All costs incurred for the preparation and submission of requests to participate or tenders are to be borne by the candidates or tenderers and will not be reimbursed. 

## 2. Legal effects of the invitation to tender and submission of a request to participate/tender. 

This invitation is in no way binding on the contracting authority. The contracting authority's contractual obligation commences only when the contract with the successful tenderer is signed by both parties. 

Up to the signature of the contract the contracting authority may cancel the procurement procedure without candidates or tenderers being entitled to claim any compensation. Any such decision must be substantiated and candidates or tenderers notified. 

The validity period of the tender, during which tenderers may not unilaterally modify the terms of their tenders in any respect, is indicated under Heading IV.2.6 of the contract notice. 

Submission of a request to participate/tender implies acceptance of all the terms and conditions set out in the procurement documents and, where appropriate, waiver of the tenderer's own general or specific terms and conditions. The submitted tender is binding on the tenderer to whom the contract is awarded for the duration of the contract. 

## 3. Contacts during the procurement procedure. 

Contacts between the contracting authority and candidates or tenderers are prohibited throughout the procedure save in exceptional circumstances and under the following conditions only: 

## 3.1 Submission of requests to participate phase 

Upon request, the contracting authority may provide additional information solely for the purpose of clarifying the procurement documents. 

Any request for additional information must be made in writing only through the above TED eTendering website 1 in the "Questions & answers" tab, by clicking "Create a question" (registration on TED eTendering is required to be able to create and submit a question). 

The contracting authority may, on its own initiative, inform interested parties of any error, inaccuracy, omission or any other type of clerical error in the text of the procurement documents. 

Any additional information will be published on the above TED eTendering website. The website will be updated regularly and it is the economic operator's responsibility to check for updates and modifications during the submission period. 

## 3.2 Opening of requests to participate 

The opening of the received requests to participate is not public. 

Once the contracting authority has opened the requests to participate, they shall become its property and will be treated confidentially. 

