## II.19.6. Prices applicable for supply and service purchases 

The contracting authority purchases hardware, complex and other than complex hardware on the basis of the prices applicable on the date of signature of the specific contract by the last contracting party. 

The contracting authority purchases services on the basis of the prices applicable on the date which is indicated as start date (for the performance of the tasks) of the specific contract. 

## II.20. PAYMENTS AND GUARANTEES 

## II.20.1. Date of payment 

Payments are deemed to be effected on the date when they are debited to the contracting authority’s account. 

Payments are made in euros or in the currency provided for in Article I.7. 

## II.20.2. Currency 

## II.20.3. Conversion 

The contracting authority makes any conversion between the euro and another currency at the daily euro exchange rate published in the Official Journal of the European Union, or, failing that, at the monthly accounting exchange rate as established by the European Commission and published on the website indicated below, applicable on the day when the contracting authority issues the payment order. 

The contractor makes any conversion between the euro and another currency at the monthly accounting exchange rate, established by the European Commission and published on the website indicated below, applicable on the date of the invoice. 

http://ec.europa.eu/budget/contracts_grants/info_contracts/inforeuro/inforeuro_en.cfm 

The costs of the transfer are borne as follows: 

## II.20.4. Costs of transfer 

(a) The contracting authority bears the costs of dispatch charged by its bank; 

(b) the contractor bears the costs of receipt charged by its bank; 

(c) the party causing repetition of the transfer bears the costs for repeated transfer. 

## II.20.5. Pre-financing, performance and retention money guarantee 

If, as provided for in Article I.6 , a financial guarantee is required for the payment of pre-financing, as performance guarantee or as retention money guarantee, it must fulfil the following conditions: 

(a) the financial guarantee is provided by a bank or a financial institution approved by the contracting authority or, at the request of the contractor and with the agreement of the contracting authority, by a third party; 

(b) the guarantor stands as first-call guarantor and does not require the contracting authority to have recourse against the principal debtor (the contractor). 

The contractor bears the costs of providing such a guarantee. 

Pre-financing guarantees must remain in force until the pre-financing is cleared against interim payments or payment of the balance. Where the payment of the balance takes the form of a debit note, the pre-financing guarantee must remain in force for three (3) months after the debit note is sent to the contractor. The contracting authority must release the guarantee within the following month. 

