ledger. Support staff cannot open sealed bids without a logged, time-limited reason.
Who owns my data?
You do. Your tenders and records remain yours.