If the leader does not pay by the due date and if the amount cannot be offset in accordance with Article II.21.2 (a), the contracting authority may claim the full amount to any other member of the group by notifying the debit note already sent to the leader under Article II.21.2. 

## II.22. CHECKS AND AUDITS 

II.22.1 The contracting authority and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may check or require an audit on the implementation of the FWC. This may be carried out either by OLAF’s own staff or by any outside body authorised to do so on its behalf. 

Such checks and audits may be initiated at any moment during the provision of the supplies/services and up to five years starting from the payment of the balance of the last specific contract issued under the FWC. 

The audit procedure is initiated on the date of receipt of the relevant letter sent by the contracting authority. Audits are carried out on a confidential basis. 

II.22.2 The contractor must keep all original documents stored on any appropriate medium, including digitised originals if authorised under national law, for a period of five years starting from the payment of the balance of the last specific contract issued under the FWC. 

II.22.3 The contractor must grant the contracting authority’s staff and outside personnel authorised by the contracting authority the appropriate right of access to sites and premises where the FWC is implemented and to all the information, including information in electronic format, needed to conduct such checks and audits. The contractor must ensure that the information is readily available at the moment of the check or audit and, if so requested, that information is handed over in an appropriate format. 

II.22.4 On the basis of the findings made during the audit, a provisional report is drawn up. The contracting authority or its authorised representative must send it to the contractor, who has 30 days following the date of receipt to submit observations. The contractor must receive the final report within 60 days following the expiry of the deadline to submit observations. 

On the basis of the final audit findings, the contracting authority may recover all or part of the payments made in accordance with Article II.21 and may take any other measures which it considers necessary. 

II.22.5 In accordance with Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No. 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspection carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Union’ financial interests against fraud and other irregularities and Regulation (EU, Euratom) No. 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office, the European Anti-Fraud Office may carry out investigations, including on the spot checks and inspections, to establish whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity under the contract affecting the financial interests of the Union. Findings arising from an investigation may lead to criminal prosecution under national law. 

The investigations may be carried out at any moment during the performance of the contract and up to five years starting from the payment of the balance of the last specific contract issued under the FWC. 

