Frequently Asked Questions
Everything contractors ask before signing up.
How it works
What does BidTerms actually do?
You upload an RFP (any PDF) and BidTerms reads it and pulls out what matters before you bid: scope of work, deadlines, required certifications and licenses, red flag clauses like liquidated damages and indemnification, and a submission checklist. It also generates a branded proposal template pre-filled with the project details.
How long does it take?
Most RFPs are done in under two minutes. If you have a really large document, say 100 pages or more, give it a little extra time.
What file types does BidTerms support?
PDF is the main format, which covers almost every RFP out there. Scanned PDFs work too. BidTerms uses OCR to read image-based documents, so even older scanned bids should process just fine.
Does it work for my trade?
Yes. BidTerms was built specifically for trade contractors: electricians, plumbers, HVAC, general contractors, and mechanical trades. It knows the certifications, license requirements, and clause types that show up in the kind of RFPs you actually bid on.
Accuracy
How accurate is it?
BidTerms caught 96% of high-risk clauses across a blind test of real-world RFPs, with every finding quoted directly from the source document. That number comes from internal testing on public construction RFPs we had never seen before. No tool catches everything and we are honest about that. Use BidTerms to speed up your review, but on a big job, still read the contract yourself.
How do I know the findings are real and not made up?
Every finding includes the exact sentence or paragraph from your document so you can see for yourself. If BidTerms cannot find the actual language in the PDF, it does not flag it. You will never see a finding that is not backed up by a direct quote from your document.
What if it misses something?
It can happen, especially with unusual clause phrasings or heavily formatted documents. That is why every finding shows the exact quote and where it appears in the PDF, so you can spot-check the important stuff. We are constantly improving it as we see new document types.
Why BidTerms instead of ChatGPT or Claude
Why not just paste the RFP into ChatGPT or Claude?
You can, and for a quick general read it works fine. The real problem is that general AI tools are designed to sound helpful and confident even when they are wrong. On a 90-page RFP, ChatGPT might tell you there is no liquidated damages clause when there is one buried in Section 00800. Or it might describe a clause that does not exist at all. Both look exactly the same in the output: a confident sentence with nothing to verify it against.
What makes BidTerms different from a general AI tool?
Three things. First, every finding has to be backed by a verbatim quote from your document. If BidTerms cannot find the clause, it does not report it. Second, the engine is built for construction RFPs and knows the clause types, legal phrasings, and trade-specific language that show up in these documents. Third, it knows the difference between clauses that look similar but carry very different risk. Pay-when-paid and pay-if-paid are one word apart but have completely different legal consequences. A general AI reads documents. BidTerms analyzes contracts.
Can I use BidTerms alongside ChatGPT?
Absolutely. Plenty of contractors use BidTerms to flag the risk and compliance issues, then use ChatGPT to help write the narrative parts of their proposal. They do different things and work well together.
Pricing and trial
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Seven days free, no credit card required. You get full access to everything during the trial.
How much does it cost after the trial?
$29 a month. Cancel whenever you want.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Cancel from your account settings and you will not be charged again. You keep access through the end of your billing period.
Is there a per-RFP charge?
No. Your subscription covers as many RFPs as you want to run.
Data and privacy
What happens to the RFPs I upload?
Your documents are only used to generate your analysis and nothing else. We do not share them with other users, use them to train AI models, or sell them. They are stored securely and tied only to your account.
Are my RFPs confidential?
Yes. Public RFPs are by definition public, but if you are uploading documents under NDA or with sensitive project details, your data stays in your account and is not visible to anyone else.
Where is my data stored?
BidTerms runs on Railway and stores documents on Cloudflare R2. Both are US-based.
Still have a question?
Email us at support@bidterms.com and we will get back to you within one business day.
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