## 14. PERIOD OF VALIDITY OF TENDERS 

14.1. Tenders must remain valid for a period of 90 days after the deadline for submitting tenders indicated in the contract notice, the invitation to tender or as amended in accordance with Clauses 9 and/or 18. 

14.2. In exceptional circumstances, the contracting authority may, before the validity period expires, request that tenderers extend the validity of tenders for a specific period, which may not exceed 40 days. Such requests and the responses to them must be made in writing. A tenderer may refuse to comply with such a request without forfeiting its tender security. If the tenderer decides to accept the request, it may not amend its tender and it is bound to extend the validity of its tender security for the revised period of validity of the tender. In case the contracting authority is required to obtain the recommendation of the panel referred to in Section 2.6.10.1.1. of the practical guide, the contracting authority may request an extension of the validity of the tenders up to the adoption of that recommendation. 

14.3. The successful tenderer must maintain its tender for a further 60 days. This period is in addition to the validity period, irrespective of the date of notification. 

## 15. TENDER SECURITY 

 15.1. The tenderer must provide, as a part of its tender, a tender security in the form set out in Volume 1, Section 3 of the tender dossier, or in another form acceptable to the Contracting Authority that meets the essential requirements set out therein. The tender security must be for an amount of 

EUR 200,000  for Lot 1 and 

EUR 150,000  for Lot 2. 

The original security must be included in the original tender. 

15.2. It may be provided in the form of a bank guarantee, a banker’s draft, a certified cheque, a guarantee provided by an insurance and/or guarantee company or an irrevocable letter of credit made out to the contracting authority. 

15.3. The tender security must remain valid for 45 days beyond the period of validity of the tender, including any extensions, and be issued to the Contracting Authority for the requisite amount. 

15.4. The tender securities of unsuccessful tenderers will be returned together with the information letter that the tenderer has been unsuccessful. 

15.5. The tender security of the successful tenderer must be released when the tenderer has signed the contract and provided the requisite performance security. 

