What is in a bid packet
Plans and specifications often come from a public plan room. Some do not. An invited bid can come with limits on who may see the drawings. Your own work is more sensitive than the drawings: your quantities, your exclusions and your prices.
Four questions to ask
- Storage. Where are my files kept, and for how long.
- Access. Who can open them: my company only, the vendor's support staff, other customers.
- Training. Are my documents or my corrections used to train AI models.
- Deletion. Can I delete a job and its files, and how do I ask.
Ask for the answers in writing. Read the vendor's privacy and security pages. If an answer is vague, ask again before you upload.
Check your own obligations
- The bid documents or the plan room terms may limit sharing.
- You may have signed a confidentiality agreement for the project.
- Some buildings have security rules for their drawings.
- Your own company may have a policy on AI tools.
These rules differ by project and by state. Read the bid documents. Ask the general contractor or your attorney if you are not sure. This article is not legal advice.
Consumer tools and business tools
A free consumer chat tool can have different terms from a paid business product. The terms can also differ between plans from the same company. Read the terms for the plan you use. Do not assume.
Practical habits
- Upload only what the takeoff needs.
- Keep your prices out unless the tool needs them.
- Use a company account, not a personal one.
- Give each estimator a login, so you know who uploaded what.
- Delete old jobs on the schedule your company sets.
AI and takeoff software · Updated 11 Nov 2026