Frequently Asked Questions

Are there enough tenders to go around?

Yes. To maintain a healthy ecosystem, each client must issue at least one tender per year. Coupled with our 10:1 vendor-to-client ratio per category, this ensures consistent opportunity and a fair playing field. Your odds of landing work on Tandm are stronger than in the open market.

Is there a waiting list to become a vendor?

Yes. To maintain our 10:1 ratio, new vendors are admitted as new clients join.

Can an individual be a vendor?

Yes. While Tandm primarily supports creative businesses, we welcome qualified solo creatives. As client needs vary, we ensure a diverse pool of talent—from full-service teams to specialised individuals.

Can a vendor cold pitch?

Yes, but only when a client's profile displays the "green light" indicator, signaling they're open to unsolicited proposals.

Can I collaborate with others?

Absolutely. Members can collaborate to issue or bid on tenders, enabling cross-industry teaming, budget-sharing, and more strategic proposals.

Are tenders exclusive to Tandm?

While we can't stop clients from issuing tenders elsewhere initially, our goal is to make Tandm the go-to destination—where clients feel no need to look beyond.

Can a tender be re-issued?

Yes. If a vendor fails to meet expectations or the relationship breaks down, the client may retract the award and reissue the tender to the network. The original vendor may re-bid. However, retraction without just cause is not permitted.

Can deadlines be extended?

Yes. If submitted bids don't align with client needs, deadlines can be extended.

How many vendors can bid on one tender?

Clients set their own cap, with a minimum of 10 vendors. Stage one of the process is intentionally lightweight—a 1-minute video and brief proposal—to make shortlisting fast and efficient.

How are project budgets handled?

Budgets can be listed as fixed, hidden, or given as a range. However, Tandm must know the amount to assign the tender to the correct bid pool.

Is there a waiting period or minimum tender issue requirement?

Clients must issue at least one tender per year to maintain active membership status.

How do you protect IP and confidentiality?

Tandm uses a two-phase NDA process. Vendors must sign an NDA and assign a project lead before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI), ensuring sensitive details remain secure and competitors are kept out. Breaches result in immediate membership termination and potential legal action.

Vendor ideas are equally protected. Any pitched concept is timestamped, recorded, and backed by an agreement ensuring the client cannot use the idea unless the vendor is awarded the project.

What happens when a vendor wins a bid?

Once selected, the client and vendor exchange contracts—created via Tandm's AI-powered legal builder, curated by our in-house legal team. Preferences are saved for future use. After individual agreements are signed, Tandm generates a mutual contract for final signing. This is stored in member profiles and on the blockchain for maximum security.

The client then deposits the first payment installment. Tandm acts as intermediary, releases funds to the vendor, and takes its commission. Milestone payments follow, ensuring steady cash flow for vendors and progress-based accountability for clients.

How does Tandm charge?

Commission
A flat 5% commission is applied to all awarded project budgets.

Platform Access
Quarterly platform fees are based on the bid pool you wish to access:

• $0–$100k — Free
• $100k–$300k — $1,000 per quarter
• $300k–$600k — $3,000 per quarter
• $600k–$1M — $6,000 per quarter
• $1M+ — $10,000 per quarter

These fees are calculated based on the total project value accessed by a client or vendor within the Tandm platform.

Are you using AI?

Yes. While we champion human creativity, we use AI to support efficiency—helping automate tender creation, matchmaking, legal documentation, and profile building.

Can I cancel at any time?

Yes, but please note: for access to bid pools above $100k, platform fees are billed quarterly and non-refundable. Cancelling simply stops your access to future tenders in that tier—it does not refund previous payments.

Do you sell user data?

Absolutely not. We charge for access to keep the platform ad-free and your data private. If you pay for the product, it means you're not the product.