bootstrap architecture + construction

I had a truly disappointing experience with Bootstrap. The principal of the company met me at my house and explained that most of their work was design-build. That is to say, they serve as architect and contractor. I am 54-years-old and have done five or six large renovation projects in the past, but I’ve never done such a large expensive project without bidding it out to many contractors. So I asked him if at the end of the architectural process it would be okay if I bid it out to two other contractors. He said yes, and so we proceeded to the first phase of our work together, the architectural plans. Once the plans were done, I said I was ready to get a bid from him, and I was also going to put the plans out for several other bids. That is when he told me that he was very booked and could likely not begin work on my project for at least another full year. I was shocked but decided that this information was simply a product of miscommunication between us. I told him I would nevertheless like to proceed with a bid. I have never written a negative review for a contractor or architect in my life. I’m writing this one now because the behavior of Bootstrap at this point was something that I can only describe as disrespectful, rude, and selfish. For reasons I still do not completely understand, Bootstrap declined to give me a bid. All along I had hoped to work with them, so I asked for a Zoom meeting. We had the Zoom meeting in which we reviewed various possibilities for the project, ending with an agreement by the principal that he would check his schedule and do his very best to prioritize me since I was an existing client who had already paid him $13,000 in architectural fees. I also reiterated my desire for a bid so I could see if I could afford his work. He said he would work on it and get back to me soon. I waited and waited. I waited one week. I waited two weeks. I emailed him. No answer. I emailed again, a total of five times. He did not answer me for a full five weeks. And when he answered he now told me that the earliest he could begin would be 13 months from the date of his email. He did not provide me with any bids or estimates for the cost of the project. At this point, I lost complete faith in Bootstrap. I do not recommend the company. Their behavior is perplexing, and in the end I feel like all their decision-making was in their own self-interest while I was treated as a second-class citizen.