## II.5.3 Submission of e-documents via e-PRIOR 

If provided for in the special conditions, the exchange of electronic documents (e-documents) such as invoices between the parties is automated through the use of the e-PRIOR  platform. This platform provides two possibilities for such exchanges: either through web services (machine-to-machine connection) or through a web application (the supplier portal ). 

The contracting authority takes the necessary measures to implement and maintain electronic systems that enable the supplier portal  to be used effectively. 

In the case of machine-to- machine connection, a direct connection is established between the parties’ back offices . In this case, the parties take the measures necessary on their side to implement and maintain electronic systems that enable the machine-to-machine connection to be used effectively. 

The electronic systems are specified in the interface control document . The contractor (or leader in the case of a joint tender) must take the necessary technical measures to set up a machine-to-machine connection and at its own cost. 

If communication via the supplier portal  or via the web services (machine-to-machine connection) is hindered by factors beyond the control of one party, it must notify  the other immediately and the parties must take the necessary measures to restore this communication. 

If it is impossible to restore the communication within two working days, one party must notify  the other that alternative means of communication specified in Article II.5.1 will be used until the supplier portal  or the machine-to-machine connection is restored. 

When a change in the interface control document  requires adaptations, the contractor (or leader in the case of a joint tender) has up to six months from receipt of the notification  to implement this change. This period can be shortened by mutual agreement of the parties. This period does not apply to urgent measures required by the security policy of the contracting authority to ensure integrity, confidentiality and non-repudiation of information and the availability of e-PRIOR , which must be applied immediately. 

## II.5.4 Validity and date of e-documents 

The parties agree that any e-document, including related attachments exchanged via e-PRIOR : 

(a) is considered as equivalent to a paper document; 

(b) is deemed to be the original of the document; 

(c) is legally binding on the parties once an e-PRIOR authorised person has performed the ‘sign’ action in e-PRIOR  and has full legal effect; and 

(d) constitutes evidence of the information contained in it and is admissible as evidence in judicial proceedings. 

The parties expressly waive any rights to contest the validity of such a document solely on the grounds that communications between the parties occurred through e-PRIOR  or that the document has been signed through e-PRIOR . If a direct connection is establi shed between the parties’ back offices  to allow electronic transfer of documents, the parties agree that an e-document, sent as mentioned in the interface control document , qualifies as an EDI message . 

If the e-document is dispatched through the supplier portal , it is deemed to have been legally issued or sent when the contractor (or leader in the case of a joint tender) is able to successfully submit the e-document without any error messages. The generated PDF and XML document for the e-document are considered as a proof of receipt by the contracting authority. 

