Terms of service

Effective October 21, 2026. These terms apply to services from Great Lakes Bids (“we”) to the business that orders them (“you”). A signed engagement letter or written quote for a project controls if it conflicts with these terms.

1. What we do

We provide bid research, go/no-go reads, compliance matrices, response outlines, proposal sections, full proposal drafts, incumbent reports, and monthly bid desk services, as described on our pricing page or in a written quote.

2. Flat fees only, no success fees

Every service has a flat price or a fixed written quote. We never charge a success fee, commission, contingent fee, or percentage of any contract award or grant, and we won’t accept one. (See FAR 3.4 and FAR 52.203-5.) Work outside the agreed scope is quoted in writing before we start.

3. Payment

• Matrices, sections, and reports are paid up front. Full drafts are 50% to start and 50% on delivery.
• Bid desk plans are billed monthly in advance, with a 3-month minimum. After the minimum, cancel with 30 days’ notice. Unused matrices don’t roll over.
• Founding-client prices apply to our first 10 clients and are locked for 6 months from the first paid order.

4. You sign and submit

You are responsible for your offer, prices, representations and certifications, size status, and every fact in your proposal. You review, sign, certify, and submit your own bid. We never submit, sign, or certify for you, and we never use your SAM.gov, PIEE, SIGMA, BidNet, or other portal login. You download any attachments the agency gives only to registered vendors. We draft only from information you give us and from the solicitation, and we flag claims that lack support. You must name a reviewer at your company who approves every draft.

5. No guarantee of award

Agencies decide awards on the merits. We do not guarantee, predict, or promise any award, score, or outcome. Our reads, matrices, and drafts are not legal, tax, or accounting advice. We have no contacts with, and claim no influence over, any contracting official.

6. Our guarantees

• On time: if we miss the agreed delivery date for a matrix, section, or report, that item is free. If we miss it for a full draft, you get 50% of the fee back. This doesn’t apply when the delay comes from late or missing client information, or from a solicitation amendment issued after work starts.
• Accuracy: if a requirement stated in the solicitation is missing from our matrix, tell us and we’ll fix it within 24 hours at no charge.

7. AI-assisted work, with review

We use AI software to help read solicitations, extract requirements, and draft text. Every deliverable is checked against the solicitation before delivery. If a solicitation restricts AI use or requires disclosure of it, we follow it and tell you. You still review everything before you submit.

8. Site chat

The chat on this site is answered by an AI assistant working for Great Lakes Bids, with a person available when needed. Chat answers are general information only. They are not legal, tax, or accounting advice, and they aren’t a quote, offer, or commitment unless we confirm it in writing (for example, in a written quote or invoice). Don’t share passwords, login codes, CUI, ITAR or other export-controlled data, or classified information in the chat. Please don’t use the chat for spam or abuse; we may limit or block it. See the privacy policy for how chats are stored and deleted.

9. Confidentiality

Your materials are used only for your bids and are never shared with other clients or sold. We keep a reusable document library only with your permission. We may sign a mutual non-disclosure agreement on request. Our privacy policy explains how we handle information.

10. Controlled information is not accepted

We do not accept Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), export-controlled data (ITAR/EAR), classified material, or technical data packages. Don’t send them. Bids that need them are declined, or limited to non-controlled sections.

11. Not affiliated with any government

Great Lakes Bids is a private company. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for the U.S. Government, the State of Michigan, any local government, SAM.gov, or the APEX Accelerators. SAM.gov registration is always free at https://sam.gov, and we don’t charge for it.

12. Ownership

Once paid in full, you own the deliverables we create for you. We keep our general templates, methods, and know-how, and we may reuse them without your confidential information.

13. Limits of liability

To the extent the law allows, our total liability for any project is limited to the fees you paid for that project, and neither of us is liable for lost profits, lost awards, or indirect damages.

14. General

These terms are governed by Michigan law. We may update them by posting a new version with a new effective date. Changes don’t affect work already quoted. Questions: operations@greatlakesbids.com or 3721 W Michigan Ave, Ste 303 #265, Lansing, MI 48917.