Gladstone Engineering Alliance Inc (GEA) as owner of the Gladstone Connects Supplier Platform (“Platform”), prioritize transparency and emphasize that our system is designed to promote data exposure to facilitate efficient procurement processes. The Platform serves as a marketplace where buyers create profiles to showcase their procurement needs to suitable suppliers, and suppliers create profiles to present their services to potential buyers. When a buyer creates a new request, it is generated with the explicit purpose of disclosing their needs to the relevant supplier community.
1. Information Collection:
a. Information Gathered from Buyers:
Username: We collect your email address, which serves as your non-editable username for login purposes.
Name and Contact Details: We collect your first name, last name, position/job role, primary phone number, and optional mobile phone number.
Business Information: We collect your business name, business description, ABN/CAN number, organization type by size, head office address, Gladstone branch address, and fax number.
Website and Social Media: We collect your website URL and URLs of your social media pages (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram).
Applicable Attributes: We collect information if you qualify as a Women Owned Company, Indigenous Owned Company, Non-profit, etc.
Company Project Pipeline: We offer a feature to add projects you plan to pursue in the future, including project name, expected starting date, description, external link, and other details.
b. EOI/RFP/RFQ Request Form for Buyers:
When you create requests for quotation (RFQ), request for proposal (RFP), or expression of interest (EOI), we collect various information related to your request, including request type, title, industry categories, preferred supplier service areas, summary, attachments, budget, external URL, publication date, closing date, mandatory questions, and more.
c. Information Gathered from Suppliers:
Username: We collect your email address, which serves as your non-editable username for login purposes.
Name and Contact Details: We collect your first name, last name, position/job role, primary phone number, and optional mobile phone number.
Business Information: We collect your business name, business description, ABN/CAN number, number of years in service, head office address, Gladstone branch address, and fax number.
Website and Social Media: We collect your website URL and URLs of your social media pages (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram).
Insurances: We collect information if you possess necessary insurances, including workers' compensation and public liability insurance.
Capability Statement and Portfolio: We offer options to upload your capability statement, online portfolio link, and additional portfolio files.
Products and Services Offered: We collect information on the products and services your business offers.
Applicable Attributes: We collect information if you qualify as a Women Owned Company, Indigenous Owned Company, Non-profit, or if you are open to forming a joint venture.
2. Notice and Consent:
a. By accessing or using the Platform, that User signifies agreement to the matters outlined in Clause 1.
b. Notwithstanding clause 2 a., the User may be requested to execute a consent in writing to the matters contained in this policy.
3. Data Exposure and Confidentiality:
a. Our Platform is designed to facilitate efficient procurement processes through data exposure. We strongly advise users against sharing any confidential and personal details that are not essential for showcasing their procurement needs or services.
b. Your non-sensitive personal information, including first name, last name, and business email address (personal email address if you use it for business purposes), will be exposed to matching suppliers and buyers through your profile contact information.
c. If you wish to keep your name confidential, you may choose to use a nickname instead. However, we do not allow businesses to represent themselves with fake business names.
Users acknowledge and agree that any information shared on the Platform, including confidential information such as technical recommendations, solutions, or pricing, is not guaranteed to remain confidential. While we ensure the security of the data you share from unauthorized access, once your response is received and downloaded by the buyer, it may be printed on paper, discussed, and exposed to company staff. We do not have control over how buyers handle the information you provide to them. Users agree to use discretion when sharing sensitive or confidential information on the Platform.
4. Data Usage and Purpose:
a. We collect and use your information solely to facilitate the procurement process, match buyers with relevant suppliers, and enable suppliers to respond to EOI/RFP/RFQ requests effectively.
b. Your information may be used to notify you about Platform updates, relevant procurement opportunities, and other communications related to your engagement with GEA concerning the Platform.
5. Data Protection and Security:
a. We employ industry-standard security measures to safeguard your data against unauthorized access, disclosure, or alteration.
b. Your data is stored on secure servers that are located in Australia, and we follow best practices to prevent data breaches.
c. We use a range of physical, electronic and other security measures to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of the data provided including:
• Information security such as passwords to control access to computer system
• Access management controls to prevent unauthorised people accessing our systems
6. Data Disclosure:
a. We may share aggregated and non-identifiable data for statistical analysis and platform improvements.
7. Third-Party Links:
a. Our platform may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before engaging with them.
8. Access and Data Control:
As a user, you have the right to review, edit, or delete your information from your profile at any time. For any assistance, please contact our support team.
9. Compliance:
As we do not request any sensitive personal data, and nor do we encourage you to exchange confidential data, we do not have to comply with any data protection laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we operate. Consider us as a digital version of a Local Newspaper tender classifieds. We offer the exposure, you decide on what you want to put on the paper.
10. Policy Updates:
This Privacy Policy and Data Management Policy may be updated from time to time. Any changes will be communicated to users through the Platform or email. We encourage you to review the policy periodically for updates.
11. Special Clause:
a. We acknowledge and support the term “Women Owned Company” used on our Platform. It is a recognition of the efforts made to empower women in the business world. The term is not against gender equality; instead, it promotes diversity and inclusion in the business landscape. By supporting women-owned companies, we aim to foster an environment where women can thrive and compete on a level playing field. It is essential to understand the context and purpose behind such designations.
b. We acknowledge and respect the term “Indigenous Owned Company” on our Platform. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion, empowering Indigenous businesses within the business landscape. By supporting Indigenous owned companies, we aim to foster an environment where Indigenous businesses can thrive and contribute to economic growth. It is important to understand the context and purpose behind such designations, and we encourage users to engage with these companies to create meaningful collaborations.
12. Definitions
GEA means Gladstone Engineering Alliance Inc.
User includes both buyers and suppliers.
We means GEA.