1. Purpose

Bundle IQ's reputation depends on the integrity of the people who work within it. This Code sets the standard we expect from all contractors in every engagement, every interaction, and every decision.

2. Integrity and conflicts of interest

• Disclose before you accept. If you have any existing relationship with a buyer, vendor, or their competitors that could influence your judgement, disclose it to Bundle IQ before accepting the engagement. We'll decide together whether it creates a conflict.
• No undisclosed interests. You must not hold undisclosed financial or personal interests in any vendor you evaluate or manage through Bundle IQ.
• Previous roles. If you have worked for a vendor in the past 3 years, disclose this before evaluating their response. You may still be assigned the engagement — the disclosure is what matters.

3. Anti-bribery and gifts

Zero tolerance. Do not offer or accept:

• Bribes, kickbacks, or corrupt payments in any form
• Gifts above a nominal value (£25) from any vendor or buyer connected to Bundle IQ work
• Entertainment that could reasonably be seen as influencing a commercial decision
• Referral fees or commissions from vendors for introductions or recommendations

Tokens of genuine appreciation (a coffee, a thank-you card) are acceptable. Anything above that requires disclosure to Bundle IQ. When in doubt, decline and tell us.

4. Commercial conduct with buyers

• Act in the buyer's interest. Your job is to help buyers get fair value, not to maximise Bundle IQ's fee or your own engagement length.
• Don't over-complicate. The right procurement route for a £5,000 requirement is a quick quote — not a full ITT that takes six weeks. Scope the process to the value.
• Don't create dependency. Build buyer capability where you can. Bundle IQ's best clients are ones who understand the process, not ones who are reliant on us for everything.
• Be honest about quality. If the vendor responses are all weak, say so — even if it means extending the timeline to re-tender. A bad award is worse than a late one.

5. Commercial conduct with vendors

• Evaluate fairly. Score every response on the stated criteria. Your personal preference for a vendor you've worked with before is not a scoring criterion.
• Communicate outcomes clearly. Non-winning vendors deserve clear, specific feedback. "Not this time" is not feedback.
• No side conversations. All vendor communications related to an active procurement must go through the platform. Private messages that bypass the platform are a breach of this Code.

6. Data and confidentiality

• Treat every piece of buyer information as if it were your own company's confidential data
• Do not share buyer identity, requirements, or commercial terms with any vendor before award
• Do not discuss Bundle IQ pricing, methodologies, or platform details in any public forum
• Secure your devices — don't leave buyer data accessible on unlocked screens or shared devices

7. Delivery and communication

• Own your commitments. If a Terms of Reference says you'll deliver an evaluation by Friday, deliver it by Friday. If you can't, say so on Wednesday — not Saturday.
• Escalate early. A buyer who receives bad news early can adapt. A buyer who receives it late can't. Early escalation is professional; late surprises are not.
• Be reachable. During an active engagement, respond to Bundle IQ and buyer messages within one business day.

8. Reporting breaches

If you witness a breach of this Code — by yourself, another contractor, a Bundle IQ employee, a buyer, or a vendor — report it to conduct@bundleiq.co.uk. Reports are treated in confidence. You will not face retaliation for good-faith reporting.

9. Consequences of breach

Depending on severity, breach of this Code may result in: formal written warning; removal from active engagements; termination of the Contractor Agreement; referral to relevant professional bodies; legal action.