‘Interface control document’: the guideline document which lays down the technical specifications, message standards, security standards, checks of syntax and semantics, etc. to facilitate machine-to-machine connection. This document is updated on a regular basis; ‘Irregularity’: any infringement of a provision of law resulting from an act or omission by an economic operator, which has, or would have, the effect of prejudicing the Union’s budget. ‘Notification’ (or ‘notify’): form of communication between the parties made in writing including by electronic means; form’: a simplified form of specific contract by which the contracting authority orders supplies under this FWC; ‘Performance of a specific contract’: the execution of tasks and delivery of the purchased supplies by the contractor to the contracting authority; ‘Personnel’: persons employed directly or indirectly or contracted by the contractor to implement the FWC; ‘Professional conflicting interest’: a situation in which the contractor’s previous or ongoing professional activities affect its capacity to implement the FWC or to perform a specific contract to an appropriate quality standard. ‘Related person’: any person who has the power to represent the contractor or to take decisions on its behalf; ‘Request for supplies: a document from the contracting authority requesting that the contractors in a multiple FWC provide a specific tender for supplies whose terms are not entirely defined under the FWC; ‘Specific contract’: a contract implementing the FWC and specifying details of a supply to be provided; ‘Substantial error’: any infringement of a contract provision resulting from an act or omission, which causes or might cause a loss to the Union’s budget. ‘Supplier portal’: the portal, which allows the contractor to exchange electronic business documents, such as invoices, through a graphical user interface; its main features can be found in the supplier portal overview document available on: In the event of a joint tender submitted by a group of economic operators and where the group does not have legal personality or legal capacity, one member of the group is appointed as leader of the group. Each provision of this FWC is severable and distinct from the others. If a provision is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable to any extent, it must be severed from the remainder
must release the guarantee after the expiry of the contract liability period as provided for in the specific contract. The contracting authority must not request a retention money guarantee for a specific contract where it has requested a performance guarantee. Interim payments and payment of the balance The contractor (or leader in the case of a joint tender) must send an invoice for interim payment, as provided for in Article I.6 or in the tender specifications or in the specific contract. The contractor (or leader in the case of a joint tender) must send an invoice for payment of the balance within 60 days of the end of the period of provision of the supplies, as provided for in Article I.6, in the tender specifications or in the specific contract. Payment of the invoice and approval of documents does not imply recognition of the regularity, authenticity, completeness and correctness of the declarations and information they contain. Payment of the balance may take the form of recovery. Suspension of the time allowed for payment The contracting authority may suspend the payment periods specified in Article I.6 at any time by notifying the contractor (or leader in the case of a joint tender) that its invoice cannot be processed. The reasons the contracting authority may cite for not being able to process an invoice are: (a) because it does not comply with the FWC; (b) because the contractor has not produced the appropriate supplies or documents; or (c) because the contracting authority has observations on the supplies or documents submitted with the invoice. The contracting authority must notify the contractor (or leader in the case of a tender) as soon as possible of any such suspension, giving the reasons for it. Suspension effect on the date the contracting authority sends the notification. The remaining payment period resumes from the date on which the requested information or revised documents are received or the necessary further verification, including on-the-spot checks, is carried out. Where the suspension period exceeds two months, the contractor (or leader in the case of a joint tender) may request the contracting authority to justify the continued suspension. Where the payment periods have been suspended following rejection of a document referred to in the first paragraph of this Article and the new document produced is also rejected, the contracting authority reserves the right to terminate the specific contract in accordance with Article II.17.1(c).