(b) bear the FWC number and, if applicable, the specific 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. 

The parties agree that any communication made by email has full legal effect and is admissible as evidence in judicial proceedings. 

## II.5.2. Date of communications by mail and email 

Any communication is deemed to have been made when the receiving party receives it, unless this FWC contract refers to the date when the communication was sent. 

E-mail is deemed to have been received by the receiving party on the day of dispatch of that e-mail, provided that it is sent to the e-mail address indicated in Article I.8. The sending party must be able to prove the date of dispatch. In the event that the sending party receives a non- delivery report, it must make every effort to ensure that the other party actually receives the communication by email or mail. In such a case, the sending party is not held in breach of its obligation to send such communication within a specified deadline. 

Mail sent to the contracting authority is deemed to have been received by the contracting authority on the date on which the department responsible referred to in Article I.8 registers it. 

Formal notifications  are considered to have been received by the receiving party on the date of receipt indicated in the proof received by the sending party that the message was delivered to the specified recipient. 

## II.5.3. Submission of e-documents via e-PRIOR 

1. If provided for in the special conditions, the exchange of electronic documents (e- documents) such as requests for services, specific contracts and invoices between the parties is automated through the use of the e-PRIOR  platform. This platform provides two possibilities for such exchanges: either through web services (machine-to- machine connection) or through a web application (the supplier portal ). 

2. The contracting authority takes the necessary measures to implement and maintain electronic systems that enable the supplier portal  to be used effectively. 

3. In the case of machine-to-machine connection, a direct connection is established between the parties’ back offices . In this case, the parties take the measures necessary on their side to implement and maintain electronic systems that enable the machine-to- machine connection to be used effectively. The electronic systems are specified in the interface control document . The contractor (or leader in the case of a joint tender) must take the necessary technical measures to set up a machine-to-machine connection and at its own cost. 

4. If communication via the supplier portal  or via the web services (machine-to-machine connection) is hindered by factors beyond the control of one party, it must notify  the other immediately and the parties must take the necessary measures to restore this communication. 

