7. A delay in the starting day for the performance of the Services caused by an external factor (e.g. third party) may only be invoked by the Contractor  towards Europol if the external factor was not in any way caused by an error, omission action, inaction, etc. of the Contractor  itself. 

8. e-System: The Contractor gives its consent for the introduction during the duration of this Framework Contract  of an e-System designed to allow electronic implementation of the Framework Contact , including ordering and invoicing. The application may extend electronic procurement best practice to other areas of contract implementation. It is recognised by both parties that the introduction of such mechanisms implies the need to modify certain implementation and payment provisions of the Framework Contact and both parties shall co-operate in good faith and at no additional cost to achieve this. 

## Article I-5 

## Contract Price 

1. The maximum expenditure under this Framework Contract for the entire period of applicability established in accordance with Article I-3 (“Duration”) shall be EUR 10,000,000.00 (euro ten million) excl. VAT. No guaranteed minimum expenditure under this Framework Contract is offered by Europol. 

2. The price(s) for goods and/or services under this Framework Contract shall be as listed in the Contractor’s  Tender at Annex II. Price(s) shall be expressed in EURO. 

3. Price(s) shall be fixed and not subject to revision for implementation of the Framework Contract during the first year of duration of the Framework Contract . 

Price(s) are subject to revision by means of annual indexation in accordance with the provisions of the Article II –7 (“Price Revision”). 

4. Catalogue of Price: Where the Catalogue of Price is updated, the price of additional items shall be determined as specified in Section 7.5 of the Technical Specifications (Annex I). 

5. If the Contractor applies an uplift, the uplifts shall be fixed for the entire duration of the Framework Contract (i.e., including any renewal thereof), unless lower uplifts are otherwise possible. The Contractor  shall adhere to the fullest extent possible to the principle of reducing uplifts. 

6. If the Contractor  offers its own Optional Services , the prices for such Optional Services  shall be as listed in Contractor’s  Tender at Annex II and be revised in accordance with Article I-5.3. Optional Services shall comply with the requirements specified in Annex I (“Technical Specifications”) and Article I-13. 

7. Benchmarking : 

Europol may undertake the Benchmarking  of the levels and the charges of the goods provided under this Framework Contract by comparison with similar (by type and quality) goods provided by outsourcing vendors and/or in-house suppliers. 

In order to guarantee that a valid comparison is made, it shall be ensured that: 

a) The scope of the goods provided by the Contractor is taken into consideration; 

