diff --git a/app/Actions/AvatarTemplates/DuplicateAvatarTemplate.php b/app/Actions/AvatarTemplates/DuplicateAvatarTemplate.php
index b0e135ac..0d0ce7f5 100644
--- a/app/Actions/AvatarTemplates/DuplicateAvatarTemplate.php
+++ b/app/Actions/AvatarTemplates/DuplicateAvatarTemplate.php
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
  * to write. The same `saving` guards a normal create runs (the LLM binding
  * invariants) therefore run on every copy.
  *
- * What is copied: name, description, provider, config, persona and the
+ * What is copied: name, description, provider, config, persona, the answer time range and the
  * model/credential binding (credentials are platform rows). What is NOT:
  * `is_active` (a copy is inactive), and everything that belongs to the SOURCE's
  * provider-side resources (`heygen_llm_configuration_id`, `llm_sync_status`,
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ public function run(AvatarTemplate $source, array $targetOrganizationIds, ?strin
                         'provider' => $source->provider,
                         'config' => $source->config,
                         'persona' => $source->persona,
+                        'answer_min_seconds' => $source->answer_min_seconds,
+                        'answer_max_seconds' => $source->answer_max_seconds,
                         'is_active' => false,
                         'llm_model_id' => $source->llm_model_id,
                         'llm_credential_id' => $source->llm_credential_id,
diff --git a/app/Actions/Interview/BuildInterviewSessionResponse.php b/app/Actions/Interview/BuildInterviewSessionResponse.php
index c02f307f..6cc6266a 100644
--- a/app/Actions/Interview/BuildInterviewSessionResponse.php
+++ b/app/Actions/Interview/BuildInterviewSessionResponse.php
@@ -110,6 +110,9 @@ public function handle(
         // The candidate app counts down against it; the server remains the enforcer.
         $body['interview_max_seconds'] = $this->clock->resolveMaxSeconds($session);
 
+        // The range the answer bar calls a good answer (guidance only), from the same template.
+        ['min' => $body['answer_min_seconds'], 'max' => $body['answer_max_seconds']] = $this->clock->resolveAnswerRange($session);
+
         // Only a fresh single-session create names its conversation (design A6/N11); with the gate
         // closed the key is absent, not null, so the body is byte-identical to the old one.
         if ($conversationId !== null) {
diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/Api/AdminOrganizationController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/Api/AdminOrganizationController.php
index ebe6a729..d0fc8ae1 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/Api/AdminOrganizationController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/Api/AdminOrganizationController.php
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ public function update(UpdateManagedOrganizationRequest $request, int $id): Json
         $actor = $request->user();
         $organization = Organization::findOrFail($id);
 
-        $organization->fill($request->safe()->only(['name', 'primary_color', 'currency_code']));
+        $organization->fill($request->safe()->only(['name', 'primary_color', 'background_color', 'currency_code']));
         $changes = $organization->getDirty();
         $before = array_intersect_key($organization->getOriginal(), $changes);
         $organization->save();
diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/Api/OrganizationController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/Api/OrganizationController.php
index 3db25472..8070a7de 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/Api/OrganizationController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/Api/OrganizationController.php
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public function show(): JsonResponse
     /**
      * Update the organization.
      *
-     * Accepts `name`, the default webhook settings, `primary_color` and
+     * Accepts `name`, the default webhook settings, `primary_color`, `background_color` and
      * `currency_code` (active catalogue codes only). Any other field in the body
      * is ignored.
      */
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ public function update(UpdateOrganizationRequest $request): JsonResponse
             // stored. Accepting it here would let a client point the logo at an
             // arbitrary path on the disk.
             'primary_color',
+            'background_color',
             'currency_code',
         ]));
 
diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/Api/PlatformAvatarTemplateController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/Api/PlatformAvatarTemplateController.php
index 942ff1e1..9aeafba8 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/Api/PlatformAvatarTemplateController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/Api/PlatformAvatarTemplateController.php
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ public function store(Request $request): JsonResponse
         $validated = $request->validate($this->templateStoreRules());
 
         $validated = array_merge($validated, $this->personaWrite($request, null));
+        $this->assertAnswerRangeOrdered($validated);
 
         $this->assertConfigValid($validated['provider'], $validated['config']);
         app(BindHeygenTemplateVoice::class)->run($validated['provider'], $validated['config']);
@@ -198,6 +199,7 @@ public function update(Request $request, int $id): PlatformAvatarTemplateResourc
         $validated = $request->validate($this->templateUpdateRules());
 
         $validated = array_merge($validated, $this->personaWrite($request, $template->persona));
+        $this->assertAnswerRangeOrdered($validated, $template->answer_min_seconds, $template->answer_max_seconds);
 
         // The provider is immutable: the config's knobs belong to it, so a
         // template that changed provider would validate as empty and quietly
@@ -226,7 +228,7 @@ public function update(Request $request, int $id): PlatformAvatarTemplateResourc
         // records field NAMES, never config values.
         $usage = $this->usage->for([$template->id])[$template->id];
 
-        $this->answeringPlatformNameRace(fn () => $this->context->run($actor, fn () => DB::transaction(function () use ($template, $validated, $actor, $before, $originals, $beforeBinding, $usage): void {
+        $this->answeringAnswerRangeRace(fn () => $this->answeringPlatformNameRace(fn () => $this->context->run($actor, fn () => DB::transaction(function () use ($template, $validated, $actor, $before, $originals, $beforeBinding, $usage): void {
             $template->update($validated);
 
             $changed = array_values(array_filter(
@@ -258,7 +260,7 @@ public function update(Request $request, int $id): PlatformAvatarTemplateResourc
                     $unbound ? null : $this->bindingNames($template->refresh()),
                 );
             }
-        })));
+        }))));
 
         return $this->present($template)->additional($this->recordSync($template));
     }
diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/AvatarTemplateController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/AvatarTemplateController.php
index b48d2226..6a8e5371 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/AvatarTemplateController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/AvatarTemplateController.php
@@ -228,6 +228,7 @@ public function store(Request $request): JsonResponse
         $validated = $request->validate($this->templateStoreRules());
 
         $validated = array_merge($validated, $this->personaWrite($request, null));
+        $this->assertAnswerRangeOrdered($validated);
 
         $this->assertConfigValid($validated['provider'], $validated['config']);
         // A superadmin's external voice is bound here, before the row is written,
@@ -263,6 +264,7 @@ public function update(Request $request, int $id): AvatarTemplateResource
         $validated = $request->validate($this->templateUpdateRules());
 
         $validated = array_merge($validated, $this->personaWrite($request, $template->persona));
+        $this->assertAnswerRangeOrdered($validated, $template->answer_min_seconds, $template->answer_max_seconds);
 
         // The provider is immutable. Changing it would leave every knob in the
         // config belonging to the other one — avatarId where faceId is
@@ -292,7 +294,7 @@ public function update(Request $request, int $id): AvatarTemplateResource
         $beforeBindingNames = $bindingRequested ? $this->bindingAuditNames($template) : null;
 
         $before = ['name' => $template->name];
-        $template->update($validated);
+        $this->answeringAnswerRangeRace(fn (): bool => DB::transaction(fn (): bool => $template->update($validated)));
 
         app(AuditRecorder::class)->record(
             'avatar_template.updated',
diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/AvatarTemplatePortabilityController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/AvatarTemplatePortabilityController.php
index 73595f98..23117175 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/AvatarTemplatePortabilityController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/AvatarTemplatePortabilityController.php
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ public function import(Request $request): JsonResponse
     }
 
     /**
-     * @param  array{name: string, provider: string, config: array<string, mixed>, persona: array<string, mixed>|null, description: string|null}  $record
+     * @param  array{name: string, provider: string, config: array<string, mixed>, persona: array<string, mixed>|null, answer_min_seconds: mixed, answer_max_seconds: mixed, description: string|null}  $record
      */
     private function reject(array $record): ?string
     {
@@ -125,6 +125,16 @@ private function reject(array $record): ?string
             return "Unknown provider '{$record['provider']}'.";
         }
 
+        // The SAME bounds the form applies. A file without the range (an older export) was given the
+        // defaults by TemplateDocument::flatten(); an explicit null reaches here and is refused.
+        // A record from another producer may lack a key altogether: that is the same refusal.
+        $min = $record['answer_min_seconds'] ?? null;
+        $max = $record['answer_max_seconds'] ?? null;
+
+        if (! is_int($min) || ! is_int($max) || $min < 10 || $max > 600 || $min >= $max) {
+            return 'answer_min_seconds / answer_max_seconds: integers from 10 to 600 seconds, the minimum below the maximum.';
+        }
+
         // The SAME rule the form applies to the interviewer's name: a file must never install a
         // name the form would refuse. The message never repeats a matched vendor word.
         if (isset($record['persona']['display_name'])) {
@@ -170,7 +180,7 @@ private function reject(array $record): ?string
     }
 
     /**
-     * @param  array{name: string, provider: string, config: array<string, mixed>, persona: array<string, mixed>|null, description: string|null, llm: array{model_key: string, credential_name: string}|null}  $record
+     * @param  array{name: string, provider: string, config: array<string, mixed>, persona: array<string, mixed>|null, answer_min_seconds: mixed, answer_max_seconds: mixed, description: string|null, llm: array{model_key: string, credential_name: string}|null}  $record
      * @return array<string, mixed>
      */
     private function create(array $record): array
@@ -195,6 +205,8 @@ private function create(array $record): array
             'provider' => $record['provider'],
             'config' => $record['config'],
             'persona' => $record['persona'],
+            'answer_min_seconds' => $record['answer_min_seconds'],
+            'answer_max_seconds' => $record['answer_max_seconds'],
             // Imports arrive inactive (D8). Activation stays a deliberate act:
             // a file must never change which avatar an organization's live
             // interviews are running on.
diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/Candidate/InterviewController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/Candidate/InterviewController.php
index 98dbea08..57497c4c 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/Candidate/InterviewController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/Candidate/InterviewController.php
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ public function __construct(
      * interviewed, `429 provider_busy` means the provider is busy and the call can be retried, and `502`
      * means the provider failed.
      *
-     * @scramble-return array{session_id: int, provider: string, provider_token: string|null, conversation_url: string|null, audio_only: bool, question_context: array{competency_code: string, question_index: int, end_phrase: string, final_phrase: string, prompt_version: string|null, competency_ordinal: int|null, total_competencies: int|null}, interview_max_seconds: int, conversation_id?: string, conversation_ttl_seconds?: int, continuation?: array{conversation_id: string, competency_code: string}}
+     * @scramble-return array{session_id: int, provider: string, provider_token: string|null, conversation_url: string|null, audio_only: bool, question_context: array{competency_code: string, question_index: int, end_phrase: string, final_phrase: string, prompt_version: string|null, competency_ordinal: int|null, total_competencies: int|null}, interview_max_seconds: int, answer_min_seconds: int, answer_max_seconds: int, conversation_id?: string, conversation_ttl_seconds?: int, continuation?: array{conversation_id: string, competency_code: string}}
      *
      * @throws \Throwable
      *
diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/Concerns/ValidatesAvatarTemplateWrites.php b/app/Http/Controllers/Concerns/ValidatesAvatarTemplateWrites.php
index 6274df4f..70d0dd9e 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/Concerns/ValidatesAvatarTemplateWrites.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/Concerns/ValidatesAvatarTemplateWrites.php
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 use Closure;
 use Illuminate\Contracts\Validation\ValidationRule;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Builder;
+use Illuminate\Database\QueryException;
 use Illuminate\Database\UniqueConstraintViolationException;
 use Illuminate\Http\Request;
 use Illuminate\Validation\ValidationException;
@@ -29,6 +30,36 @@
  */
 trait ValidatesAvatarTemplateWrites
 {
+    /**
+     * The seconds a good answer lasts (answer-time-range). The bounds live here and in the DB CHECK;
+     * `min < max` needs both values, so it is `assertAnswerRangeOrdered()`'s job, not a rule's.
+     *
+     * @var array<string, list<string>>
+     */
+    private const ANSWER_RANGE_RULES = [
+        'answer_min_seconds' => ['sometimes', 'integer', 'min:10', 'max:600'],
+        'answer_max_seconds' => ['sometimes', 'integer', 'min:10', 'max:600'],
+    ];
+
+    /**
+     * Refuses a range whose minimum is not below its maximum, comparing a field the request omits
+     * against the stored value (the defaults on create). A one-field PATCH could otherwise
+     * invert a range the other field's stored value defines.
+     *
+     * @param  array<string, mixed>  $validated
+     */
+    private function assertAnswerRangeOrdered(array $validated, int $storedMin = 90, int $storedMax = 150): void
+    {
+        $min = $validated['answer_min_seconds'] ?? $storedMin;
+        $max = $validated['answer_max_seconds'] ?? $storedMax;
+
+        if ($min >= $max) {
+            throw ValidationException::withMessages([
+                'answer_max_seconds' => 'The maximum answer time must be greater than the minimum.',
+            ]);
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * @return array<string, list<string|ValidationRule|Closure>>
      */
@@ -46,6 +77,7 @@ private function templateStoreRules(): array
             // Bind a language model to the template. `llm_model_id` and `llm_credential_id` are both set or both null.
             'llm_model_id' => ['sometimes', 'nullable', 'integer'],
             'llm_credential_id' => ['sometimes', 'nullable', 'integer'],
+            ...self::ANSWER_RANGE_RULES,
             ...$this->personaRules(),
         ];
     }
@@ -67,6 +99,7 @@ private function templateUpdateRules(): array
             // Bind a language model to the template. `llm_model_id` and `llm_credential_id` are both set or both null; sending both as null clears the binding.
             'llm_model_id' => ['sometimes', 'nullable', 'integer'],
             'llm_credential_id' => ['sometimes', 'nullable', 'integer'],
+            ...self::ANSWER_RANGE_RULES,
             ...$this->personaRules(),
         ];
     }
@@ -221,6 +254,33 @@ private function answeringPlatformNameRace(Closure $write): mixed
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * `assertAnswerRangeOrdered()` reads the stored range before the write, so two concurrent
+     * one-field PATCHes can each pass it and the second then meets the other's value. The CHECK
+     * `avatar_templates_answer_range` is the real guard and refuses the loser; that is the same
+     * problem the helper reports, so it is answered the same way (a 422, not a 500). Only THAT
+     * constraint is translated.
+     *
+     * @template T
+     *
+     * @param  Closure(): T  $write
+     * @return T
+     */
+    private function answeringAnswerRangeRace(Closure $write): mixed
+    {
+        try {
+            return $write();
+        } catch (QueryException $e) {
+            if ($e->getCode() !== '23514' || ! str_contains($e->getMessage(), 'avatar_templates_answer_range')) {
+                throw $e;
+            }
+
+            throw ValidationException::withMessages([
+                'answer_max_seconds' => 'The maximum answer time must be greater than the minimum.',
+            ]);
+        }
+    }
+
     private function nameTaken(): ValidationException
     {
         return ValidationException::withMessages([
diff --git a/app/Http/Requests/UpdateManagedOrganizationRequest.php b/app/Http/Requests/UpdateManagedOrganizationRequest.php
index ba3a10ae..34f8bfbd 100644
--- a/app/Http/Requests/UpdateManagedOrganizationRequest.php
+++ b/app/Http/Requests/UpdateManagedOrganizationRequest.php
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 /**
  * Validates PATCH /api/admin/organizations/{id} (superadmin only).
  *
- * Only `name`, `primary_color` and `currency_code` are writable here. `slug` is a tenancy
+ * Only `name`, `primary_color`, `background_color` and `currency_code` are writable here. `slug` is a tenancy
  * identifier and is never editable; the webhook defaults and the logo keep
  * their own tenant-facing endpoints.
  */
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ public function rules(): array
         return [
             'name' => ['sometimes', 'required', 'string', 'max:255'],
             'primary_color' => ['sometimes', 'nullable', 'string', 'regex:/\A#[0-9a-fA-F]{6}\z/'],
+            'background_color' => ['sometimes', 'nullable', 'string', 'regex:/\A#[0-9a-fA-F]{6}\z/'],
             'currency_code' => ['sometimes', 'required', 'string', 'regex:/\A[A-Z]{3}\z/', Rule::exists('currencies', 'code')->where('is_active', true)],
         ];
     }
@@ -47,6 +48,8 @@ public function messages(): array
             'name.max' => 'name_too_long',
             'primary_color.string' => 'primary_color_invalid',
             'primary_color.regex' => 'primary_color_invalid',
+            'background_color.string' => 'background_color_invalid',
+            'background_color.regex' => 'background_color_invalid',
             'currency_code.required' => 'currency_unavailable',
             'currency_code.string' => 'currency_unavailable',
             'currency_code.regex' => 'currency_unavailable',
diff --git a/app/Http/Requests/UpdateOrganizationRequest.php b/app/Http/Requests/UpdateOrganizationRequest.php
index fe94dd28..aec3b903 100644
--- a/app/Http/Requests/UpdateOrganizationRequest.php
+++ b/app/Http/Requests/UpdateOrganizationRequest.php
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ public function rules(): array
              * choosing a colour would be a one-way door.
              */
             'primary_color' => ['sometimes', 'nullable', 'string', 'regex:/\A#[0-9a-fA-F]{6}\z/'],
+            'background_color' => ['sometimes', 'nullable', 'string', 'regex:/\A#[0-9a-fA-F]{6}\z/'],
             'currency_code' => ['sometimes', 'required', 'string', 'regex:/\A[A-Z]{3}\z/', Rule::exists('currencies', 'code')->where('is_active', true)],
         ];
     }
@@ -117,6 +118,8 @@ public function messages(): array
             'default_webhook_events.*.in' => 'webhook_event_unknown',
             'primary_color.string' => 'primary_color_invalid',
             'primary_color.regex' => 'primary_color_invalid',
+            'background_color.string' => 'background_color_invalid',
+            'background_color.regex' => 'background_color_invalid',
             // One slug for every currency refusal (inactive, unknown, malformed): the
             // response never says which codes exist but are switched off.
             'currency_code.required' => 'currency_unavailable',
diff --git a/app/Http/Resources/Admin/OrganizationResource.php b/app/Http/Resources/Admin/OrganizationResource.php
index 2ed4db7b..33c35362 100644
--- a/app/Http/Resources/Admin/OrganizationResource.php
+++ b/app/Http/Resources/Admin/OrganizationResource.php
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ class OrganizationResource extends JsonResource
      * return bigint as string, and the contract must be true regardless of
      * that PDO detail.
      *
-     * @return array{id: int, name: string, slug: string, primary_color: string|null, currency_code: string, logo_url: string|null, default_webhook_url: string|null, default_webhook_events: list<string>|null, has_default_webhook_secret: bool, created_at: string|null, updated_at: string|null}
+     * @return array{id: int, name: string, slug: string, primary_color: string|null, background_color: string|null, currency_code: string, logo_url: string|null, default_webhook_url: string|null, default_webhook_events: list<string>|null, has_default_webhook_secret: bool, created_at: string|null, updated_at: string|null}
      *
-     * @scramble-return array{id: int, name: string, slug: string, primary_color: string|null, currency_code: string, logo_url: string|null, default_webhook_url: string|null, default_webhook_events: list<string>|null, has_default_webhook_secret: bool, created_at: string|null, updated_at: string|null}
+     * @scramble-return array{id: int, name: string, slug: string, primary_color: string|null, background_color: string|null, currency_code: string, logo_url: string|null, default_webhook_url: string|null, default_webhook_events: list<string>|null, has_default_webhook_secret: bool, created_at: string|null, updated_at: string|null}
      */
     public function toArray(Request $request): array
     {
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ public function toArray(Request $request): array
             // distinction to decide between the organization's colour and the
             // product's own.
             'primary_color' => $organization->primary_color,
+            'background_color' => $organization->background_color,
             // A resolved URL, not the stored path. The path is disk-relative
             // and the disk differs per environment, so resolving it here is the
             // one place that knows which disk is configured — the same reason
diff --git a/app/Http/Resources/AvatarTemplateResource.php b/app/Http/Resources/AvatarTemplateResource.php
index 87e54b8a..e0a397e2 100644
--- a/app/Http/Resources/AvatarTemplateResource.php
+++ b/app/Http/Resources/AvatarTemplateResource.php
@@ -63,9 +63,12 @@ class AvatarTemplateResource extends JsonResource
      * `persona.display_name` is the interviewer's name the candidate reads on the live screen (null when
      * unset or when a stored value fails the write rules). Admin-only: classified in `ExposureCatalogue`.
      *
-     * @return array{id: int, name: string, description: string|null, provider: string, scope: 'organization'|'platform', config: array<string, mixed>, is_active: bool, created_at: string|null, updated_at: string|null, llm_model_id: int|null, llm_credential_id: int|null, llm_sync_status: string|null, llm_synced_at: string|null, llm: array{estimated_cost_usd_per_interview: array{minutes: int, turns: int, usd: float}|null}, pal_sync: array{status: string|null, code: string|null, synced_at: string|null}, persona: array{display_name: string|null}}
+     * `answer_min_seconds` / `answer_max_seconds` are the range, in seconds, the candidate's answer bar
+     * calls a good answer (guidance only). Admin-only: classified in `ExposureCatalogue`.
      *
-     * @scramble-return array{id: int, name: string, description: string|null, provider: string, scope: 'organization'|'platform', config: array<string, mixed>, is_active: bool, created_at: string|null, updated_at: string|null, llm_model_id: int|null, llm_credential_id: int|null, llm_sync_status: string|null, llm_synced_at: string|null, llm: array{estimated_cost_usd_per_interview: array{minutes: int, turns: int, usd: float}|null}, pal_sync: array{status: string|null, code: string|null, synced_at: string|null}, persona: array{display_name: string|null}}
+     * @return array{id: int, name: string, description: string|null, provider: string, scope: 'organization'|'platform', config: array<string, mixed>, is_active: bool, created_at: string|null, updated_at: string|null, llm_model_id: int|null, llm_credential_id: int|null, llm_sync_status: string|null, llm_synced_at: string|null, llm: array{estimated_cost_usd_per_interview: array{minutes: int, turns: int, usd: float}|null}, pal_sync: array{status: string|null, code: string|null, synced_at: string|null}, persona: array{display_name: string|null}, answer_min_seconds: int, answer_max_seconds: int}
+     *
+     * @scramble-return array{id: int, name: string, description: string|null, provider: string, scope: 'organization'|'platform', config: array<string, mixed>, is_active: bool, created_at: string|null, updated_at: string|null, llm_model_id: int|null, llm_credential_id: int|null, llm_sync_status: string|null, llm_synced_at: string|null, llm: array{estimated_cost_usd_per_interview: array{minutes: int, turns: int, usd: float}|null}, pal_sync: array{status: string|null, code: string|null, synced_at: string|null}, persona: array{display_name: string|null}, answer_min_seconds: int, answer_max_seconds: int}
      */
     public function toArray(Request $request): array
     {
@@ -96,6 +99,8 @@ public function toArray(Request $request): array
             ],
             // Only `display_name`, never the raw JSON: keys an import brought in stay off this surface.
             'persona' => ['display_name' => $template->personaDisplayName()],
+            'answer_min_seconds' => $template->answer_min_seconds,
+            'answer_max_seconds' => $template->answer_max_seconds,
         ];
     }
 
diff --git a/app/Http/Resources/ParticipantEnrolmentResource.php b/app/Http/Resources/ParticipantEnrolmentResource.php
index 2c77c022..427dbd38 100644
--- a/app/Http/Resources/ParticipantEnrolmentResource.php
+++ b/app/Http/Resources/ParticipantEnrolmentResource.php
@@ -40,9 +40,9 @@ final class ParticipantEnrolmentResource extends JsonResource
     /**
      * The `ParticipantResource` shape plus `external_id` and `source`.
      *
-     * @return array{id: int, candidate_ref: string, display_name: string, role_code: string|null, language: string|null, status: 'in_attesa'|'in_corso'|'in_valutazione'|'completato'|'errore', started_at: string|null, completed_at: string|null, created_at: string|null, scheduled_at: string|null, scheduling_status: 'pending'|'notice_sent'|'started'|'cancelled'|null, branding: array{name: string|null, primary_color: string|null, logo_url: string|null}, project: array{id: int, role_code: string|null, language: string, assessment_type: 'standard'|'potential', exit_redirect_url: string|null, error_redirect_url: string|null}|null, external_id: int|null, source: string|null}
+     * @return array{id: int, candidate_ref: string, display_name: string, role_code: string|null, language: string|null, status: 'in_attesa'|'in_corso'|'in_valutazione'|'completato'|'errore', started_at: string|null, completed_at: string|null, created_at: string|null, scheduled_at: string|null, scheduling_status: 'pending'|'notice_sent'|'started'|'cancelled'|null, branding: array{name: string|null, primary_color: string|null, background_color: string|null, logo_url: string|null}, project: array{id: int, role_code: string|null, language: string, assessment_type: 'standard'|'potential', exit_redirect_url: string|null, error_redirect_url: string|null}|null, external_id: int|null, source: string|null}
      *
-     * @scramble-return array{id: int, candidate_ref: string, display_name: string, role_code: string|null, language: string|null, status: 'in_attesa'|'in_corso'|'in_valutazione'|'completato'|'errore', started_at: string|null, completed_at: string|null, created_at: string|null, scheduled_at: string|null, scheduling_status: 'pending'|'notice_sent'|'started'|'cancelled'|null, branding: array{name: string|null, primary_color: string|null, logo_url: string|null}, project: array{id: int, role_code: string|null, language: string, assessment_type: 'standard'|'potential', exit_redirect_url: string|null, error_redirect_url: string|null}|null, external_id: int|null, source: string|null}
+     * @scramble-return array{id: int, candidate_ref: string, display_name: string, role_code: string|null, language: string|null, status: 'in_attesa'|'in_corso'|'in_valutazione'|'completato'|'errore', started_at: string|null, completed_at: string|null, created_at: string|null, scheduled_at: string|null, scheduling_status: 'pending'|'notice_sent'|'started'|'cancelled'|null, branding: array{name: string|null, primary_color: string|null, background_color: string|null, logo_url: string|null}, project: array{id: int, role_code: string|null, language: string, assessment_type: 'standard'|'potential', exit_redirect_url: string|null, error_redirect_url: string|null}|null, external_id: int|null, source: string|null}
      */
     public function toArray(Request $request): array
     {
diff --git a/app/Http/Resources/ParticipantResource.php b/app/Http/Resources/ParticipantResource.php
index 0eee512b..f64b41e5 100644
--- a/app/Http/Resources/ParticipantResource.php
+++ b/app/Http/Resources/ParticipantResource.php
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ class ParticipantResource extends JsonResource
      * `project.assessment_type` union (closed by the FormRequest + model
      * immutability guard, `Project.php:147-150`) and `project.id` `(int)`.
      *
-     * @return array{id: int, candidate_ref: string, display_name: string, role_code: string|null, language: string|null, status: 'in_attesa'|'in_corso'|'in_valutazione'|'completato'|'errore', started_at: string|null, completed_at: string|null, created_at: string|null, scheduled_at: string|null, scheduling_status: 'pending'|'notice_sent'|'started'|'cancelled'|null, branding: array{name: string|null, primary_color: string|null, logo_url: string|null}, project: array{id: int, role_code: string|null, language: string, assessment_type: 'standard'|'potential', exit_redirect_url: string|null, error_redirect_url: string|null}|null}
+     * @return array{id: int, candidate_ref: string, display_name: string, role_code: string|null, language: string|null, status: 'in_attesa'|'in_corso'|'in_valutazione'|'completato'|'errore', started_at: string|null, completed_at: string|null, created_at: string|null, scheduled_at: string|null, scheduling_status: 'pending'|'notice_sent'|'started'|'cancelled'|null, branding: array{name: string|null, primary_color: string|null, background_color: string|null, logo_url: string|null}, project: array{id: int, role_code: string|null, language: string, assessment_type: 'standard'|'potential', exit_redirect_url: string|null, error_redirect_url: string|null}|null}
      *
-     * @scramble-return array{id: int, candidate_ref: string, display_name: string, role_code: string|null, language: string|null, status: 'in_attesa'|'in_corso'|'in_valutazione'|'completato'|'errore', started_at: string|null, completed_at: string|null, created_at: string|null, scheduled_at: string|null, scheduling_status: 'pending'|'notice_sent'|'started'|'cancelled'|null, branding: array{name: string|null, primary_color: string|null, logo_url: string|null}, project: array{id: int, role_code: string|null, language: string, assessment_type: 'standard'|'potential', exit_redirect_url: string|null, error_redirect_url: string|null}|null}
+     * @scramble-return array{id: int, candidate_ref: string, display_name: string, role_code: string|null, language: string|null, status: 'in_attesa'|'in_corso'|'in_valutazione'|'completato'|'errore', started_at: string|null, completed_at: string|null, created_at: string|null, scheduled_at: string|null, scheduling_status: 'pending'|'notice_sent'|'started'|'cancelled'|null, branding: array{name: string|null, primary_color: string|null, background_color: string|null, logo_url: string|null}, project: array{id: int, role_code: string|null, language: string, assessment_type: 'standard'|'potential', exit_redirect_url: string|null, error_redirect_url: string|null}|null}
      */
     public function toArray(Request $request): array
     {
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ public function toArray(Request $request): array
              * bootstrap the app already makes, rather than needing a second
              * endpoint and a second round trip before anything can render.
              *
-             * Exactly two keys. A candidate is an outsider holding a
-             * short-lived token; the organization's name, webhook
+             * Exactly four keys (name, primary_color, background_color, logo_url). A candidate is an outsider holding a
+             * short-lived token; the webhook
              * configuration and every other setting are none of their
              * business, and the test asserts this key set exactly so a field
              * added to `OrganizationResource` later cannot leak here.
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ public function toArray(Request $request): array
                 // staying out.
                 'name' => $participant->organization?->name,
                 'primary_color' => $participant->organization?->primary_color,
+                'background_color' => $participant->organization?->background_color,
                 // Absolute, for the same reason as OrganizationResource: the
                 // candidate frontend is a separate origin from this API, so a
                 // rooted `/storage/...` path resolved against the wrong host.
diff --git a/app/Http/Resources/PlatformAvatarTemplateResource.php b/app/Http/Resources/PlatformAvatarTemplateResource.php
index be1be641..8312d477 100644
--- a/app/Http/Resources/PlatformAvatarTemplateResource.php
+++ b/app/Http/Resources/PlatformAvatarTemplateResource.php
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ public function __construct(AvatarTemplate $resource, private readonly array $us
     }
 
     /**
-     * @return array{id: int, name: string, description: string|null, provider: string, scope: 'organization'|'platform', config: array<string, mixed>, is_active: bool, created_at: string|null, updated_at: string|null, llm_model_id: int|null, llm_credential_id: int|null, llm_sync_status: string|null, llm_synced_at: string|null, llm: array{estimated_cost_usd_per_interview: array{minutes: int, turns: int, usd: float}|null}, pal_sync: array{status: string|null, code: string|null, synced_at: string|null}, persona: array{display_name: string|null}, usage: array{organization_count: int, project_count: int}}
+     * @return array{id: int, name: string, description: string|null, provider: string, scope: 'organization'|'platform', config: array<string, mixed>, is_active: bool, created_at: string|null, updated_at: string|null, llm_model_id: int|null, llm_credential_id: int|null, llm_sync_status: string|null, llm_synced_at: string|null, llm: array{estimated_cost_usd_per_interview: array{minutes: int, turns: int, usd: float}|null}, pal_sync: array{status: string|null, code: string|null, synced_at: string|null}, persona: array{display_name: string|null}, answer_min_seconds: int, answer_max_seconds: int, usage: array{organization_count: int, project_count: int}}
      *
-     * @scramble-return array{id: int, name: string, description: string|null, provider: string, scope: 'organization'|'platform', config: array<string, mixed>, is_active: bool, created_at: string|null, updated_at: string|null, llm_model_id: int|null, llm_credential_id: int|null, llm_sync_status: string|null, llm_synced_at: string|null, llm: array{estimated_cost_usd_per_interview: array{minutes: int, turns: int, usd: float}|null}, pal_sync: array{status: string|null, code: string|null, synced_at: string|null}, persona: array{display_name: string|null}, usage: array{organization_count: int, project_count: int}}
+     * @scramble-return array{id: int, name: string, description: string|null, provider: string, scope: 'organization'|'platform', config: array<string, mixed>, is_active: bool, created_at: string|null, updated_at: string|null, llm_model_id: int|null, llm_credential_id: int|null, llm_sync_status: string|null, llm_synced_at: string|null, llm: array{estimated_cost_usd_per_interview: array{minutes: int, turns: int, usd: float}|null}, pal_sync: array{status: string|null, code: string|null, synced_at: string|null}, persona: array{display_name: string|null}, answer_min_seconds: int, answer_max_seconds: int, usage: array{organization_count: int, project_count: int}}
      */
     public function toArray(Request $request): array
     {
diff --git a/app/Models/AvatarTemplate.php b/app/Models/AvatarTemplate.php
index eeffa765..0cf04d0e 100644
--- a/app/Models/AvatarTemplate.php
+++ b/app/Models/AvatarTemplate.php
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@
  * @property array<string, mixed> $config
  * @property array<string, mixed>|null $persona
  * @property bool $is_active
+ * @property int $answer_min_seconds
+ * @property int $answer_max_seconds
  * @property int|null $llm_model_id
  * @property int|null $llm_credential_id
  * @property string|null $heygen_llm_configuration_id
@@ -79,6 +81,8 @@ class AvatarTemplate extends TenantModel implements AdmitsPlatformRows
     protected $attributes = [
         'is_active' => false,
         'config' => '{}',
+        'answer_min_seconds' => 90,
+        'answer_max_seconds' => 150,
     ];
 
     /** @var list<string> */
@@ -88,6 +92,8 @@ class AvatarTemplate extends TenantModel implements AdmitsPlatformRows
         'provider',
         'config',
         'persona',
+        'answer_min_seconds',
+        'answer_max_seconds',
         'is_active',
         // Both-or-neither, enforced by a DB CHECK (I1) and by booted()'s I2/
         // I3/I4 guards below (pluggable-conversation-llm PR P3a, design D4).
@@ -105,6 +111,8 @@ protected function casts(): array
             'config' => 'array',
             'persona' => 'array',
             'is_active' => 'boolean',
+            'answer_min_seconds' => 'integer',
+            'answer_max_seconds' => 'integer',
             'llm_model_id' => 'integer',
             'llm_credential_id' => 'integer',
             'llm_synced_at' => 'datetime',
diff --git a/app/Models/Organization.php b/app/Models/Organization.php
index 608dcc95..14c92939 100644
--- a/app/Models/Organization.php
+++ b/app/Models/Organization.php
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
  * @property string|null $default_webhook_secret
  * @property string|null $logo_path
  * @property string|null $primary_color
+ * @property string|null $background_color
  * @property string $currency_code Display currency, a real FK to `currencies.code`; defaults to `USD`.
  * @property int|null $public_api_rate_limit_live
  * @property int|null $public_api_rate_limit_test
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ class Organization extends Model implements PubliclyIdentifiable
         // so a stored URL would bake one environment's host into the row.
         'logo_path',
         'primary_color',
+        'background_color',
         'currency_code',
         // Public API (`/v1`) rate-limit overrides (public-api step 3, SPEC.md
         // §3.2) — both null-by-default; see the migration's own docblock for
diff --git a/app/Support/AvatarTemplates/TemplateDocument.php b/app/Support/AvatarTemplates/TemplateDocument.php
index 4b926923..332113b5 100644
--- a/app/Support/AvatarTemplates/TemplateDocument.php
+++ b/app/Support/AvatarTemplates/TemplateDocument.php
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ public static function export(Collection $templates): array
                 'config' => $t->config,
                 // Persona is optional: a template may be pure provider config.
                 'persona' => $t->persona ?? null,
+                'answer_min_seconds' => $t->answer_min_seconds,
+                'answer_max_seconds' => $t->answer_max_seconds,
                 // The language model binding, by model key and credential name; `null` when the template has none.
                 'llm' => $t->llm_model_id === null ? null : [
                     'model_key' => $t->llmModel?->key,
@@ -65,7 +67,7 @@ public static function export(Collection $templates): array
      * lose a block.
      *
      * @param  array<string, mixed>  $entry
-     * @return list<array{name: string, description: string|null, provider: string, config: array<string, mixed>, persona: array<string, mixed>|null, llm: array{model_key: string, credential_name: string}|null}>
+     * @return list<array{name: string, description: string|null, provider: string, config: array<string, mixed>, persona: array<string, mixed>|null, answer_min_seconds: mixed, answer_max_seconds: mixed, llm: array{model_key: string, credential_name: string}|null}>
      */
     public static function flatten(array $entry): array
     {
@@ -81,6 +83,10 @@ public static function flatten(array $entry): array
                 'provider' => is_string($entry['provider']) ? $entry['provider'] : '',
                 'config' => is_array($entry['config'] ?? null) ? $entry['config'] : [],
                 'persona' => $persona,
+                // An OMITTED key (an older export) takes the default; an explicit null is kept so the
+                // controller refuses it, as the form's non-nullable integer rule does.
+                'answer_min_seconds' => array_key_exists('answer_min_seconds', $entry) ? $entry['answer_min_seconds'] : 90,
+                'answer_max_seconds' => array_key_exists('answer_max_seconds', $entry) ? $entry['answer_max_seconds'] : 150,
                 'llm' => self::flattenLlm($entry['llm'] ?? null),
             ]];
         }
@@ -103,6 +109,8 @@ public static function flatten(array $entry): array
                 'provider' => $provider,
                 'config' => $config,
                 'persona' => $persona,
+                'answer_min_seconds' => 90,
+                'answer_max_seconds' => 150,
                 'llm' => null,
             ];
         }
diff --git a/app/Support/Interview/SessionLiveClock.php b/app/Support/Interview/SessionLiveClock.php
index f74dcf3f..388104ea 100644
--- a/app/Support/Interview/SessionLiveClock.php
+++ b/app/Support/Interview/SessionLiveClock.php
@@ -119,6 +119,22 @@ public function close(InterviewSession $session, string $reason): void
         $open->save();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * The answer-length range the active template sets, in seconds; the platform default when no
+     * template resolves. Guidance for the candidate's bar: nothing here ends or shortens an answer.
+     *
+     * @return array{min: int, max: int}
+     */
+    public function resolveAnswerRange(InterviewSession $session): array
+    {
+        $template = $this->templates->resolve($session->provider, $session->project_id);
+
+        return [
+            'min' => $template->answer_min_seconds ?? 90,
+            'max' => $template->answer_max_seconds ?? 150,
+        ];
+    }
+
     /**
      * The provider's real ceiling for this session, in seconds (D4a).
      *
diff --git a/database/migrations/2026_10_16_100000_add_answer_time_range_to_avatar_templates.php b/database/migrations/2026_10_16_100000_add_answer_time_range_to_avatar_templates.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2c784291
--- /dev/null
+++ b/database/migrations/2026_10_16_100000_add_answer_time_range_to_avatar_templates.php
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
+use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
+
+/**
+ * The length of a "good" answer, per avatar template (answer-time-range).
+ *
+ * The candidate's call panel shows a bar for the current answer; these two numbers are the range
+ * it highlights. Guidance only: nothing ends or shortens an answer. The DB default fills every
+ * existing row, platform rows included, so no backfill is needed and no row is ever NULL.
+ *
+ * The CHECK mirrors the write-side rule (10..600 seconds, min below max) so a path that bypasses
+ * the form requests, such as the import or a raw insert, cannot store a range the apps would
+ * render as a nonsense bar.
+ */
+return new class extends Migration
+{
+    public function up(): void
+    {
+        Schema::table('avatar_templates', function (Blueprint $table): void {
+            $table->unsignedSmallInteger('answer_min_seconds')->default(90);
+            $table->unsignedSmallInteger('answer_max_seconds')->default(150);
+        });
+
+        DB::statement(
+            'ALTER TABLE avatar_templates ADD CONSTRAINT avatar_templates_answer_range
+             CHECK (answer_min_seconds >= 10 AND answer_max_seconds <= 600 AND answer_min_seconds < answer_max_seconds)'
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function down(): void
+    {
+        DB::statement('ALTER TABLE avatar_templates DROP CONSTRAINT IF EXISTS avatar_templates_answer_range');
+
+        Schema::table('avatar_templates', function (Blueprint $table): void {
+            $table->dropColumn(['answer_min_seconds', 'answer_max_seconds']);
+        });
+    }
+};
diff --git a/database/migrations/2026_10_16_110000_add_background_color_to_organizations.php b/database/migrations/2026_10_16_110000_add_background_color_to_organizations.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..62297e52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/database/migrations/2026_10_16_110000_add_background_color_to_organizations.php
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
+use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
+
+/**
+ * Per-organization candidate-page background colour.
+ *
+ * Same contract as `primary_color` (see add_branding_to_organizations): a
+ * nullable `#rrggbb` string guarded by a CHECK, because the value is
+ * interpolated into a CSS custom property in the candidate app. Null is a
+ * permanent, legal state meaning "use the product default canvas (dark)".
+ */
+return new class extends Migration
+{
+    public function up(): void
+    {
+        Schema::table('organizations', function (Blueprint $table): void {
+            $table->string('background_color', 7)->nullable()->after('primary_color');
+        });
+
+        DB::statement(
+            "ALTER TABLE organizations ADD CONSTRAINT organizations_background_color_hex
+             CHECK (background_color IS NULL OR background_color ~* '^#[0-9a-f]{6}$')"
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function down(): void
+    {
+        DB::statement(
+            'ALTER TABLE organizations DROP CONSTRAINT IF EXISTS organizations_background_color_hex'
+        );
+
+        Schema::table('organizations', function (Blueprint $table): void {
+            $table->dropColumn('background_color');
+        });
+    }
+};
diff --git a/openapi.json b/openapi.json
index 1debb286..a972aef1 100644
--- a/openapi.json
+++ b/openapi.json
@@ -1749,6 +1749,16 @@
                                             "null"
                                         ]
                                     },
+                                    "answer_min_seconds": {
+                                        "type": "integer",
+                                        "minimum": 10,
+                                        "maximum": 600
+                                    },
+                                    "answer_max_seconds": {
+                                        "type": "integer",
+                                        "minimum": 10,
+                                        "maximum": 600
+                                    },
                                     "persona": {
                                         "type": "object",
                                         "properties": {
@@ -1895,6 +1905,16 @@
                                             "null"
                                         ]
                                     },
+                                    "answer_min_seconds": {
+                                        "type": "integer",
+                                        "minimum": 10,
+                                        "maximum": 600
+                                    },
+                                    "answer_max_seconds": {
+                                        "type": "integer",
+                                        "minimum": 10,
+                                        "maximum": 600
+                                    },
                                     "persona": {
                                         "type": "object",
                                         "properties": {
@@ -2167,6 +2187,12 @@
                                                         "description": "Persona is optional: a template may be pure provider config.",
                                                         "items": {}
                                                     },
+                                                    "answer_min_seconds": {
+                                                        "type": "integer"
+                                                    },
+                                                    "answer_max_seconds": {
+                                                        "type": "integer"
+                                                    },
                                                     "llm": {
                                                         "type": [
                                                             "object",
@@ -2193,6 +2219,8 @@
                                                     "provider",
                                                     "config",
                                                     "persona",
+                                                    "answer_min_seconds",
+                                                    "answer_max_seconds",
                                                     "llm"
                                                 ]
                                             }
@@ -6718,6 +6746,12 @@
                                         "interview_max_seconds": {
                                             "type": "integer"
                                         },
+                                        "answer_min_seconds": {
+                                            "type": "integer"
+                                        },
+                                        "answer_max_seconds": {
+                                            "type": "integer"
+                                        },
                                         "conversation_id": {
                                             "type": "string"
                                         },
@@ -6747,7 +6781,9 @@
                                         "conversation_url",
                                         "audio_only",
                                         "question_context",
-                                        "interview_max_seconds"
+                                        "interview_max_seconds",
+                                        "answer_min_seconds",
+                                        "answer_max_seconds"
                                     ]
                                 }
                             }
@@ -7306,7 +7342,7 @@
             },
             "patch": {
                 "operationId": "organization.update",
-                "description": "Accepts `name`, the default webhook settings, `primary_color` and\n`currency_code` (active catalogue codes only). Any other field in the body\nis ignored.",
+                "description": "Accepts `name`, the default webhook settings, `primary_color`, `background_color` and\n`currency_code` (active catalogue codes only). Any other field in the body\nis ignored.",
                 "summary": "Update the organization",
                 "tags": [
                     "Organization"
@@ -9016,6 +9052,16 @@
                                             "null"
                                         ]
                                     },
+                                    "answer_min_seconds": {
+                                        "type": "integer",
+                                        "minimum": 10,
+                                        "maximum": 600
+                                    },
+                                    "answer_max_seconds": {
+                                        "type": "integer",
+                                        "minimum": 10,
+                                        "maximum": 600
+                                    },
                                     "persona": {
                                         "type": "object",
                                         "properties": {
@@ -9165,6 +9211,16 @@
                                             "null"
                                         ]
                                     },
+                                    "answer_min_seconds": {
+                                        "type": "integer",
+                                        "minimum": 10,
+                                        "maximum": 600
+                                    },
+                                    "answer_max_seconds": {
+                                        "type": "integer",
+                                        "minimum": 10,
+                                        "maximum": 600
+                                    },
                                     "persona": {
                                         "type": "object",
                                         "properties": {
@@ -14608,6 +14664,12 @@
                                     "null"
                                 ]
                             },
+                            "background_color": {
+                                "type": [
+                                    "string",
+                                    "null"
+                                ]
+                            },
                             "logo_url": {
                                 "type": [
                                     "string",
@@ -14618,6 +14680,7 @@
                         "required": [
                             "name",
                             "primary_color",
+                            "background_color",
                             "logo_url"
                         ]
                     },
@@ -14825,6 +14888,12 @@
                         "required": [
                             "display_name"
                         ]
+                    },
+                    "answer_min_seconds": {
+                        "type": "integer"
+                    },
+                    "answer_max_seconds": {
+                        "type": "integer"
                     }
                 },
                 "required": [
@@ -14843,7 +14912,9 @@
                     "llm_synced_at",
                     "llm",
                     "pal_sync",
-                    "persona"
+                    "persona",
+                    "answer_min_seconds",
+                    "answer_max_seconds"
                 ],
                 "title": "AvatarTemplateResource"
             },
@@ -15859,6 +15930,12 @@
                             "null"
                         ]
                     },
+                    "background_color": {
+                        "type": [
+                            "string",
+                            "null"
+                        ]
+                    },
                     "currency_code": {
                         "type": "string"
                     },
@@ -15904,6 +15981,7 @@
                     "name",
                     "slug",
                     "primary_color",
+                    "background_color",
                     "currency_code",
                     "logo_url",
                     "default_webhook_url",
@@ -16294,6 +16372,12 @@
                                     "null"
                                 ]
                             },
+                            "background_color": {
+                                "type": [
+                                    "string",
+                                    "null"
+                                ]
+                            },
                             "logo_url": {
                                 "type": [
                                     "string",
@@ -16304,6 +16388,7 @@
                         "required": [
                             "name",
                             "primary_color",
+                            "background_color",
                             "logo_url"
                         ]
                     },
@@ -16643,6 +16728,12 @@
                             "display_name"
                         ]
                     },
+                    "answer_min_seconds": {
+                        "type": "integer"
+                    },
+                    "answer_max_seconds": {
+                        "type": "integer"
+                    },
                     "usage": {
                         "type": "object",
                         "properties": {
@@ -16676,6 +16767,8 @@
                     "llm",
                     "pal_sync",
                     "persona",
+                    "answer_min_seconds",
+                    "answer_max_seconds",
                     "usage"
                 ],
                 "title": "PlatformAvatarTemplateResource"
@@ -18748,7 +18841,7 @@
             },
             "UpdateManagedOrganizationRequest": {
                 "type": "object",
-                "description": "Validates PATCH /api/admin/organizations/{id} (superadmin only).\n\nOnly `name`, `primary_color` and `currency_code` are writable here. `slug` is a tenancy\nidentifier and is never editable; the webhook defaults and the logo keep\ntheir own tenant-facing endpoints.",
+                "description": "Validates PATCH /api/admin/organizations/{id} (superadmin only).\n\nOnly `name`, `primary_color`, `background_color` and `currency_code` are writable here. `slug` is a tenancy\nidentifier and is never editable; the webhook defaults and the logo keep\ntheir own tenant-facing endpoints.",
                 "properties": {
                     "name": {
                         "type": "string",
@@ -18761,6 +18854,13 @@
                         ],
                         "pattern": "^#[0-9a-fA-F]{6}$"
                     },
+                    "background_color": {
+                        "type": [
+                            "string",
+                            "null"
+                        ],
+                        "pattern": "^#[0-9a-fA-F]{6}$"
+                    },
                     "currency_code": {
                         "type": "string",
                         "pattern": "^[A-Z]{3}$"
@@ -18813,6 +18913,13 @@
                         "description": "The primary colour is CSS, and is validated as CSS rather than as\na string that happens to look like one. It is interpolated into a custom property in both Nuxt apps, so a\nvalue that is not a colour becomes a stylesheet that silently\ndoes not apply, and one carrying `;` or `}` appends rules of its\nown to every page an operator's candidates load.\n\n`\\z`, NOT `$`, and that difference is the whole security of this\nrule. In PCRE `$` also matches immediately BEFORE a final\nnewline, so `/^#[0-9a-f]{6}$/` accepts `\"#123456\\n\"` \u2014 and the\nnewline is exactly what lets a payload open a second declaration\nonce it is interpolated into a stylesheet. `\\z` matches only at\nthe true end of the subject. Caught by the injection test, which\nfailed against the `$` version of this rule.\n\nThree-digit shorthand is deliberately refused so the apps never\nhave to expand it \u2014 one canonical form, and an operator pasting\n`#abc` is told so rather than getting a colour that quietly\ndiffers from the one they copied.\n\n`nullable` is the route back to the product palette; without it,\nchoosing a colour would be a one-way door.",
                         "pattern": "^#[0-9a-fA-F]{6}$"
                     },
+                    "background_color": {
+                        "type": [
+                            "string",
+                            "null"
+                        ],
+                        "pattern": "^#[0-9a-fA-F]{6}$"
+                    },
                     "currency_code": {
                         "type": "string",
                         "pattern": "^[A-Z]{3}$"
diff --git a/tests/Feature/AvatarTemplates/AnswerTimeRangeTest.php b/tests/Feature/AvatarTemplates/AnswerTimeRangeTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c010436c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Feature/AvatarTemplates/AnswerTimeRangeTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,295 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+/**
+ * `answer_min_seconds` / `answer_max_seconds` on avatar templates: the range a "good" answer lasts,
+ * shown to the candidate as guidance only (answer-time-range). Defaults 90 and 150; the range is
+ * 10..600 with min < max, on every write surface, and travels with duplicate and import/export.
+ */
+
+use App\Actions\Interview\BuildInterviewSessionResponse;
+use App\Http\Controllers\AvatarTemplatePortabilityController;
+use App\Models\AvatarTemplate;
+use App\Models\FrameworkVersion;
+use App\Models\InterviewSession;
+use App\Models\Organization;
+use App\Models\Participant;
+use App\Models\Project;
+use App\Services\Provider\ProviderToken;
+use App\Support\Tenancy\TenantContextScope;
+use Illuminate\Database\QueryException;
+use Illuminate\Foundation\Testing\RefreshDatabase;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Event;
+use Tests\Helpers\AvatarTemplates\PlatformTemplates;
+use Tests\Helpers\AvatarTemplates\TemplateActors;
+
+uses(RefreshDatabase::class);
+
+dataset('atrSurfaces', ['organization', 'platform']);
+
+/**
+ * @return array{0: string, 1: string, 2: Organization}
+ */
+function atrSurface(string $surface): array
+{
+    $org = Organization::factory()->create();
+
+    return $surface === 'organization'
+        ? ['/api/avatar-templates', TemplateActors::token('acting', $org), $org]
+        : ['/api/admin/avatar-templates', TemplateActors::token('bare', $org), $org];
+}
+
+/**
+ * @param  array<string, mixed>  $extra
+ * @return array<string, mixed>
+ */
+function atrPayload(array $extra = []): array
+{
+    return array_merge([
+        'name' => 'Range '.uniqid(),
+        'provider' => 'heygen',
+        'config' => ['avatarId' => 'av_1', 'voiceId' => 'vo_1'],
+    ], $extra);
+}
+
+/**
+ * @param  array<string, mixed>  $columns
+ */
+function atrSeed(string $surface, Organization $org, array $columns = []): AvatarTemplate
+{
+    if ($surface === 'platform') {
+        return PlatformTemplates::insertGlobal($columns);
+    }
+
+    return TenantContextScope::runFor($org->id, fn (): AvatarTemplate => AvatarTemplate::create(array_merge([
+        'name' => 'Seed '.uniqid(),
+        'provider' => 'heygen',
+        'config' => ['avatarId' => 'av', 'voiceId' => 'vo'],
+    ], $columns)));
+}
+
+test('a template defaults to a 90 to 150 second range, platform rows included', function (string $surface): void {
+    [$url, $token, $org] = atrSurface($surface);
+    $template = atrSeed($surface, $org);
+
+    expect($template->fresh()->answer_min_seconds)->toBe(90)
+        ->and($template->fresh()->answer_max_seconds)->toBe(150);
+
+    $this->withToken($token)->getJson("{$url}/{$template->id}")->assertOk()
+        ->assertJsonPath('data.answer_min_seconds', 90)
+        ->assertJsonPath('data.answer_max_seconds', 150);
+})->with('atrSurfaces');
+
+test('a create without the range stores the defaults and a create with it stores the values', function (string $surface): void {
+    [$url, $token] = atrSurface($surface);
+
+    $this->withToken($token)->postJson($url, atrPayload())->assertCreated()
+        ->assertJsonPath('data.answer_min_seconds', 90)
+        ->assertJsonPath('data.answer_max_seconds', 150);
+
+    $this->withToken($token)->postJson($url, atrPayload(['answer_min_seconds' => 60, 'answer_max_seconds' => 120]))->assertCreated()
+        ->assertJsonPath('data.answer_min_seconds', 60)
+        ->assertJsonPath('data.answer_max_seconds', 120);
+})->with('atrSurfaces');
+
+test('the range is refused when out of bounds, not an integer or not min below max', function (string $surface, array $range, string $field): void {
+    [$url, $token] = atrSurface($surface);
+
+    $this->withToken($token)->postJson($url, atrPayload($range))
+        ->assertUnprocessable()->assertJsonValidationErrors([$field]);
+})->with('atrSurfaces')->with([
+    'min under 10' => [['answer_min_seconds' => 9], 'answer_min_seconds'],
+    'max over 600' => [['answer_max_seconds' => 601], 'answer_max_seconds'],
+    'not an integer' => [['answer_min_seconds' => 'soon'], 'answer_min_seconds'],
+    'min equal to max' => [['answer_min_seconds' => 100, 'answer_max_seconds' => 100], 'answer_max_seconds'],
+    'min above max' => [['answer_min_seconds' => 200, 'answer_max_seconds' => 100], 'answer_max_seconds'],
+    'min above the default max' => [['answer_min_seconds' => 150], 'answer_max_seconds'],
+    'max under the default min' => [['answer_max_seconds' => 90], 'answer_max_seconds'],
+]);
+
+test('an update compares a single field against the stored one', function (string $surface): void {
+    [$url, $token, $org] = atrSurface($surface);
+    $template = atrSeed($surface, $org);
+
+    $this->withToken($token)->patchJson("{$url}/{$template->id}", ['answer_min_seconds' => 200])
+        ->assertUnprocessable()->assertJsonValidationErrors(['answer_max_seconds']);
+    $this->withToken($token)->patchJson("{$url}/{$template->id}", ['answer_max_seconds' => 60])
+        ->assertUnprocessable()->assertJsonValidationErrors(['answer_max_seconds']);
+
+    $this->withToken($token)->patchJson("{$url}/{$template->id}", ['answer_min_seconds' => 45])->assertOk()
+        ->assertJsonPath('data.answer_min_seconds', 45)
+        ->assertJsonPath('data.answer_max_seconds', 150);
+    $this->withToken($token)->patchJson("{$url}/{$template->id}", ['answer_min_seconds' => 200, 'answer_max_seconds' => 300])->assertOk()
+        ->assertJsonPath('data.answer_min_seconds', 200)
+        ->assertJsonPath('data.answer_max_seconds', 300);
+})->with('atrSurfaces');
+
+test('the database refuses a range the application let through', function (): void {
+    $org = Organization::factory()->create();
+
+    expect(fn () => atrSeed('platform', $org, ['answer_min_seconds' => 200, 'answer_max_seconds' => 100]))
+        ->toThrow(QueryException::class);
+});
+
+test('a concurrent write that slips past the ordering check is a 422, not a 500', function (string $surface): void {
+    [$url, $token, $org] = atrSurface($surface);
+    $template = atrSeed($surface, $org);
+
+    // The other writer lands between our validation (stored max 150) and our write: the
+    // validated `min 140` now meets a stored max of 100, which only the DB CHECK can refuse.
+    Event::listen('eloquent.updating: '.AvatarTemplate::class, function () use ($template): void {
+        DB::table('avatar_templates')->where('id', $template->id)->update(['answer_max_seconds' => 100]);
+    });
+
+    $this->withToken($token)->patchJson("{$url}/{$template->id}", ['answer_min_seconds' => 140])
+        ->assertUnprocessable()->assertJsonValidationErrors(['answer_max_seconds']);
+})->with('atrSurfaces');
+
+test('duplicating a template copies the range', function (): void {
+    $source = Organization::factory()->create();
+    $target = Organization::factory()->create();
+    $original = atrSeed('organization', $source, ['answer_min_seconds' => 30, 'answer_max_seconds' => 75]);
+
+    $this->withToken(TemplateActors::token('bare', $source))
+        ->postJson("/api/avatar-templates/{$original->id}/duplicate", ['target_organization_ids' => [$target->id]])
+        ->assertCreated();
+
+    $copy = TenantContextScope::runFor($target->id, fn () => AvatarTemplate::query()->firstOrFail());
+    expect($copy->answer_min_seconds)->toBe(30)->and($copy->answer_max_seconds)->toBe(75);
+});
+
+test('export carries the range and import restores it', function (): void {
+    $org = Organization::factory()->create();
+    $token = TemplateActors::token('acting', $org);
+    atrSeed('organization', $org, ['answer_min_seconds' => 30, 'answer_max_seconds' => 75]);
+
+    $document = $this->withToken($token)->getJson('/api/avatar-templates/export')->assertOk()->json();
+    expect($document['templates'][0])->toMatchArray(['answer_min_seconds' => 30, 'answer_max_seconds' => 75]);
+
+    $document['templates'][0]['name'] = 'Round trip';
+    $this->withToken($token)->postJson('/api/avatar-templates/import', $document)->assertCreated();
+
+    $copy = AvatarTemplate::withoutGlobalScopes()->where('name', 'Round trip')->firstOrFail();
+    expect($copy->answer_min_seconds)->toBe(30)->and($copy->answer_max_seconds)->toBe(75);
+});
+
+test('an older file without the range imports with the defaults and a bad range is refused', function (): void {
+    $org = Organization::factory()->create();
+    $token = TemplateActors::token('acting', $org);
+    $entry = ['name' => 'Old', 'provider' => 'heygen', 'config' => ['avatarId' => 'av_1', 'voiceId' => 'vo_1']];
+
+    $this->withToken($token)->postJson('/api/avatar-templates/import', ['schema' => 'beai.avatar-template/1', 'templates' => [$entry]])->assertCreated();
+    $old = AvatarTemplate::withoutGlobalScopes()->where('name', 'Old')->firstOrFail();
+    expect($old->answer_min_seconds)->toBe(90)->and($old->answer_max_seconds)->toBe(150);
+
+    $bad = array_merge($entry, ['name' => 'Bad', 'answer_min_seconds' => 500, 'answer_max_seconds' => 20]);
+    $this->withToken($token)->postJson('/api/avatar-templates/import', ['schema' => 'beai.avatar-template/1', 'templates' => [$bad]])->assertUnprocessable();
+    expect(AvatarTemplate::withoutGlobalScopes()->where('name', 'Bad')->exists())->toBeFalse();
+});
+
+test('an import refuses a range of the wrong type or bounds and defaults the field it omits', function (array $range, bool $accepted, int $min, int $max): void {
+    $org = Organization::factory()->create();
+    $token = TemplateActors::token('acting', $org);
+    $entry = array_merge(['name' => 'Imp', 'provider' => 'heygen', 'config' => ['avatarId' => 'av_1', 'voiceId' => 'vo_1']], $range);
+
+    $response = $this->withToken($token)->postJson('/api/avatar-templates/import', ['schema' => 'beai.avatar-template/1', 'templates' => [$entry]]);
+
+    if (! $accepted) {
+        $response->assertUnprocessable();
+        expect(AvatarTemplate::withoutGlobalScopes()->where('name', 'Imp')->exists())->toBeFalse();
+
+        return;
+    }
+
+    $response->assertCreated();
+    $row = AvatarTemplate::withoutGlobalScopes()->where('name', 'Imp')->firstOrFail();
+    expect($row->answer_min_seconds)->toBe($min)->and($row->answer_max_seconds)->toBe($max);
+})->with([
+    'string min' => [['answer_min_seconds' => '90'], false, 0, 0],
+    'string max' => [['answer_max_seconds' => '150'], false, 0, 0],
+    'fractional max' => [['answer_max_seconds' => 150.5], false, 0, 0],
+    'min under 10' => [['answer_min_seconds' => 5], false, 0, 0],
+    'max over 600' => [['answer_max_seconds' => 601], false, 0, 0],
+    'min above the default max' => [['answer_min_seconds' => 200], false, 0, 0],
+    'max under the default min' => [['answer_max_seconds' => 60], false, 0, 0],
+    'explicit null min' => [['answer_min_seconds' => null], false, 0, 0],
+    'explicit null max' => [['answer_max_seconds' => null], false, 0, 0],
+    'only min, max defaults' => [['answer_min_seconds' => 30], true, 30, 150],
+    'only max, min defaults' => [['answer_max_seconds' => 300], true, 90, 300],
+    'bounds are inclusive' => [['answer_min_seconds' => 10, 'answer_max_seconds' => 600], true, 10, 600],
+]);
+
+test('an import refuses a whole-number float, which PHP would otherwise encode as an int', function (): void {
+    $org = Organization::factory()->create();
+    $token = TemplateActors::token('acting', $org);
+
+    // json_encode() writes 90.0 as `90`, so the body is written by hand to reach the decoder as a float.
+    $body = '{"schema":"beai.avatar-template/1","templates":[{"name":"Imp","provider":"heygen",'
+        .'"config":{"avatarId":"av_1","voiceId":"vo_1"},"answer_min_seconds":90.0}]}';
+
+    $this->withServerVariables($this->transformHeadersToServerVars(['Authorization' => "Bearer {$token}", 'Accept' => 'application/json']))
+        ->call('POST', '/api/avatar-templates/import', [], [], [], ['CONTENT_TYPE' => 'application/json'], $body)
+        ->assertUnprocessable();
+    expect(AvatarTemplate::withoutGlobalScopes()->where('name', 'Imp')->exists())->toBeFalse();
+});
+
+/**
+ * @param  array<string, mixed>  $columns
+ */
+function atrSession(Organization $org, ?array $columns): InterviewSession
+{
+    // `null` pins a template of ANOTHER provider, so nothing resolves for the tavus session
+    // (a project always pins some template; the resolver ignores one of the wrong provider).
+    $template = PlatformTemplates::insertActiveGlobal(array_merge([
+        'provider' => $columns === null ? 'heygen' : 'tavus',
+        'config' => ['avatarId' => 'av', 'voiceId' => 'vo'],
+    ], $columns ?? []));
+
+    return TenantContextScope::runFor($org->id, function () use ($org, $template): InterviewSession {
+        $fv = FrameworkVersion::factory()->create(['organization_id' => $org->id]);
+        $project = Project::factory()->create([
+            'organization_id' => $org->id,
+            'framework_version_id' => $fv->id,
+            'avatar_template_id' => $template->id,
+        ]);
+        $participant = Participant::factory()->create(['organization_id' => $org->id, 'project_id' => $project->id]);
+
+        return InterviewSession::factory()->create([
+            'organization_id' => $org->id,
+            'participant_id' => $participant->id,
+            'project_id' => $project->id,
+            'framework_version_id' => $fv->id,
+            'provider' => 'tavus',
+        ]);
+    });
+}
+
+test('the session response carries the template range, or 90 and 150 without a template', function (?array $columns, int $min, int $max): void {
+    $org = Organization::factory()->create();
+    $session = atrSession($org, $columns);
+
+    $body = TenantContextScope::runFor($org->id, fn () => app(BuildInterviewSessionResponse::class)->handle(
+        $session,
+        new ProviderToken(provider: 'tavus', conversation_url: 'https://example.test/room'),
+        'it',
+    ))->getData(true);
+
+    expect($body)->toHaveKey('answer_min_seconds', $min)->toHaveKey('answer_max_seconds', $max);
+})->with([
+    'custom template' => [['answer_min_seconds' => 60, 'answer_max_seconds' => 120], 60, 120],
+    'default template' => [[], 90, 150],
+    'no template' => [null, 90, 150],
+]);
+
+test('an import record lacking a range key is a validation message, not an undefined-key 500', function (string $missing): void {
+    $record = ['name' => 'T', 'provider' => 'heygen', 'config' => [], 'persona' => null, 'description' => null,
+        'answer_min_seconds' => 90, 'answer_max_seconds' => 150];
+    unset($record[$missing]);
+
+    $reject = new ReflectionMethod(AvatarTemplatePortabilityController::class, 'reject');
+
+    expect($reject->invoke(app(AvatarTemplatePortabilityController::class), $record))
+        ->toContain('answer_min_seconds / answer_max_seconds');
+})->with(['answer_min_seconds', 'answer_max_seconds']);
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Interview/ConversationPlanCreateTest.php b/tests/Feature/Interview/ConversationPlanCreateTest.php
index 6ad07298..4004b916 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/Interview/ConversationPlanCreateTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/Interview/ConversationPlanCreateTest.php
@@ -137,12 +137,24 @@ function cpcRow(Organization $org, Participant $participant): InterviewSession
     $response = cpcStart($participant)->assertStatus(201);
 
     $body = cpcCreateBody();
-    expect(array_keys($response->json()))->toBe(['session_id', 'provider', 'audio_only', 'provider_token', 'conversation_url', 'question_context', 'interview_max_seconds'])
+    expect(array_keys($response->json()))->toBe(['session_id', 'provider', 'audio_only', 'provider_token', 'conversation_url', 'question_context', 'interview_max_seconds', 'answer_min_seconds', 'answer_max_seconds'])
+        ->and($response->json('answer_min_seconds'))->toBe(90)
+        ->and($response->json('answer_max_seconds'))->toBe(150)
         ->and(cpcRow($org, $participant)->conversation_plan)->toBeNull()
         ->and($body['properties'] ?? [])->not->toHaveKey('participant_left_timeout')
         ->and($body['conversational_context'])->not->toContain('=== TOPIC CODE:');
 });
 
+test('a template with a custom answer range puts those values on the start response', function (): void {
+    cpcFake();
+    [$org, $project, $participant] = cpcFixture(3);
+    AvatarTemplate::query()->whereKey($project->avatar_template_id)->update(['answer_min_seconds' => 60, 'answer_max_seconds' => 120]);
+
+    cpcStart($participant)->assertStatus(201)
+        ->assertJsonPath('answer_min_seconds', 60)
+        ->assertJsonPath('answer_max_seconds', 120);
+});
+
 test('a single remaining competency writes no plan and returns no conversation_id', function (): void {
     config(['interview.tavus.single_session' => true]);
     cpcFake();
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Migration/BaselineRevisionMigrationTest.php b/tests/Feature/Migration/BaselineRevisionMigrationTest.php
index 2652adba..cc6a2eab 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/Migration/BaselineRevisionMigrationTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/Migration/BaselineRevisionMigrationTest.php
@@ -91,9 +91,22 @@
         'label' => 'PR1 pre-revision snapshot',
     ]);
 
+    // The schema is older than the code here, so the template is inserted with the columns that
+    // exist at this point: an `AvatarTemplate::create()` would also name every column added later.
+    $templateId = DB::table('avatar_templates')->insertGetId([
+        'organization_id' => $org->id,
+        'name' => 'PR1 pre-revision template',
+        'provider' => 'heygen',
+        'config' => '{}',
+        'is_active' => false,
+        'created_at' => now(),
+        'updated_at' => now(),
+    ]);
+
     $project = Project::factory()->create([
         'framework_version_id' => $fv->id,
         'role_code' => 'PR1TEST',
+        'avatar_template_id' => $templateId,
     ]);
     $participant = Participant::factory()->create([
         'project_id' => $project->id,
diff --git a/tests/Feature/OrganizationSettings/BrandingTest.php b/tests/Feature/OrganizationSettings/BrandingTest.php
index c25221f9..9c37734f 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/OrganizationSettings/BrandingTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/OrganizationSettings/BrandingTest.php
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ function brandingUser(Organization $org, string $role): array
     // The KEY must be present even when null — a UI cannot distinguish "not
     // configured" from "this build of the API does not support branding" if the
     // field is simply missing.
-    $response->assertJsonStructure(['data' => ['primary_color', 'logo_url']]);
+    $response->assertJsonStructure(['data' => ['primary_color', 'background_color', 'logo_url']]);
 });
 
 // ─── Writing ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -324,6 +324,52 @@ function brandingUser(Organization $org, string $role): array
     expect($check?->def)->toContain('[0-9a-f]{6}');
 });
 
+// ─── Background colour ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+test('an admin can set and clear the background colour', function (): void {
+    $org = Organization::factory()->create();
+    ['token' => $token] = brandingUser($org, 'admin');
+
+    $this->withToken($token)->patchJson('/api/organization', ['background_color' => '#F1F5F9'])
+        ->assertOk()->assertJsonPath('data.background_color', '#F1F5F9');
+    expect($org->fresh()->background_color)->toBe('#F1F5F9');
+
+    $this->withToken($token)->patchJson('/api/organization', ['background_color' => null])->assertOk();
+    expect($org->fresh()->background_color)->toBeNull();
+});
+
+test('a non-admin cannot change the background colour', function (): void {
+    $org = Organization::factory()->create();
+    ['token' => $token] = brandingUser($org, 'operator');
+
+    $this->withToken($token)->patchJson('/api/organization', ['background_color' => '#123456'])->assertForbidden();
+    expect($org->fresh()->background_color)->toBeNull();
+});
+
+test('a background colour that is not hex is refused with a code', function (): void {
+    $org = Organization::factory()->create();
+    ['token' => $token] = brandingUser($org, 'admin');
+
+    foreach (['red', '#abc', '#12345g', 'red;}'] as $bad) {
+        $this->withToken($token)
+            ->patchJson('/api/organization', ['background_color' => $bad])
+            ->assertUnprocessable()
+            ->assertJsonPath('errors.background_color.0', 'background_color_invalid');
+    }
+
+    expect($org->fresh()->background_color)->toBeNull();
+});
+
+test('the DATABASE refuses a malformed background colour', function (): void {
+    $check = DB::selectOne(
+        "select pg_get_constraintdef(oid) as def
+         from pg_constraint
+         where conname = 'organizations_background_color_hex'"
+    );
+
+    expect($check?->def)->toContain('[0-9a-f]{6}');
+});
+
 // ─── Logo upload ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 function brandingImage(string $bytes, string $name): UploadedFile
@@ -550,7 +596,7 @@ function brandingCandidateToken(Participant $participant): string
     // can paint.
     Storage::fake();
 
-    $org = Organization::factory()->create(['primary_color' => '#7C3AED']);
+    $org = Organization::factory()->create(['primary_color' => '#7C3AED', 'background_color' => '#0F172A']);
     ['token' => $adminToken] = brandingUser($org, 'admin');
 
     $this->withToken($adminToken)->post('/api/organization/logo', [
@@ -565,6 +611,7 @@ function brandingCandidateToken(Participant $participant): string
 
     $response->assertOk();
     $response->assertJsonPath('data.branding.primary_color', '#7C3AED');
+    $response->assertJsonPath('data.branding.background_color', '#0F172A');
     expect($response->json('data.branding.logo_url'))->not->toBeNull();
 });
 
@@ -596,7 +643,7 @@ function brandingCandidateToken(Participant $participant): string
 
     $response->assertOk();
     expect(array_keys($response->json('data.branding')))
-        ->toEqualCanonicalizing(['primary_color', 'logo_url', 'name']);
+        ->toEqualCanonicalizing(['primary_color', 'background_color', 'logo_url', 'name']);
     expect(json_encode($response->json()))->not->toContain('secret.example.test');
 });
 
@@ -614,6 +661,7 @@ function brandingCandidateToken(Participant $participant): string
 
     $response->assertOk();
     $response->assertJsonPath('data.branding.primary_color', null);
+    $response->assertJsonPath('data.branding.background_color', null);
     $response->assertJsonPath('data.branding.logo_url', null);
 });
 
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Superadmin/OrganizationManagementTest.php b/tests/Feature/Superadmin/OrganizationManagementTest.php
index f8b7b293..2dad5522 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/Superadmin/OrganizationManagementTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/Superadmin/OrganizationManagementTest.php
@@ -75,8 +75,10 @@
     $this->withToken($token)->patchJson("/api/admin/organizations/{$acme->id}", [
         'name' => 'Acme Renamed',
         'primary_color' => '#112233',
+        'background_color' => '#F1F5F9',
         'slug' => 'must-be-ignored',
-    ])->assertOk()->assertJsonPath('data.name', 'Acme Renamed')->assertJsonPath('data.primary_color', '#112233');
+    ])->assertOk()->assertJsonPath('data.name', 'Acme Renamed')->assertJsonPath('data.primary_color', '#112233')
+        ->assertJsonPath('data.background_color', '#F1F5F9');
 
     $fresh = $acme->fresh();
     expect($fresh->slug)->toBe($acme->slug)
@@ -94,6 +96,16 @@
     expect($response->json('errors.primary_color.0'))->toBe('primary_color_invalid');
 });
 
+test('an invalid background colour is refused on update', function (): void {
+    $acme = Organization::factory()->create();
+    ['token' => $token] = saSuperadmin();
+
+    $response = $this->withToken($token)->patchJson("/api/admin/organizations/{$acme->id}", ['background_color' => 'red;}']);
+
+    $response->assertUnprocessable();
+    expect($response->json('errors.background_color.0'))->toBe('background_color_invalid');
+});
+
 test('an unknown organization is a 404', function (): void {
     ['token' => $token] = saSuperadmin();
 
diff --git a/tests/Helpers/PublicApi/ExposureCatalogue.php b/tests/Helpers/PublicApi/ExposureCatalogue.php
index 2e417d41..c0873de1 100644
--- a/tests/Helpers/PublicApi/ExposureCatalogue.php
+++ b/tests/Helpers/PublicApi/ExposureCatalogue.php
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ public static function exclusions(): array
             'Organization' => [
                 'slug',
                 'primary_color',
+                'background_color',
                 'currency_code',
                 'logo_url',
                 'default_webhook_url',
@@ -82,6 +83,8 @@ public static function exclusions(): array
                 'avatar_template.pal_sync.code',
                 'avatar_template.pal_sync.synced_at',
                 'avatar_template.persona.display_name',
+                'avatar_template.answer_min_seconds',
+                'avatar_template.answer_max_seconds',
                 'can.update',
                 'can.delete',
                 'competencies[].id',