Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, and password (stored in hashed form). You may optionally provide NAICS codes and industry preferences during onboarding.

Search and Saved Search Data

We store your contract search queries, saved searches, email alert preferences, and spending trend filters to provide the service and improve your experience.

Payment Information

If you upgrade to Pro, payment processing is handled by Stripe. We do not store full credit card numbers. We retain subscription status and billing history.

Government Contract Data

Contract data displayed on GovScout is sourced from the public USASpending.gov API. This data is publicly available and not personal information.

Usage Data

We automatically collect basic usage data such as pages visited, browser type, and IP address to improve the service and diagnose issues.

2. How We Use Your Information

• To provide and maintain the GovScout service, including contract search, saved searches, and email alerts.
• To process Pro tier payments through our payment provider.
• To send transactional emails (account verification, password resets, saved search alerts).
• To improve the service based on usage patterns.
• To enforce our Terms of Service.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share data only in these cases:

• Payment processing: We share necessary payment information with Stripe to process subscriptions.
• Email delivery: We use third-party email services to send transactional emails and saved search alerts.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect the rights and safety of our users.

4. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we will delete your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law or for legitimate business purposes (such as resolving disputes or maintaining financial records).

Saved searches and alert configurations are deleted when your account is deleted.

5. Data Security

We use industry-standard security measures to protect your data, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), hashed passwords, and secure database hosting. However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate data.
• Request deletion of your account and associated data.
• Export your data (saved searches, alert configurations).

To exercise these rights, use the feedback form or contact us through your account settings.

7. Cookies

We use essential cookies to maintain your login session and remember your preferences. We do not use third-party advertising or tracking cookies.

8. Children's Privacy

GovScout is not intended for use by anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via email or through the service. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Contact

Questions about this policy? Use the feedback form to reach us.