Terms of Service

Welcome to ProjectXBidX.com ("Platform," "we," "us," or "our"). By accessing or using our website, services, or any associated applications, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use the Platform.

1. Description of Service

ProjectXBidX.com is a sealed-bid construction marketplace that connects customers who have projects with qualified contractors who submit competitive bids. The Platform provides project posting, bid submission, contractor profiles, in-platform messaging, notifications, and related tools.

We are a marketplace platform only. We do not perform construction work, employ contractors, guarantee the quality of work, or serve as a party to any agreement between customers and contractors.

2. Eligibility & Accounts

• You must be at least 18 years old and legally able to enter into binding agreements.
• You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and keep your account information updated.
• Each account is for a single individual or business entity. You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account.
• You may register as a Customer (project owner), a Bidder (contractor), or both. Each role is governed by these Terms.

3. Customer Responsibilities

• Provide accurate and complete project descriptions, including scope of work, location, and completion criteria.
• Review bids in good faith and treat all bidders with professionalism.
• Understand that awarding a bid through the Platform does not constitute a binding construction contract — you are responsible for executing your own agreements with chosen contractors.
• Do not post fraudulent, misleading, or illegal project listings.

4. Bidder (Contractor) Responsibilities

• Provide truthful business information, credentials, and bid details.
• Only upload credentials (license, bond, insurance, etc.) that are valid and belong to you or your business.
• Submit bids in good faith with realistic pricing and timelines.
• Understand that qualification badges (Gold, Silver, Bronze) are based on documents you upload. We do not independently verify the authenticity or validity of uploaded credentials at this time.
• Do not submit spam bids, fraudulent proposals, or bids on projects you have no intention or ability to complete.

5. Sealed Bid System

• All bids are sealed — only the customer (project owner) and Platform administrators can view bid details.
• Bidders cannot see competing bids, bid amounts, or other bidders' information on the same project.
• Any attempt to circumvent the sealed-bid system (e.g., soliciting bid information from other bidders or the customer) may result in account suspension.

6. Paid Estimate Incentives

Customers may optionally fund a "Paid Estimate Pool" for a project, offering monetary rewards to qualified bidders who submit estimates. These payments are processed through Stripe.

• Paid estimate rewards are subject to eligibility criteria set by the customer and enforced by the Platform.
• Customers may dispute paid estimate claims for reasons including spam, wrong trade, duplicate submissions, or unqualified bids.
• Disputes are reviewed by Platform administrators, whose decisions are final.
• Platform fees are deducted from paid estimate rewards before contractor payouts.

7. Payments & Fees

• Account registration and basic use of the Platform (posting projects, submitting bids, messaging) are currently free.
• Paid features (paid estimate pools, premium listings, etc.) are processed through Stripe. By using paid features, you also agree to Stripe's Terms of Service.
• We reserve the right to introduce new fees or modify existing fee structures with reasonable notice.

8. Content & Uploads

• You retain ownership of content you upload (photos, documents, videos, bid proposals).
• By uploading content, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to store, display, and distribute your content as necessary to operate the Platform.
• You must not upload content that is illegal, defamatory, infringing, obscene, or harmful.
• We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these Terms or is flagged for review.

9. Messaging & Communication

• All in-platform messages are logged and may be reviewed by administrators for moderation purposes.
• Do not use the messaging system for harassment, spam, soliciting personal information unrelated to a project, or any illegal activity.

10. Reviews & Ratings

• Reviews must be honest, based on genuine experience, and not intended to manipulate ratings.
• Fake reviews, paid reviews, or review manipulation will result in content removal and potential account suspension.
• We reserve the right to moderate, flag, or remove reviews that violate our guidelines.

11. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable laws or regulations.
• Attempt to access other users' accounts, bids, or private data.
• Reverse-engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract the source code of the Platform.
• Use automated tools (bots, scrapers) to access or interact with the Platform without permission.
• Impersonate another person, business, or entity.
• Engage in bid manipulation, price-fixing, or collusion.

12. Account Suspension & Termination

• We may suspend or terminate your account at our discretion if you violate these Terms, engage in fraud, or are reported for misconduct.
• Banned users will be redirected to a notice page and will not be able to access Platform features.
• You may delete your account at any time by contacting support. Certain data (bids, messages related to active projects) may be retained as necessary for platform integrity.

13. Disclaimers

• The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied.
• We do not guarantee the accuracy of contractor credentials, badges, or qualifications. Customers are responsible for independently verifying contractor qualifications before hiring.
• We are not responsible for the quality, safety, legality, or completion of any construction work arranged through the Platform.
• We do not guarantee any specific number of bids, response times, or project outcomes.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, ProjectXBidX.com, its owners, officers, employees, and affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Platform, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, or business opportunities.

15. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless ProjectXBidX.com and its affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) arising from your use of the Platform, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any third-party rights.

16. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify users via in-platform notification and/or email. Your continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

17. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Platform shall be resolved in the courts of Del Norte County, California.

18. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at support@projectxbidx.com.