iii. 3 (three) months prior to the expiry date of this Framework Contract , if no renewal is possible or if either Europol or the Contractor  indicated in writing that it will not renew the Framework Contract . 

5. Unless specified otherwise in the Special Conditions and/or the Tender Specifications, the exit procedure must be fully performed at the latest 1 (one) month after the end of the Framework Contract . 

## Confidentiality and Security 

## Article II-15 

1. Contractor’s Personnel  performing tasks and services under this Framework Contract  are required to have the following: 

i. As a minimum and unless indicated otherwise in the Tender Specifications and/or Special Conditions, a certificate of good conduct  not older than 3 (three) months at the time of its submission to Europol. For EU nationals, the certificates of good conduct must be issued by the relevant authorities of the country of nationality of the member of the Contractor’s Personnel . For non-EU nationals, Europol may accept, on a case-by-case basis, a certificate of good conduct issued by the country of nationality of the member of the Contractor’s Personnel or by an EU Member State in which they reside. For the avoidance of doubt, Europol expressly reserves the right, at its own discretion and without specification of reasons to the Contractor , to reject certificates of good conduct submitted for non-EU nationals and to exercise any of the options listed at paragraph (4) below, as applicable. 

If accepted by Europol, for the tasks foreseen in the Specific Contract or Purchase Order concerned , or for similar tasks (where similarity is determined by Europol) , the certificate of good conduct will be considered valid for the duration of 2 (two) calendar year from the date of its issuance. Europol shall have the right to reject members of Contractor’s Personnel (whether EU or non-EU nationals) based on the information stipulated in the certificate of good conduct and to exercise any of the options listed at paragraph (4) below, as applicable. A list of EU Member State authorities issuing certificates of good conduct (as well as their title in the respective languages) was provided with the tender documentation. 

The obligation to provide a certificate of good conduct will be lifted if the member of the Contractor’s Personnel providing services under a particular Specific Contract has a security clearance (at any level) issued and accepted by Europol in accordance with paragraph (ii) below. 

ii. If indicated in the Tender Specifications and/or Special Conditions, a security clearance at the level indicated therein . The security clearance must be granted by a competent national security authority of an EU Member State. Equivalence of a security clearance issued by an EU Member State to the required level shall be verified by Europol. Security clearances that are not issued by national security authorities of EU Member States (for example issued by third countries or international organisations) may be accepted by Europol, only on a case-by-case basis. Europol expressly reserves the right, at its own discretion and without specification of reasons to the Contractor , to reject any security clearance not issued by a national security authority of an EU Member State and to exercise any of the options listed at paragraph (4) below, as applicable. Further, Europol shall have the right to reject a member of Contractor’s Personnel  whose security clearance is not in line with Europol’s requirements and to exercise any of the options listed at paragraph (4) below, as applicable. Where a security clearance is 

