II.4.4 All periods specified in the contract are calculated in calendar days, unless otherwise specified. 

II.4.5 The contractor must not present itself as a representative of the contracting authority and must inform third parties that it is not part of the European public service. 

II.4.6 The contractor is responsible for the personnel who carry out the services and exercises its authority over its personnel without interference by the contracting authority. The contractor must inform its personnel  that: 

(a) they may not accept any direct instructions from the contracting authority; and 

(b) their participation in providing the services does not result in any employment or contractual relationship with the contracting authority. 

II.4.7 The contractor must ensure that the personnel performing the contract and any future replacement personnel  possess the professional qualifications and experience required to provide the services, as the case may be on the basis of the selection criteria set out in the tender specifications. 

II.4.8 At the contracting authority’s reasoned request, the contractor must replace any member of personnel  who: 

(a) does not have the expertise required to provide the services; or 

(b) has caused disruption at the premises of the contracting authority. 

The contractor bears the cost of replacing its personnel and is responsible for any delay in providing the services resulting from the replacement of personnel . 

II.4.9 The contractor must record and report to the contracting authority any problem that affects its ability to provide the services. The report must describe the problem, state when it started and what action the contractor is taking to resolve it. 

II.4.10  The contractor must immediately inform the Contracting authority of any changes in the exclusion situations as declared, according to Article 137 (1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1046. 

## II.5. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PARTIES 

## II.5.1 Form and means of communication 

Any communication of information, notices or documents under the contract must: 

(a) be made in writing in paper or electronic format in the language of the contract; 

(b) bear the contract number; 

(c) be made using the relevant communication details set out in Article I.8; and 

(d) be sent by mail, email or, for the documents specified in the special conditions, via e- PRIOR . 

If a party requests written confirmation of an e-mail within a reasonable time, the other party must provide an original signed paper version of the communication as soon as possible. 

