1. Agreement to These Terms

By accessing or using our website, accepting a quote or service agreement, submitting payment, or engaging Civic Bearing to perform services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms.

Each engagement may also be governed by a written quote, statement of work, order form, or service agreement (collectively, a "Project Agreement"). If a Project Agreement expressly conflicts with these Terms, the Project Agreement controls for that engagement.

If you accept these Terms on behalf of a company or other organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that organization. In these Terms, "client" and "you" refer to the person or organization purchasing or using the applicable service.

Our consulting services are intended for business use and not for personal, family, or household purposes.

2. Our Services

Civic Bearing provides capture-management and pre-request-for-proposal strategy services for businesses pursuing government-contracting opportunities.

Services may include:

• Civic Scan, an opportunity-screening and prioritization service;
• Civic Chart, an opportunity-specific capture-strategy engagement;
• Civic Watch, an ongoing opportunity-monitoring and advisory service;
• research concerning agencies, competitors, incumbents, potential teaming partners, contract vehicles, forecasts, and procurement activity;
• Pursue, Team, Watch, or Pass recommendations;
• development of preliminary win themes and strategic considerations;
• strategy calls and proposal-team handoffs; and
• other advisory or research services expressly identified in a Project Agreement.

Our responsibility is limited to the services and deliverables expressly included in the applicable Project Agreement.

3. Services We Do Not Provide

Unless expressly included in a Project Agreement, Civic Bearing does not provide:

• proposal writing, proposal editing, desktop publishing, or proposal production;
• pricing development, cost-volume preparation, rate setting, or accounting services;
• legal, tax, financial, lobbying, or regulatory advice;
• legal review or negotiation of teaming agreements, subcontracts, joint ventures, or other contracts;
• representations, certifications, registrations, or filings on a client's behalf;
• proposal submission or submission-portal management;
• cybersecurity, facility-clearance, personnel-clearance, export-control, or classified-information services;
• direct contact with a government agency, contracting officer, program office, incumbent, competitor, or potential teaming partner on the client's behalf; or
• a guarantee of solicitation release, eligibility, responsiveness, evaluation, award, revenue, or any other contracting outcome.

A proposal handoff or strategic recommendation is an advisory deliverable. It is not proposal content, legal advice, a compliance certification, or a substitute for the client's final bid, no-bid, teaming, pricing, or submission decision.

4. Public-Source Research and Information Limitations

Civic Bearing generally relies on publicly available information, client-authorized materials, commercial research tools, and reasonable professional analysis. Sources may include federal procurement databases, agency forecasts, solicitation notices, award records, public company information, and other third-party materials.

Public and third-party information may be incomplete, delayed, inaccurate, inconsistent, or later revised. Award data may be subject to reporting delays or disclosure limitations. Agency forecasts, acquisition plans, and anticipated dates may change without notice and do not guarantee that an opportunity will be competed, funded, or awarded.

Civic Bearing does not warrant that any research source is complete, current, or error-free. We may make reasonable inferences from available information, but we will identify material assumptions where practical.

Unless Civic Watch or another continuing-monitoring service is included in the Project Agreement, our obligation to research or update an opportunity ends upon delivery of the applicable service. We have no duty to monitor later developments unless agreed in writing.

5. Recommendations and Client Decisions

Civic Bearing may categorize opportunities as Pursue, Team, Watch, or Pass and may identify potential win themes, partners, competitors, risks, or positioning strategies. These outputs reflect professional judgment based on the information available at the time of the analysis.

Recommendations are advisory and are not instructions, guarantees, certifications, or promises of future results. The client remains solely responsible for:

• deciding whether and how to pursue an opportunity;
• validating eligibility, contract-vehicle access, certifications, socioeconomic status, past performance, staffing, clearances, and technical capabilities;
• investigating and selecting teaming partners;
• obtaining legal review of agreements;
• developing pricing and proposal content;
• conducting final solicitation and compliance review; and
• submitting a complete, accurate, authorized, and timely response.

Identification of a company as an incumbent, competitor, or potential partner is not an endorsement, representation of availability, or substitute for the client's own due diligence.

6. Civic Scan

Unless the applicable Project Agreement states otherwise, Civic Scan includes in-depth research on at least five opportunities, a Pursue, Team, Watch, or Pass recommendation for each reviewed opportunity, an agency and incumbent snapshot, and a findings call.

The standard anticipated turnaround is two to five business days after the engagement becomes production-ready. This is an estimate, not a guarantee, and may change based on scope, source availability, client delay, or events outside our control.

Civic Scan is a screening service. It does not include a complete capture plan, proposal development, legal review, partner outreach, or continuous monitoring after delivery.

7. Civic Chart

Unless the applicable Project Agreement states otherwise, Civic Chart focuses on one identified opportunity and may include a customer profile, competitor and teaming analysis, three to four preliminary win themes, a final strategic recommendation, and a proposal-team handoff.

The standard anticipated turnaround is two to three weeks after the engagement becomes production-ready. This is an estimate, not a guarantee, and may change based on the opportunity, scope, source availability, client delay, or events outside our control.

Win themes and strategy recommendations are preliminary advisory work based on available information. The client must validate, substantiate, and appropriately incorporate any theme or claim into its proposal and broader capture process.

8. Civic Watch

Civic Watch is an ongoing monitoring and advisory service. Unless the applicable Project Agreement states otherwise, Civic Watch may include identification of new opportunities, monitoring of forecasts, requests for information and procurement timelines, competitor and agency alerts, and one monthly strategy call.

Civic Watch requires an initial three-month commitment. Unless otherwise stated in the Project Agreement:

• fees are billed monthly in advance;
• the initial term does not automatically renew;
• continuation after the initial term requires written renewal or a new Project Agreement; and
• a client that cancels during the initial term remains responsible for fees due through the end of that term, except where cancellation results from Civic Bearing's uncured material breach or applicable law requires otherwise.

The client must identify its target agencies, capabilities, contract vehicles, geographic or performance constraints, and other relevant filters. Civic Bearing is not responsible for opportunities missed because the client provided incomplete, inaccurate, or outdated search criteria.

Monitoring frequency and sources will be stated in the Project Agreement. Civic Watch is not real-time monitoring and does not guarantee discovery of every relevant opportunity or change.

9. Client Responsibilities

Successful and timely performance depends on client cooperation. You are responsible for providing all materials and decisions reasonably necessary for Civic Bearing to perform the engagement, including, when applicable:

• accurate company, capability, past-performance, certification, and contract-vehicle information;
• target agencies, markets, opportunity identifiers, and strategic priorities;
• relevant solicitation notices, forecasts, requests for information, draft or final solicitations, amendments, and agency communications;
• current business-development or capture materials;
• known teaming, incumbent, conflict, organizational, or eligibility considerations;
• consolidated feedback, approvals, and decisions; and
• any additional information reasonably requested for the engagement.

You are responsible for ensuring that all information supplied to Civic Bearing is complete, accurate, current, lawful, and authorized for our use.

You must promptly provide any new solicitation, amendment, cancellation, agency clarification, forecast change, acquisition update, or other development that could affect the engagement.

Civic Bearing is not responsible for errors, omissions, delays, rework, missed opportunities, or other consequences resulting from incomplete, inaccurate, outdated, withheld, or late information supplied by the client.

10. Ethical Capture and Procurement Integrity

Civic Bearing performs services using lawful and ethical research and advisory methods. We do not request, accept, use, or assist a client in obtaining information that the client or Civic Bearing is prohibited from receiving or using.

You agree not to ask Civic Bearing to:

• obtain or use nonpublic source-selection information or contractor bid or proposal information;
• seek confidential competitor information through misrepresentation, inducement, or improper contact;
• engage in bribery, kickbacks, bid-rigging, collusion, conflicts of interest, false statements, or deceptive conduct;
• evade procurement-integrity, organizational-conflict-of-interest, lobbying, ethics, employment, or post-government-employment restrictions; or
• perform any unlawful, fraudulent, deceptive, or unethical activity.

Our fees are compensation for professional services and are not contingent upon contract award unless a lawful arrangement is expressly documented in a Project Agreement reviewed by appropriate counsel.

Civic Bearing may decline, pause, or terminate any engagement that presents a legal, ethical, procurement-integrity, conflict-of-interest, or reputational concern.

11. Restricted and Sensitive Information

Unless Civic Bearing has expressly agreed in writing that it is authorized and equipped to receive specified information, you must not provide us with:

• classified information;
• Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI);
• source-selection information;
• contractor bid or proposal information protected from disclosure;
• export-controlled technical data;
• information subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations or Export Administration Regulations restrictions;
• protected health information;
• sensitive personal information, financial account data, or government-issued identification numbers; or
• information requiring specialized security, storage, access, or regulatory controls.

If you become aware that restricted or sensitive information was provided unintentionally, you must notify Civic Bearing promptly and cooperate with reasonable containment and deletion measures.

12. Engagement Acceptance and Conflicts

Civic Bearing may review a prospective engagement for capacity, fit, conflicts, ethics, source availability, and other business considerations before accepting it.

We may serve companies operating in the same industry or pursuing similar markets, provided that doing so does not violate an applicable confidentiality obligation or conflict restriction. Acceptance of one engagement does not create exclusivity unless exclusivity is expressly included in a Project Agreement.

The client must disclose any known actual or potential conflict that could materially affect the engagement. Civic Bearing may decline or limit an engagement when we reasonably determine that a conflict cannot be managed.

13. Quotes, Pricing, and Scope

Published website prices are starting prices and do not constitute binding quotes.

Final pricing may vary based on the number and complexity of opportunities, research depth, source availability, agency or market complexity, requested turnaround, meetings, deliverable format, and overall scope.

The final scope, price, assumptions, payment schedule, and anticipated turnaround will be confirmed in writing before work begins.

Any service, research, meeting, revision, deliverable, or monitoring activity not expressly included in the Project Agreement is outside scope.

14. Payment and Start Conditions

Payment terms will be stated in the applicable Project Agreement. Civic Bearing may require payment in full, an advance payment, or the first recurring payment before work begins or capacity is reserved.

Unless the Project Agreement states otherwise, an engagement does not begin and a delivery window is not reserved until Civic Bearing has received:

• the client's accepted Project Agreement;
• all payments then due;
• complete intake information and required materials; and
• any required confidentiality, conflict, or authorization documentation.

The client is responsible for applicable taxes, transaction charges, and payment-processing fees to the extent permitted by law and disclosed before payment.

If an invoice becomes past due, Civic Bearing may pause services, withhold deliverables, decline renewal, or terminate the engagement after providing reasonable notice. The client remains responsible for undisputed amounts properly due.

15. Production Readiness and Turnaround

An engagement is "production-ready" when Civic Bearing has received the accepted Project Agreement, all payments then due, complete intake information, required source materials, required client decisions, and any other item reasonably necessary to begin.

Quoted turnaround periods begin only when the engagement is production-ready. Time spent waiting for client information, clarification, decisions, feedback, approval, or payment is not included in Civic Bearing's turnaround period.

Business days exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and U.S. federal holidays. Unless otherwise stated, time references use Eastern Time.

Any delivery date tied to an anticipated agency event or client deadline is subject to the client meeting all required deadlines and responsibilities.

16. Client Delays

If required materials, feedback, approval, clarification, or payment are not received by the stated deadline, Civic Bearing may pause the engagement. The production clock stops during the pause, and the original delivery date is no longer guaranteed.

Once the outstanding item is received, Civic Bearing will determine a revised schedule based on the remaining work and then-current availability. We are not required to displace another client, work outside the agreed schedule, or compress our process to preserve a deadline affected by client delay.

If a client delay continues for ten business days, Civic Bearing may release the reserved production window. If a delay continues for thirty calendar days, Civic Bearing may close the engagement. Resumption after release or closure is subject to availability and may require a revised scope, new Project Agreement, reactivation fee, or new payment.

Except where required by law or expressly stated in a Project Agreement, client delay, nonresponsiveness, or failure to meet client responsibilities does not create a right to a refund.

17. Government and Opportunity Changes

Government opportunities may be delayed, revised, consolidated, recompeted, withdrawn, canceled, funded differently, moved to another vehicle, or never formally solicited.

An agency or market change does not constitute a breach by Civic Bearing and does not automatically create a right to a refund. If a change materially affects the agreed work, the parties may agree to revise the opportunity, scope, fee, deliverable, or schedule through a written change order.

Civic Bearing is not responsible for changes that occur after a deliverable is issued unless continued monitoring is included in the Project Agreement.

18. Revisions and Change Orders

Included revision rounds, if any, will be stated in the Project Agreement. A revision round means one consolidated set of comments submitted at one time.

Revisions are intended to correct factual issues, clarify analysis, or make reasonable refinements within the original scope. They do not include research on a new opportunity, material expansion of the research question, new agencies or competitors, replacement deliverables, additional meetings, or significant strategy changes arising from new information.

Out-of-scope work may require a written change order, additional fee, and revised schedule. Civic Bearing will communicate material changes to price or timing before additional billable work proceeds.

19. Civic Scan Credit

If the client purchases Civic Chart within thirty calendar days after delivery of a paid Civic Scan, Civic Bearing will apply the eligible Civic Scan fee as a credit toward the Civic Chart engagement, subject to the following conditions:

• the Civic Chart must concern an opportunity reviewed in the Civic Scan, unless Civic Bearing agrees otherwise in writing;
• the client must have paid all Civic Scan amounts in full;
• the credit has no cash value and cannot be refunded, transferred, combined with another promotion, or applied to a past invoice; and
• the credit may not exceed the Civic Chart fee.

Any different credit terms stated in a Project Agreement or written offer will control.

20. Cancellations and Rescheduling

Cancellation or rescheduling requests must be made in writing.

Because an accepted engagement may reserve professional capacity and cause Civic Bearing to decline other work, cancellation or rescheduling does not automatically create a right to a refund.

For project-based services, the client is responsible for fees attributable to work performed, non-cancellable commitments, and capacity reasonably reserved before cancellation. Any remaining refund, if applicable, will be determined under the Project Agreement and Section 21.

For Civic Watch, the initial commitment and cancellation terms in Section 8 apply.

Rescheduling is subject to Civic Bearing's availability and does not guarantee preservation of the original delivery date, agency timeline, or client deadline.

21. Refunds

Except where a refund right is required by law or expressly provided in a Project Agreement:

• fees for services already performed are non-refundable;
• recurring fees are non-refundable once the applicable service month begins;
• approved expenses and non-cancellable third-party charges are non-refundable; and
• payments reasonably allocated to reserved capacity may be non-refundable once the reservation begins, but only when the non-refundable amount or method of calculation is identified in the Project Agreement.

A client is not entitled to a refund solely because the client changes strategy, decides not to pursue an opportunity, misses a deadline, loses eligibility, does not use a deliverable, is dissatisfied with a recommendation, or does not receive a solicitation, evaluation result, or award.

If Civic Bearing cancels for reasons attributable solely to Civic Bearing, Section 23 applies.

Nothing in these Terms limits a cancellation, refund, or other right that cannot lawfully be waived.

22. Suspension and Termination

Civic Bearing may pause, suspend, or terminate an engagement when the client:

• fails to provide required materials, decisions, approvals, or payment;
• provides materially inaccurate, misleading, unauthorized, or incomplete information;
• materially changes the engagement without approving additional scope;
• breaches these Terms or the Project Agreement;
• requests or appears to request unlawful, fraudulent, deceptive, or unethical work;
• provides restricted information contrary to Section 11;
• creates an unmanageable conflict, security, or procurement-integrity concern;
• engages in abusive, threatening, harassing, or inappropriate conduct; or
• otherwise prevents Civic Bearing from reasonably performing the engagement.

When practical and appropriate, Civic Bearing will provide notice and a reasonable opportunity to cure a remediable breach. We are not required to continue work during a cure period or provide an opportunity to cure unlawful, unsafe, fraudulent, abusive, or serious ethical conduct.

Except where required by law, suspension or termination resulting from a client breach, delay, nonresponsiveness, prohibited request, or other client-caused circumstance does not create a right to a refund. The client remains responsible for properly due fees, approved expenses, non-cancellable commitments, and work performed through the termination date.

Sections that by their nature should survive termination, including payment obligations, confidentiality, intellectual property, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification, and dispute provisions, will survive.

23. Cancellation by Civic Bearing

Civic Bearing may determine before or during an engagement that we cannot reasonably, ethically, or appropriately continue.

If Civic Bearing cancels solely for its own convenience and not because of a client-caused circumstance, we will refund amounts paid for services not performed and capacity not yet used or reserved, less any authorized non-cancellable expenses.

This refund provision does not apply when cancellation or termination results from client delay, nonresponsiveness, inaccurate information, breach, restricted materials, unlawful or unethical requests, inappropriate conduct, or another material client-caused circumstance.

24. Confidentiality and File Handling

Civic Bearing will use reasonable care to protect nonpublic client information and will use it only as reasonably necessary to evaluate, perform, administer, or enforce the engagement, except as authorized by the client or required by law.

If the parties execute a nondisclosure agreement, that agreement governs the confidentiality obligations within its scope. If a confidentiality provision in a Project Agreement conflicts with this section, the more specific written provision controls.

Civic Bearing may disclose client information to employees, contractors, professional advisers, and service providers who reasonably need access and are subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations. We may also disclose information when required by law, subpoena, court order, or lawful government request, and will provide notice when legally permitted and reasonably practicable.

Confidentiality obligations do not apply to information that the receiving party can demonstrate:

• is or becomes public through no breach of duty;
• was already lawfully known without a confidentiality obligation;
• is received lawfully from a third party without a confidentiality obligation; or
• is independently developed without use of the other party's confidential information.

The client remains responsible for retaining its own copies of all source materials and deliverables. Unless a Project Agreement or law requires a different period, Civic Bearing may delete project files after a reasonable retention period.

25. Third-Party Services

Civic Bearing may use third-party research platforms, public databases, cloud storage, videoconferencing, email, payment processing, document tools, scheduling systems, artificial-intelligence-assisted tools, and other service providers reasonably necessary to operate our business and perform services.

Third-party platforms may have their own terms, privacy practices, availability limitations, and security controls. Civic Bearing is not responsible for a third party's independent acts, omissions, outages, data errors, or policy changes, but we will exercise reasonable care in selecting and using service providers appropriate to the information and engagement.

We will not knowingly submit information described in Section 11 to a third-party tool unless the client has expressly authorized the specific handling and Civic Bearing has agreed in writing that the tool and workflow are appropriate.

26. Client Rights and Representations

By providing documents, data, graphics, records, opportunity information, company information, or other materials, the client represents and warrants that it:

• possesses the authority and necessary rights to provide those materials and authorize their use;
• has complied with applicable confidentiality, privacy, employment, procurement, and contractual obligations;
• is not asking Civic Bearing to obtain, use, or disclose information unlawfully; and
• will not use our services or deliverables for an unlawful, fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading purpose.

The client retains responsibility for the legality, accuracy, completeness, and substantive content of client-provided materials.

27. Ownership and Intellectual Property

The client retains ownership of materials and intellectual property it supplies to Civic Bearing.

Upon full payment, the client owns the final project-specific deliverables expressly identified in the Project Agreement, excluding Civic Bearing's pre-existing materials and retained intellectual property described below.

Civic Bearing retains ownership of its pre-existing and independently developed methodologies, scoring approaches, frameworks, taxonomies, templates, research processes, prompts, checklists, tools, systems, workflows, general know-how, and reusable components ("Civic Bearing Materials"). To the extent Civic Bearing Materials are embedded in a final deliverable, Civic Bearing grants the client a perpetual, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use those embedded materials for the client's internal business purposes and the applicable contracting pursuit. The client may share a deliverable with its employees, advisers, and actual or prospective teaming partners who have a legitimate need to know, provided the client protects Civic Bearing's confidential and proprietary materials.

No right is granted to resell, publish, sublicense, train a commercial model on, create a competing product from, or commercially distribute Civic Bearing Materials without our written permission.

Civic Bearing will not publish the client's name, logo, confidential information, or identifying project details in a portfolio, case study, testimonial, or marketing material without the client's written permission.

28. No Guarantee of Contracting Outcome

Civic Bearing provides research and advisory services. We do not represent, warrant, or guarantee that:

• an anticipated opportunity will be funded, solicited, or awarded;
• the client is or will remain eligible to compete;
• an agency will accept a response or proposal;
• a proposed partner will agree to team;
• a recommendation, win theme, or strategy will be adopted or successful;
• the client will receive a particular score, evaluation, shortlist position, or award;
• an incumbent, competitor, agency, or market participant will act as anticipated; or
• the engagement will produce revenue, profit, or return on investment.

Government agencies, prime contractors, teaming partners, and other third parties make independent decisions outside Civic Bearing's control.

29. Disclaimer of Warranties

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE WEBSITE, SERVICES, RESEARCH, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND DELIVERABLES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." CIVIC BEARING DISCLAIMS ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE WEBSITE OR ANY THIRD-PARTY SOURCE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, COMPLETE, CURRENT, ACCURATE, OR ERROR-FREE.

Nothing in this section excludes a warranty or obligation that cannot legally be excluded.

30. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, CIVIC BEARING WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST REVENUE, LOST BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, LOST CONTRACTS, LOSS OF DATA, OR LOSS OF AN ANTICIPATED CONTRACT AWARD ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THE WEBSITE, SERVICES, OR DELIVERABLES.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, CIVIC BEARING'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO A PARTICULAR SERVICE OR ENGAGEMENT WILL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT ACTUALLY PAID TO CIVIC BEARING FOR THAT SERVICE OR ENGAGEMENT.

The limitations in this section apply regardless of the legal theory asserted and even if a remedy fails of its essential purpose, but they do not exclude or limit liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

31. Indemnification

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the client will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Civic Bearing and its owners, personnel, and contractors from third-party claims, damages, judgments, penalties, costs, and reasonable attorneys' fees arising from:

• client-provided materials that infringe, misappropriate, or violate another person's rights;
• the client's unlawful, fraudulent, deceptive, or unauthorized use of the services or deliverables;
• the client's breach of Sections 10, 11, or 26; or
• a material misrepresentation made by the client in connection with the engagement.

Civic Bearing will provide prompt notice of a covered claim and reasonable cooperation at the client's expense. The client may not settle a claim in a manner that admits wrongdoing by or imposes an obligation on Civic Bearing without our written consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld.

32. Events Outside Our Control

Civic Bearing will not be responsible for delay or inability to perform caused by circumstances reasonably outside our control, including severe weather, natural disaster, public emergency, labor disruption, war, terrorism, civil unrest, government action, widespread internet or power outage, cyberattack, illness, transportation disruption, or failure of a critical platform or service provider.

If such an event materially affects an active engagement, Civic Bearing will make reasonable efforts to communicate the impact and establish a revised schedule. If performance becomes impracticable for an extended period, either party may terminate the affected engagement, subject to payment for work performed, capacity used, and non-cancellable commitments.

33. Independent Contractor; No Agency or Teaming Relationship

Civic Bearing performs services as an independent contractor.

Nothing in these Terms or an engagement creates an employment, agency, partnership, joint venture, fiduciary, mentor-protege, prime-subcontractor, teaming, lobbying, or representative relationship between Civic Bearing and the client.

Civic Bearing has no authority to bind the client, make representations to a government agency or third party on the client's behalf, submit a proposal for the client, or enter an agreement in the client's name unless the parties expressly agree in writing and the arrangement is lawful.

34. Website Use

The Civic Bearing website and its general educational content are provided for informational purposes. Website content is not individualized capture, legal, financial, procurement, or business advice and should not be treated as a substitute for a Project Agreement or engagement-specific analysis.

You may not use the website to:

• violate any law or another person's rights;
• introduce malicious code or interfere with website security or operation;
• scrape, harvest, or systematically extract content except as permitted by law or our written consent;
• impersonate another person or misrepresent your affiliation; or
• copy, republish, or commercially exploit website content beyond applicable law and any express permission.

We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the website at any time.

35. Electronic Communications and Acceptance

You consent to receive engagement-related communications electronically at the contact information you provide. You are responsible for keeping that information current and for monitoring it for invoices, approvals, deadlines, notices, and deliverables.

Electronic signatures, click-through acceptance, email acceptance, payment, and other electronic records may be used to form and administer an engagement to the extent permitted by law.

36. Governing Law and Venue

These Terms and any dispute arising from or relating to Civic Bearing's website, services, or deliverables are governed by the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Unless a different dispute-resolution provision is included in an applicable Project Agreement, any legal proceeding arising from or relating to these Terms or Civic Bearing's services will be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction located in Seminole County, Florida, and the parties consent to personal jurisdiction and venue there.

37. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted, and the remaining provisions will continue in effect.

38. No Waiver

Civic Bearing's failure to enforce any provision on one occasion does not waive the right to enforce that provision or any other provision later. A waiver must be in writing and signed by the party granting it.

39. Changes to These Terms

Civic Bearing may update these Terms from time to time by posting a revised version with a new effective date.

The Terms applicable to a particular engagement will generally be those in effect when the applicable Project Agreement is accepted. A later website update will not retroactively modify an existing Project Agreement unless the parties agree in writing or the change is required by law.

Continued use of the website after revised Terms become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised website-use terms.

40. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the applicable Project Agreement, accepted quote, statement of work, confidentiality agreement, and any policy expressly incorporated into the engagement, constitute the entire agreement between Civic Bearing and the client regarding the applicable services and supersede prior or contemporaneous discussions and representations on the same subject.

A purchase order or client form will not modify the agreement unless Civic Bearing expressly accepts the conflicting term in a writing signed by an authorized representative.

41. Contact

Questions regarding these Terms may be directed to Civic Bearing, Central Florida, contact@civicbearing.com.

Civic Bearing provides capture-management and pre-request-for-proposal strategy services. Our work may require clients to share capability information, past-performance details, agency priorities, target opportunities, competitive intelligence, potential teaming information, internal strategy, and other materials that may be confidential, proprietary, competitively sensitive, or otherwise not intended for public disclosure. We recognize the responsibility that comes with receiving those materials.

This Privacy Policy should be read together with our Terms of Service, the applicable Project Agreement, and any nondisclosure agreement ("NDA") governing a client engagement.

1. Our Commitment to Privacy

Civic Bearing is committed to treating client, prospective-client, website-visitor, and business-contact information with care and using it only for legitimate business and service-related purposes.

Our general approach is to:

• collect information reasonably necessary to operate our business and provide requested services;
• use information for disclosed, authorized, or legally permitted purposes;
• limit access to information based on legitimate business needs;
• maintain reasonable safeguards appropriate to the information we handle;
• respect contractual confidentiality obligations;
• avoid selling confidential client information;
• avoid publicly identifying clients or disclosing client strategy without authorization; and
• delete or deidentify information when continued retention is no longer reasonably necessary, subject to contractual and legal obligations.

No privacy or security practice can eliminate every risk. We therefore encourage clients to follow the secure-transmission and data-minimization practices described in this Policy.

2. Scope of This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through:

• the Civic Bearing website;
• contact, intake, qualification, and service-finder forms;
• discovery calls and strategy consultations;
• scheduling platforms;
• email and other business communications;
• quote requests and proposals;
• Project Agreements and NDAs;
• payment transactions;
• file-transfer and collaboration systems;
• Civic Scan, Civic Chart, and Civic Watch engagements;
• research, monitoring, and advisory services; and
• other direct interactions with Civic Bearing.

This Policy does not control the independent privacy practices of third-party websites, public databases, government systems, or services that Civic Bearing does not own or control.

3. Categories of Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect the following categories of information:

• Identifiers and contact information, such as name, business email address, telephone number, mailing address, and online identifiers;
• Professional and company information, such as employer, job title, company website, capabilities, certifications, socioeconomic status, industries, and markets served;
• Government-contracting information, such as NAICS or PSC codes, contract vehicles, target agencies, opportunity identifiers, relevant past performance, procurement timelines, and capture priorities;
• Commercial and transaction information, such as requested services, quotes, invoices, payment status, and engagement history;
• Communications, including messages, call notes, intake responses, feedback, approvals, and other information you provide;
• Engagement content, such as strategy materials, research questions, opportunity assessments, teaming considerations, and client-provided documents;
• Website and device information, such as IP address, browser, device type, referring page, pages visited, and interaction data; and
• Approximate location information, when derived from an IP address or similar technical information.

We do not intentionally collect highly sensitive personal information unless it is reasonably necessary, lawful, and expressly accepted for a particular purpose. Section 12 identifies information clients should not provide through our standard services.

4. Contact and Business Information

We may collect information you voluntarily provide, including:

• first and last name;
• business email address;
• telephone number;
• company or organization name;
• job title;
• business address;
• website;
• business size or revenue range when relevant to service fit;
• government-contracting experience;
• service interests; and
• other information included in an inquiry or communication.

You are not required to provide information unrelated to the service you are requesting.

5. Inquiry and Scheduling Information

When you contact us or schedule a consultation, we may collect or receive:

• your name, email address, telephone number, company, and job title;
• the selected service or reason for the meeting;
• appointment date, time, and time zone;
• responses to intake or qualification questions;
• information about a target opportunity or business-development need;
• meeting notes, follow-up items, and communications; and
• other information you voluntarily provide.

Scheduling, videoconferencing, or form providers may process this information on our behalf or under their own terms and privacy practices.

6. Engagement Information

When you request or purchase services, we may collect information necessary to evaluate, quote, schedule, manage, and perform the engagement.

This may include:

• requested service and scope;
• authorized client contacts;
• target agencies, programs, markets, and geographic areas;
• target opportunities and opportunity numbers;
• anticipated procurement dates and client deadlines;
• desired research depth and deliverable format;
• client capabilities, constraints, and strategic priorities;
• status updates, revisions, approvals, and decisions;
• billing and payment status; and
• other information reasonably necessary to perform the engagement.

7. Client-Provided Capture and Business Information

Clients may provide information concerning:

• company capabilities, differentiators, certifications, and contract vehicles;
• relevant past performance and customer relationships;
• pipeline, capture, bid, no-bid, and growth priorities;
• internal opportunity assessments;
• agency, incumbent, competitor, and teaming-partner insights;
• staffing, clearance, geographic, facility, or performance constraints;
• business-development and capture processes;
• potential win themes and value propositions;
• internal risk considerations; and
• other company or strategy information.

These materials may be confidential, proprietary, competitively sensitive, or trade-secret information. Civic Bearing uses them only as reasonably necessary to evaluate, administer, or perform the requested services, protect our rights, comply with law, or carry out another purpose authorized by the client.

Civic Bearing does not acquire ownership of client information merely because the client provides it to us.

8. Opportunity and Research Materials

Clients may provide or direct us to materials such as:

• agency forecasts and acquisition plans;
• requests for information, sources-sought notices, draft solicitations, and final solicitations;
• amendments, agency questions and answers, and public notices;
• award records and incumbent information;
• capability statements and public company information;
• capture plans, pipeline reports, account plans, and internal research;
• past-performance descriptions;
• public records and research reports; and
• other opportunity-related materials.

Some materials may combine public information with confidential client analysis. The public availability of a source document does not make the client's selection, annotations, conclusions, or strategy public.

9. Publicly Available Information

Civic Bearing may collect information from government databases, agency websites, procurement notices, award records, company websites, professional profiles, press releases, public reports, and other lawfully available sources.

This may include business contact information and professional information about government personnel, company representatives, incumbents, competitors, or potential teaming partners when reasonably relevant to an engagement.

We use public-source information for legitimate research, verification, analysis, monitoring, service improvement, and business-development purposes. We do not represent that public or third-party information is complete, current, or error-free.

When a person contacts us about personal information obtained from a public source, we will evaluate the request in light of the source, our purpose, contractual duties, legal obligations, and applicable law.

10. Confidential and Proprietary Information

Information provided during an engagement may include proprietary business information, trade secrets, internal processes, capture strategy, customer intelligence, personnel information, technical information, or other confidential material.

Civic Bearing will use reasonable care to protect nonpublic client information and will limit its use to the purposes described in this Policy, the Terms of Service, the Project Agreement, and any applicable NDA.

Confidentiality protections may arise from contract, trade-secret law, professional practice, or other applicable law. Nothing in this Policy transfers ownership of a client's confidential information to Civic Bearing.

11. Nondisclosure Agreements

Civic Bearing may enter into an NDA when requested or appropriate for an engagement.

An NDA may establish additional obligations concerning:

• the definition of confidential information;
• permitted use;
• disclosure restrictions;
• authorized recipients;
• information-security expectations;
• return, deletion, or destruction;
• exclusions from confidentiality;
• legally compelled disclosures;
• the duration of obligations; and
• other agreed protections.

When an NDA applies, Civic Bearing will handle covered information according to that agreement in addition to this Privacy Policy and the applicable Project Agreement. If an NDA provides greater protection to specific information than this general Policy, the applicable contractual obligation will control.

The absence of an executed NDA during an initial inquiry does not mean Civic Bearing considers nonpublic materials to be public. However, a prospective client that requires specific contractual protections should complete the applicable NDA before transmitting sensitive information.

12. Information We Ask You Not to Provide

Civic Bearing's standard services are not designed for the handling of certain regulated, procurement-sensitive, or highly sensitive information.

Unless Civic Bearing has expressly agreed in writing that it is authorized and equipped to receive specified information, do not provide us with:

• classified information;
• Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI);
• source-selection information;
• contractor bid or proposal information protected from disclosure;
• export-controlled technical data;
• information subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations or Export Administration Regulations restrictions;
• Social Security numbers, driver's-license numbers, passport numbers, or similar government identifiers;
• passwords, authentication credentials, private encryption keys, or security answers;
• full payment-card numbers or online banking credentials;
• protected health information;
• sensitive personal, personnel, or background-investigation records unrelated to the engagement;
• privileged legal communications unless the client and its counsel have approved the disclosure; or
• information requiring specialized security, storage, access, or regulatory controls that Civic Bearing has not expressly agreed to provide.

An NDA does not by itself authorize Civic Bearing to receive information requiring specialized controls.

If you believe restricted information was transmitted inadvertently, contact Civic Bearing promptly and cooperate with reasonable containment and deletion measures.

13. Payment Information

Payments may be processed through third-party payment processors.

Depending on the payment method, those providers may collect information such as:

• cardholder or account-holder name;
• billing address;
• payment-card or bank information;
• transaction amount; and
• other information necessary to process payment.

Civic Bearing may receive transaction-related information such as your name, amount paid, payment status, transaction identifier, payment method category, and billing information.

We do not intend to directly store complete payment-card numbers, card security codes, or online banking passwords when transactions are handled by a third-party payment processor. Payment providers maintain their own privacy and security practices.

14. Automatically Collected Website Information

When you visit our website, certain information may be collected automatically by our hosting, security, analytics, or other technology providers.

This information may include:

• IP address;
• browser and device type;
• operating system;
• referring website or campaign;
• pages viewed;
• date and time of access;
• approximate location derived from technical information;
• clicks, form interactions, and similar usage data; and
• diagnostic, performance, and security information.

We may use this information for website functionality, security, analytics, attribution, troubleshooting, accessibility, and improvement.

15. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website may use cookies, pixels, local storage, and similar technologies for purposes including:

• essential website functionality;
• security and fraud prevention;
• remembering preferences;
• analytics and performance measurement;
• understanding referral sources; and
• improving the visitor experience.

Third-party services integrated with our website may use their own cookies or similar technologies.

Where legally required, we will provide applicable notice, consent, or preference mechanisms. You may also be able to manage cookies through your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect website functionality.

Where applicable law requires recognition of a legally valid universal opt-out signal, Civic Bearing will honor the signal as required.

16. How We Use Information

Civic Bearing may use information to:

• respond to inquiries and communicate with you;
• schedule and conduct consultations;
• determine whether an engagement fits our services;
• screen for conflicts, ethics, procurement-integrity, and data-handling concerns;
• prepare quotes, Project Agreements, and NDAs;
• process payments and maintain transaction records;
• perform Civic Scan, Civic Chart, Civic Watch, and other agreed services;
• research agencies, markets, opportunities, incumbents, competitors, and potential partners;
• develop opportunity assessments and strategic recommendations;
• monitor developments requested by a client;
• prepare and deliver reports, calls, alerts, and other deliverables;
• obtain and manage client feedback, decisions, and approvals;
• administer, secure, and improve our website and business systems;
• maintain financial, tax, insurance, and business records;
• detect, prevent, and investigate fraud, misuse, or security issues;
• establish, exercise, or defend contractual and legal rights;
• comply with legal and regulatory obligations; and
• carry out another purpose disclosed to or authorized by the client.

17. Data Minimization

Civic Bearing seeks to collect, use, and retain information reasonably related to legitimate business and service purposes.

Clients should provide only information reasonably necessary for the applicable inquiry or engagement. If a document contains unnecessary sensitive information, the client should remove or redact that information before transmission.

We may ask a client to use a summary, excerpt, redacted copy, or public-source reference instead of transmitting an entire document when the additional information is not necessary.

18. Use of Client Materials

Client materials are provided to Civic Bearing for professional services and related business administration.

Unless the client expressly authorizes otherwise, Civic Bearing does not use confidential client information for:

• public portfolio examples;
• website samples;
• social-media content;
• advertising;
• publicly distributed case studies;
• testimonials attributed to the client;
• public training examples; or
• disclosure to unrelated prospective clients.

We will not publish the client's name, logo, confidential strategy, or identifying project details without appropriate authorization.

If we wish to showcase work publicly, we will request written permission or use material that is independently created, lawfully public, or appropriately deidentified and does not reveal confidential client strategy.

19. Artificial Intelligence and Technology-Assisted Tools

Civic Bearing may use artificial-intelligence-assisted, search, analytics, automation, and other technology tools to support research, drafting, synthesis, quality assurance, workflow management, or internal business operations.

Confidential client information will not knowingly be submitted to a generative artificial-intelligence system unless Civic Bearing has reasonably determined that the proposed use, provider terms, account settings, and workflow are consistent with:

• the applicable NDA and Project Agreement;
• our confidentiality and privacy obligations;
• the nature and sensitivity of the information;
• applicable data-handling requirements; and
• any client restriction accepted in writing.

Civic Bearing will not knowingly submit classified information, CUI, source-selection information, protected contractor bid or proposal information, export-controlled information, or other information requiring specialized controls to a general-purpose generative AI system.

We do not authorize an artificial-intelligence provider to use confidential client information to develop a public portfolio, market the client, or disclose the client's identity. Where an agreement prohibits a particular type of processing, that written restriction will control.

20. Human Review

Technology may assist portions of our workflow, but Civic Bearing's professional services are not represented as fully automated.

Civic Bearing applies human professional judgment to material client-facing recommendations and deliverables within the scope of the applicable Project Agreement.

The client remains responsible for validating its capabilities and eligibility and for all final pursuit, teaming, pricing, proposal, compliance, and submission decisions as described in our Terms of Service.

21. Third-Party Service Providers

Civic Bearing may use third-party providers to operate our business and perform services. Depending on our current technology stack, these may include providers of:

• website hosting and domain services;
• email and business communications;
• online forms and scheduling;
• videoconferencing;
• cloud storage and file transfer;
• payment processing and accounting;
• electronic signatures;
• project and customer-relationship management;
• government-contracting research and public-data access;
• analytics and website security;
• artificial-intelligence-assisted and productivity tools; and
• legal, tax, insurance, and other professional services.

These providers may process information as necessary to provide their services. They may act on our behalf, for their own disclosed purposes, or both, depending on the service and relationship.

Civic Bearing uses reasonable care when selecting providers appropriate to the information and purpose, but independent providers maintain their own systems, terms, security practices, and privacy policies.

22. Information We May Disclose

Civic Bearing may disclose information when reasonably necessary:

• to perform requested services;
• to personnel and contractors with a legitimate need to know;
• to authorized service providers;
• to professional advisers such as attorneys, accountants, or insurers;
• to process transactions and administer agreements;
• at the client's direction or with the client's consent;
• to establish, exercise, or defend legal or contractual rights;
• to prevent fraud, misuse, security threats, or unlawful activity;
• to protect the safety or security of Civic Bearing, our clients, or others;
• to comply with valid legal process or legal obligations; or
• in connection with a permitted business transfer.

Disclosure for a limited purpose does not make confidential information public. Applicable confidentiality and use restrictions may continue to apply.

23. Legally Required Disclosure

Civic Bearing may be required by law, subpoena, court order, regulatory requirement, or other valid legal process to disclose information.

Where legally permitted and reasonably practicable, we may notify the affected client before disclosing confidential client information so that the client may seek a protective order or other appropriate relief.

Nothing in this Privacy Policy requires Civic Bearing to violate applicable law or a binding legal order.

24. Sale of Personal Information and Targeted Advertising

Civic Bearing does not sell confidential client information, capture strategy, or client-provided opportunity materials.

Civic Bearing does not currently sell personal information for money or use personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising as those terms are defined under applicable U.S. state privacy laws.

We may disclose limited information to service providers that support our website, communications, payments, analytics, and business operations. Such operational disclosures are not intended as sales of personal information.

If our practices materially change, we will update this Privacy Policy and provide any notice, consent, or opt-out mechanism required by applicable law.

25. Data Security

Civic Bearing maintains reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the nature of the information we handle. These safeguards are intended to reduce risks such as unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, misuse, loss, or destruction.

Our practices may include, as appropriate:

• access controls and authentication;
• use of reputable cloud and business-service providers;
• security updates and system maintenance;
• encryption provided by transmission and storage platforms;
• limited access based on business need;
• confidentiality obligations for authorized personnel;
• secure deletion or disposal practices; and
• incident-response and recovery measures.

No electronic transmission, storage system, cloud platform, email system, or security process can guarantee absolute security. Civic Bearing therefore does not represent that unauthorized access or security incidents can never occur.

26. Client Responsibility for Secure Transmission

Clients are responsible for using the file-transfer or communication method designated for an engagement when one is provided.

Clients should not send sensitive or restricted information through unapproved channels merely because those channels are convenient. Before sharing a document, clients should review it for information outside the agreed scope and remove or redact unnecessary sensitive information.

Civic Bearing is not responsible for a vulnerability created solely by the client's use of an unauthorized or insecure transmission method outside Civic Bearing's reasonable control.

27. Security Incidents and Data Breaches

If Civic Bearing becomes aware of a security incident affecting information in our custody or control, we may take appropriate steps to:

• investigate and document the incident;
• contain, mitigate, or remediate the incident;
• identify affected information, systems, and individuals;
• preserve relevant records;
• notify affected service providers, advisers, or authorities;
• take corrective action; and
• provide notices required by applicable law or contract.

The timing, content, and recipients of any notice will depend on the facts, applicable law, contractual obligations, law-enforcement requests, and the results of an appropriate investigation.

Nothing in this Privacy Policy expands a notification obligation beyond what applicable law or contract requires.

28. Data Retention

Civic Bearing retains information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and for legitimate business, contractual, accounting, insurance, tax, dispute-resolution, security, or legal purposes.

Unless a Project Agreement, NDA, legal obligation, or documented business need requires a different period, Civic Bearing generally applies the following targets:

• Unconverted inquiries and consultation records: up to twenty-four months after the last meaningful interaction;
• Active engagement files: for the duration of the engagement;
• Working copies of client project materials: generally deleted from active working systems within ninety days after the engagement ends;
• Final deliverables and essential engagement records: up to three years after the engagement ends;
• Contracts, invoices, payment records, tax records, and dispute-related records: up to seven years or longer when required by law; and
• Website analytics, security logs, and system records: according to operational need and the settings or retention cycles of the applicable provider, generally no longer than twenty-six months unless needed for security, legal, or dispute purposes.

Routine backups, disaster-recovery copies, security logs, and provider archives may retain information temporarily after deletion from active systems. Those copies will remain protected and will be deleted or overwritten through the ordinary retention cycle unless preservation is required.

Civic Bearing may retain a minimal record of an engagement, deletion request, opt-out, legal hold, or contractual obligation when reasonably necessary to document compliance or protect legal rights.

29. Return or Destruction of Confidential Materials

Where required by an applicable NDA or Project Agreement, Civic Bearing will follow the agreed procedures concerning return, deletion, or destruction of confidential client materials.

Unless otherwise agreed, Civic Bearing may retain:

• records required by law, tax, accounting, insurance, or professional obligations;
• information necessary to establish, exercise, or defend legal rights;
• automatically generated backup or security copies until they are overwritten in the ordinary course; and
• appropriately deidentified information that no longer reasonably identifies the client or an individual.

Any retained confidential copy remains subject to applicable confidentiality obligations for as long as those obligations apply.

30. Deidentified and Aggregated Information

Civic Bearing may use appropriately deidentified or aggregated information for legitimate internal purposes, such as improving research workflows, measuring service performance, identifying broad market patterns, planning resources, or improving our website.

We will not attempt to reidentify deidentified information except to test whether deidentification measures are effective or as otherwise permitted by law.

Deidentified or aggregated information will not be used to disclose confidential client strategy or reasonably identify a client when that identification has not been authorized.

31. Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, the nature of the information, the context in which it was collected, and the law that applies, you may have rights concerning personal information.

Those rights may include requests to:

• confirm whether we process personal information about you;
• access certain personal information;
• correct inaccurate personal information;
• delete certain personal information;
• obtain a portable copy of certain information;
• opt out of certain sales, sharing, targeted advertising, or profiling;
• withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; or
• appeal certain privacy-request decisions.

These rights are subject to legal definitions, applicability thresholds, verification requirements, exceptions, and retention obligations. Not every privacy statute applies to every business, person, or transaction, and information about a company may not receive the same treatment as personal information about an identifiable individual.

Civic Bearing will not unlawfully discriminate against a person for exercising an applicable privacy right.

32. Privacy Requests

Privacy-related requests may be submitted to contact@civicbearing.com with the subject line Privacy Request.

Please describe the request and identify your relationship with Civic Bearing. We may request information reasonably necessary to verify your identity, authority, or the information at issue. An authorized agent may be required to provide written proof of authority, and we may also verify the request directly with the individual.

We may deny, limit, or charge a reasonable fee for a request when permitted by law, including when we cannot reasonably authenticate the request, the request is excessive or repetitive, an exception applies, or the information must be retained for legal or contractual purposes.

We will respond within the period required by applicable law. If no specific law establishes a response period, we will make reasonable efforts to respond within forty-five days.

33. Client Company Information and Personal Information

Civic Bearing primarily provides business-to-business services.

Some information we receive concerns a company, agency, or opportunity rather than an identifiable individual. Other information, such as a contact person's name, business email address, telephone number, professional profile, or information appearing within engagement materials, may relate to an identifiable person.

The legal treatment of information varies based on its nature, source, purpose, jurisdiction, and applicable law. This Policy describes our practices broadly without representing that every category of information is legally classified in the same manner.

34. Information About Other People

If you provide personal information about an employee, consultant, government contact, teaming contact, customer, reference, or another person, you represent that you are authorized to provide it for the intended purpose or that another lawful basis supports the disclosure.

You should not provide sensitive personal information about another person when less sensitive information would be sufficient.

Public professional information used for legitimate opportunity research may be obtained directly from public sources rather than from the person described.

35. Children's Privacy

Civic Bearing provides professional business-to-business services and does not direct its website or services to children under thirteen.

We do not knowingly solicit personal information from children through our professional services. If we learn that a child provided personal information directly through our website without appropriate authorization, we may take reasonable steps to delete it, subject to applicable legal obligations.

36. Email and Business Communications

Civic Bearing may send communications necessary to:

• respond to inquiries;
• schedule appointments;
• administer agreements;
• request engagement information;
• provide research updates, alerts, or deliverables;
• issue invoices or payment confirmations;
• communicate about an active or prior engagement; and
• maintain the business relationship.

We may also send occasional marketing or educational communications when permitted by law. Recipients may unsubscribe from optional marketing emails using the method provided in the message or by contacting us.

Opting out of marketing does not prevent transactional, contractual, security, or service-related communications that are reasonably necessary for an inquiry or engagement.

37. Third-Party Links and Websites

Our website, research, or deliverables may link to government databases, agency websites, company websites, scheduling systems, payment providers, or other third-party services.

Civic Bearing does not control independent third parties and is not responsible for their privacy, security, accuracy, availability, or content practices.

We encourage users to review the privacy policies and terms applicable to third-party services they choose to use.

38. Business Transfers

If Civic Bearing undergoes a merger, acquisition, financing, restructuring, sale of assets, or other business transaction, information may be reviewed or transferred as part of that transaction where permitted by law and contract.

We will use reasonable measures to protect confidential information during due diligence and will require a recipient to handle transferred information consistently with applicable confidentiality obligations and legal requirements.

39. Changes to This Privacy Policy

Civic Bearing may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our services, technology, providers, business practices, or legal requirements.

The Effective Date at the top of this page identifies the current version. Material changes will be communicated or presented when required by applicable law.

Changes will apply prospectively unless applicable law or a written agreement permits otherwise. We encourage visitors and clients to review this Policy periodically.

40. Relationship to Other Agreements

This Privacy Policy provides general information concerning Civic Bearing's privacy practices.

A specific engagement may also be governed by:

• our Terms of Service;
• a Project Agreement;
• an NDA;
• a statement of work;
• a data-processing or security agreement, if applicable; or
• another written agreement between Civic Bearing and the client.

If a specific written agreement imposes additional confidentiality or data-handling obligations concerning a client's information, Civic Bearing will comply with those applicable contractual obligations.

Nothing in this Privacy Policy is intended to reduce a client's rights under an applicable executed NDA or other agreement.

41. No Waiver of Confidentiality or Trade-Secret Rights

Providing confidential or proprietary information to Civic Bearing for the limited purpose of receiving professional services is not intended to authorize public disclosure or unrestricted use of that information.

Nothing in this Privacy Policy waives any confidentiality, contractual, intellectual-property, procurement-integrity, or trade-secret right that Civic Bearing, a client, or another person may possess.

42. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by applicable federal law and the laws of the State of Florida.

To the extent legally permitted, disputes arising from this Privacy Policy will also be subject to the governing-law and venue provisions in Civic Bearing's Terms of Service, including the applicable venue provision concerning Seminole County, Florida.

43. Contact Civic Bearing

Questions concerning this Privacy Policy, confidentiality practices, or privacy requests may be directed to Civic Bearing, Central Florida, contact@civicbearing.com.

1. Cancellation and Rescheduling Notice

We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel or reschedule your scheduled call, please provide at least 24 hours' notice.

You may cancel or reschedule using the cancellation or rescheduling link included in your appointment confirmation email.

Providing advance notice allows Civic Bearing to make the reserved appointment time available to another prospective client.

2. Emergencies

We understand that emergencies and unexpected circumstances can occur.

If an emergency prevents you from providing at least 24 hours' notice, please contact us directly at contact@civicbearing.com as soon as reasonably possible.

3. Late Arrivals

Please arrive on time for your scheduled appointment.

Because each appointment is reserved for a specific period, arriving late will not extend the scheduled end time of your call.

If you are more than 10 minutes late, your appointment may be considered a no-show and you may be asked to reschedule.

4. No-Shows

If you are unable to attend your appointment, we kindly ask that you cancel or reschedule rather than leave the reserved appointment time unattended.

If you do not attend your scheduled appointment and have not canceled or contacted Civic Bearing, the appointment may be considered a no-show.

Repeated no-shows may result in restrictions on your ability to schedule future complimentary appointments with Civic Bearing.

5. Late Cancellations

Appointments canceled or rescheduled with less than 24 hours' notice are considered late cancellations unless an emergency or other exceptional circumstance applies.

Repeated late cancellations may result in restrictions on future complimentary bookings.

6. Appointment Length

Civic Bearing consultations are scheduled for 30 minutes.

To respect appointments scheduled before and after yours, calls will ordinarily conclude at their scheduled end time, including when a client or prospective client arrives late.

7. Repeated Cancellations or Rescheduling

Civic Bearing understands that occasional scheduling changes are unavoidable.

However, repeated cancellations, late rescheduling, or no-shows may prevent other prospective clients from using available appointment times.

Civic Bearing therefore reserves the right to limit or decline future complimentary bookings when there is a pattern of repeated no-shows or cancellations made with less than the required 24 hours' notice.

8. Cancellation by Civic Bearing

On rare occasions, Civic Bearing may need to cancel or reschedule an appointment due to an emergency, unexpected circumstance, or other scheduling issue.

If this occurs, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you as soon as possible and provide an opportunity to reschedule your appointment.

9. Paid Services and Production Windows

This Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy applies to scheduled calls and consultations.

Cancellation, rescheduling, suspension, termination, refunds, and other matters involving paid services or reserved production windows are governed separately by Civic Bearing's Terms of Service and the applicable Project Agreement.

The cancellation or rescheduling of a meeting associated with an active project does not automatically cancel, pause, or modify the underlying paid engagement.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions regarding your appointment, need assistance canceling or rescheduling, or experience an emergency that prevents you from attending, please contact Civic Bearing, Seminole County, Florida, contact@civicbearing.com.

We believe people should be able to learn about Civic Bearing's services, review our policies, use our service-finder and contact tools, schedule a consultation, receive opportunity information, and interact with our digital content regardless of disability, assistive technology, or method of access.

Accessibility is an ongoing responsibility rather than a one-time project. We therefore aim to consider accessibility as our website, services, research deliverables, communications, and technology evolve.

1. Our Accessibility Commitment

Civic Bearing seeks to provide a digital experience that supports access for people with disabilities, including people who may experience:

• blindness or low vision;
• color-vision differences;
• deafness or hearing loss;
• limited mobility or dexterity;
• cognitive, language, or learning disabilities;
• speech disabilities;
• neurological disabilities, including photosensitivity; or
• temporary or situational limitations affecting website or communication access.

We aim to design and maintain our website and core digital touchpoints in a manner that supports commonly used assistive technologies and alternative methods of navigation.

2. Accessibility Standard

Civic Bearing aims to conform, where reasonably practicable, to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Level AA.

WCAG 2.2 is a technical accessibility standard developed by the World Wide Web Consortium. The W3C recommends using the current version of WCAG when developing or updating accessibility policies.

WCAG organizes accessibility around four core principles:

• Perceivable: Information and interface components should be presented in ways users can perceive.
• Operable: Interface components and navigation should be usable through different methods of interaction.
• Understandable: Information and website operation should be clear and predictable.
• Robust: Content should be compatible with current and future user agents and assistive technologies.

Our reference to WCAG 2.2 Level AA describes the standard we aim to follow. It is not a representation that every page, feature, third-party integration, document, or piece of content has been independently audited or certified as fully conformant.

3. Accessibility-Supporting Features

Depending on the page and functionality, the Civic Bearing website may include accessibility-supporting features such as:

• semantic heading structures;
• descriptive page titles;
• keyboard-accessible navigation;
• visible keyboard-focus indicators;
• skip-to-content functionality;
• appropriately labeled form fields;
• accessible button and link names;
• sufficient text and interface contrast;
• responsive layouts and scalable text;
• reduced-motion support;
• descriptive link text;
• form instructions and text-based error messages;
• logical reading and tab order;
• structured lists and tables;
• text alternatives for meaningful images; and
• mobile-friendly layouts.

These practices are intended to support users of screen readers, keyboard navigation, magnification tools, voice-control software, switch devices, and other assistive technologies.

4. Keyboard Access

We aim for core website functions to be operable without requiring a mouse or trackpad.

Users should generally be able to:

• move through interactive controls using a keyboard;
• identify which element currently has focus;
• activate links, buttons, and menus;
• complete and submit forms;
• dismiss dialogs or expanded menus; and
• access core website information.

We seek to avoid keyboard traps that prevent a user from moving away from an interactive element. If you encounter a feature that cannot reasonably be used through keyboard navigation, please contact us so we can investigate.

5. Screen Reader Support

Civic Bearing aims to structure website content so commonly used screen readers can interpret important information, headings, navigation, forms, links, status messages, and controls.

We seek to use appropriate HTML structure and accessible names rather than relying solely on visual placement, icons, shape, or color to communicate meaning.

Because screen readers, browsers, operating systems, devices, and user configurations vary, the experience may differ between combinations of technology. If content is unclear or inaccessible through a screen reader, please tell us the page, feature, and issue you encountered.

6. Navigation and Content Structure

We aim to organize website information in a clear and predictable manner.

Where reasonably practicable, this includes:

• consistent navigation and page structure;
• properly ordered headings;
• meaningful page titles;
• descriptive links;
• logical reading and focus order;
• clear labels and instructions;
• ways to bypass repeated navigation; and
• plain-language explanations of services and next steps.

Government-contracting terminology and acronyms may sometimes be necessary. When reasonably practicable, we seek to define specialized terms or provide sufficient context for understanding them.

7. Color and Visual Presentation

Civic Bearing aims to use sufficient contrast between text, interactive components, and backgrounds and to avoid relying on color alone to communicate essential information.

For example, a recommendation, form error, required action, or status should include text, a symbol, a pattern, or another cue rather than being communicated only through color.

Our brand colors may be used for visual emphasis, but important information should remain understandable for users with low vision or color-vision differences.

8. Text Size, Zoom, and Reflow

Our website is intended to remain usable when browser zoom, text enlargement, or device accessibility settings are used.

We aim to avoid layouts that unnecessarily prevent text scaling, obscure important information, or require two-dimensional scrolling for ordinary text content when zoomed to commonly used accessibility levels.

Some third-party integrations or complex tables may behave differently at high zoom levels. If zoom or text enlargement prevents access to information, contact us for assistance or an alternative format.

9. Motion and Animation

Civic Bearing may use limited motion, transitions, or animation to support visual presentation and user experience.

Where reasonably practicable, the website is designed to respect device or browser preferences requesting reduced motion. We aim to avoid unnecessary flashing, automatic movement, or animation that interferes with navigation, concentration, reading, or use of the site.

10. Forms and Service-Finder Tools

Civic Bearing aims to make contact forms, intake forms, and service-finder interactions understandable and accessible.

Where applicable, forms may include:

• visible field labels;
• clear instructions;
• required-field indicators;
• descriptive error messages;
• keyboard navigation;
• logical field order;
• status or confirmation messages; and
• alternatives to color-only instructions.

If an accessibility barrier prevents you from completing a form, you may contact us directly. We will make reasonable efforts to provide another method for requesting information, identifying an appropriate service, or beginning an inquiry.

11. Scheduling and Strategy Calls

Civic Bearing may use third-party scheduling, videoconferencing, or appointment-management services for discovery calls, findings calls, strategy calls, and other meetings.

While we consider accessibility when selecting tools, third-party platforms are developed and controlled by their respective providers. We cannot guarantee the accessibility of every feature or technology combination within an independent service.

If a scheduling or meeting platform creates a barrier, contact Civic Bearing directly. Depending on the request and available technology, a reasonable alternative may include scheduling by email, a telephone call, dial-in access, a different supported platform, or written follow-up.

12. Payment and Transaction Tools

Civic Bearing may use independent third-party providers for invoices, electronic signatures, or payments.

Those services may have their own accessibility features, policies, and limitations.

If an accessibility issue prevents you from reviewing an invoice, signing an agreement, or completing a payment through a designated provider, contact us so we can determine whether another reasonable and secure method is available.

13. Third-Party Content and Services

The Civic Bearing website, communications, research, or deliverables may contain links to, embedded content from, or integrations with services that we do not control.

Examples may include:

• scheduling and videoconferencing platforms;
• payment and electronic-signature providers;
• contact or intake forms;
• file-transfer and cloud-storage tools;
• government procurement databases;
• agency websites and public records;
• company or professional-profile websites;
• mapping or social-media services;
• analytics tools; and
• other external websites and applications.

We cannot control or guarantee the accessibility of an independent third-party website, database, or software product. However, if a third-party tool creates a barrier to obtaining Civic Bearing information or using a Civic Bearing service, we encourage you to contact us so we can determine whether a reasonable alternative is available.

14. Images, Charts, and Tables

Meaningful images used on the Civic Bearing website should, where appropriate, include text alternatives or surrounding content that communicates their essential purpose. Decorative images may be intentionally omitted from screen-reader output when they do not convey meaningful information.

Research findings may be presented through charts, matrices, tables, status labels, or other visual formats. Where reasonably practicable, we aim to:

• provide meaningful titles and labels;
• communicate essential conclusions in text;
• avoid using color as the only indicator of status or recommendation;
• use logical reading and table order; and
• provide an alternative explanation when a complex visual cannot be made fully accessible in its original form.

15. Documents Available Through the Website

The Civic Bearing website may provide downloadable policies, service information, capability materials, educational resources, or other documents.

We aim to consider accessibility when creating documents intended for public use. Downloadable files may nevertheless vary in accessibility depending on their format, age, source, complexity, or purpose.

If you need information from a Civic Bearing document in another accessible format, contact us and identify the document and format or assistance requested. We will make reasonable efforts to provide the information through an appropriate alternative.

16. Civic Bearing Deliverables

Civic Scan, Civic Chart, Civic Watch, and other engagements may produce reports, opportunity matrices, monitoring alerts, research summaries, meeting materials, or recommendations.

We aim to use clear headings, logical organization, readable text, descriptive labels, and text explanations of material conclusions when reasonably practicable.

Unless expressly included in a Project Agreement, Civic Bearing's standard services do not include:

• formal Section 508 remediation or certification;
• preparation of an Accessibility Conformance Report or Voluntary Product Accessibility Template;
• independent WCAG conformance certification;
• remediation of a client's website, software, proposal, or third-party document; or
• legal advice concerning accessibility obligations.

A professionally prepared Civic Bearing deliverable should not be interpreted as having been formally certified as Section 508 or WCAG conformant unless that certification is expressly included in a written agreement.

If a client needs a reasonable alternative format for a Civic Bearing deliverable, the client should notify us as early as practical so we can evaluate available options, timing, and scope.

17. Virtual Meetings and Captions

Some meeting platforms used by Civic Bearing may offer automated captions, transcripts, dial-in access, chat, or other accessibility-supporting features.

Availability and accuracy vary by platform, language, connection, speaker, and account settings. Automated captions may contain errors and should not be treated as a certified transcript.

If you need captions, a written agenda, a written summary, additional time, dial-in access, or another reasonable communication aid for a meeting, please request it as early as practical. Civic Bearing will evaluate the request based on the meeting, available technology, advance notice, and applicable obligations.

18. Civic Watch Alerts and Email Communications

Civic Watch and other services may include email alerts, opportunity updates, research summaries, or links to third-party sources.

We aim to make essential information understandable in the body of the message or an accessible attachment rather than communicating a critical recommendation only through an image, color, or unlabeled link.

When an alert points to an inaccessible third-party page, Civic Bearing may not be able to remediate that external source. Upon request, we will make reasonable efforts to provide the material Civic Bearing conclusion or summary through another format when doing so is lawful and within the engagement scope.

19. Alternative Access to Information

If you cannot access information on our website because of a disability-related barrier, Civic Bearing will make reasonable efforts to provide the requested information through another available format or communication method.

Depending on the request, alternative access may include:

• email;
• telephone;
• an accessible text format;
• assistance with scheduling or a form;
• a written summary of visual information;
• another supported digital format; or
• another reasonable method appropriate to the information requested.

The availability and nature of an alternative may depend on the content, technology, confidentiality obligations, source restrictions, and circumstances involved.

20. Reasonable Assistance and Accommodation Requests

If an accessibility barrier prevents you from requesting or obtaining a Civic Bearing service, please contact us.

We will consider reasonable requests individually based on the nature of the barrier, the requested service, available technology, advance notice, confidentiality and security requirements, and other relevant circumstances.

You are not required to disclose a diagnosis or detailed medical history to report an accessibility issue. We may ask for functional information reasonably necessary to understand the barrier and identify a useful alternative.

An accessibility request does not automatically expand the paid scope of an engagement, but Civic Bearing will not charge merely for reporting a barrier or requesting ordinary access assistance. If a requested modification would materially change the scope, cost, security, or nature of a professional deliverable, we will discuss available options before proceeding.

21. Known Limitations

Despite our efforts, portions of the website, deliverables, or third-party services may occasionally present accessibility limitations.

Examples may include:

• newly added or recently updated features;
• third-party widgets or embedded tools;
• government databases and external research sources;
• complex tables or research visuals;
• older downloadable files;
• automated captions or transcripts;
• temporary technical issues; or
• features that behave differently across assistive technologies.

Identification of a limitation does not mean it will remain unresolved. We may evaluate, prioritize, and improve accessibility as issues are identified.

22. Ongoing Monitoring and Improvement

Accessibility is an ongoing process.

Civic Bearing may periodically review:

• website structure and navigation;
• keyboard access and focus behavior;
• headings and page titles;
• text and interface contrast;
• forms and validation messages;
• responsive layouts and zoom behavior;
• links, buttons, menus, and dialogs;
• images, charts, and tables;
• downloadable documents;
• third-party integrations; and
• other accessibility considerations.

Updates may be made as our website, services, accessibility guidance, technologies, and business practices change.

23. Accessibility Testing

Civic Bearing may use a combination of techniques when evaluating accessibility, which may include:

• automated accessibility tools;
• keyboard-only navigation;
• browser accessibility tools;
• manual inspection;
• contrast evaluation;
• responsive-device and zoom testing;
• form and focus testing; and
• review against relevant WCAG guidance.

Automated tools alone cannot identify every accessibility barrier. A clean automated report does not prove full accessibility, so evaluation may include manual review and user feedback where appropriate.

24. Compatibility

We aim for the Civic Bearing website to work with reasonably current versions of major browsers, operating systems, devices, and assistive technologies.

Accessibility may be reduced when using software or technology combinations that are outdated, unsupported, unusually configured, or no longer maintained by their developers.

We do not guarantee compatibility with every browser version, device, assistive technology, extension, or configuration.

25. Accessibility Feedback

We welcome accessibility feedback.

If you experience difficulty using the website, encounter a barrier, or have a suggestion that could improve accessibility, please let us know. Helpful information may include:

• the page, document, message, or feature involved;
• the problem you encountered;
• what you were attempting to do;
• your browser, device, or operating system, if known;
• the assistive technology being used, if applicable; and
• the format or assistance you need.

You are not required to provide disability or medical information merely to report a problem.

26. How to Submit an Accessibility Request

Accessibility questions, requests, or feedback may be sent to contact@civicbearing.com with Accessibility in the subject line.

If email itself presents a barrier, you may use another contact method made available on our website. Please provide only the information reasonably necessary for us to understand and respond to the request.

27. Response to Accessibility Feedback

Civic Bearing aims to acknowledge accessibility feedback within five business days and to evaluate the concern within a reasonable period based on its complexity.

Our response may include:

• requesting clarification about the barrier;
• providing information through another method;
• helping the user complete an action;
• investigating a technical issue;
• correcting content or functionality;
• contacting a third-party provider; or
• communicating an expected next step where appropriate.

Because accessibility issues vary in complexity and may involve third-party technology, we do not guarantee that every issue can be resolved immediately or in the precise manner requested.

28. No Retaliation for Accessibility Requests

Civic Bearing will not deny service or treat a person adversely merely because the person reports an accessibility issue or requests reasonable assistance accessing our website or services.

This section does not require Civic Bearing to accept an engagement, waive ordinary eligibility or business requirements, or provide a modification that would be unlawful, insecure, or fundamentally alter the nature of the service.

29. Accessibility and Privacy

If you contact Civic Bearing about an accessibility issue, personal information you provide will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Please provide only the information reasonably necessary for us to understand and assist with the request. Do not include sensitive medical records or other information that is unnecessary to describe the access barrier.

30. Legal Standards

Civic Bearing intends to operate its website and digital services in a manner consistent with applicable accessibility obligations.

The U.S. Department of Justice has explained that the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to the goods, services, privileges, and activities offered online by businesses that qualify as public accommodations. The Department also recognizes that businesses generally have flexibility in how they satisfy the ADA's nondiscrimination and effective-communication requirements.

WCAG is widely used as technical guidance for digital accessibility. It is a technical standard and does not, by itself, determine whether a particular law applies to Civic Bearing or establish every legal obligation for a particular situation.

Section 508 establishes accessibility requirements for federal information and communication technology. Civic Bearing is not a federal agency, and a reference to WCAG or accessible practices does not represent that every Civic Bearing deliverable is subject to or certified under Section 508.

This Accessibility Statement is not legal advice and does not waive any right, defense, limitation, or obligation under applicable law or contract.

31. No Guarantee of Perfect Accessibility

Civic Bearing is committed to improving accessibility, but no website, third-party service, document, or technology environment can be guaranteed to work perfectly for every person, assistive technology, browser, device, or configuration.

Our commitment should not be interpreted as a guarantee that the website or every digital interaction will be entirely free of accessibility barriers at all times.

If a barrier occurs, we encourage you to contact us so we can investigate and provide reasonable assistance.

32. Changes to This Accessibility Statement

Civic Bearing may update this Accessibility Statement as:

• our website or services change;
• new digital content or deliverables are introduced;
• third-party tools change;
• accessibility standards or guidance evolve;
• accessibility issues are identified; or
• applicable legal requirements change.

The Effective Date at the top of this page identifies the current version. Material changes may be communicated when appropriate or legally required.

33. Relationship to Other Policies

This Accessibility Statement should be read together with Civic Bearing's Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, applicable Project Agreements, and applicable NDAs.

Nothing in this Accessibility Statement expands the scope of Civic Bearing's paid research, capture-management, monitoring, or advisory services unless expressly agreed in writing.

34. Contact Civic Bearing

For accessibility questions, assistance, or feedback, contact Civic Bearing, Central Florida, contact@civicbearing.com.