What is the procedure for the award of contract?

Contract award takes place at the end of the procurement exercise (assuming a capable vendor has been found who has obtained the highest score in the combined scores of the technical and financial evaluation).

Article 12 of the General Conditions of Tender

12. Award of contract

12.1 The EPO is free to choose the bid it considers the most economically advantageous having regard to the criteria laid down in the published notice or another part of the Procurement Documents. If the tender is explicitly defined in the letter of invitation to tender as one pursuant to which a contract is to be awarded on the basis of price alone, the contract will be awarded to the Bidder who has bid the lowest price, on condition that the EPO is satisfied as to the Bidder's compliance with the tender requirements (including the Technical Conditions) and that any non-compliance specified by the Bidder does not stand in the way of the award.

12.2 The contract may be divided among several Bidders, (parts of) the contract may be placed with more than one Bidder or a partial award may be made. Prices quoted in a bid may not be revised or re-submitted after the final date for receipt of bids has passed.

12.3 A contractual relationship will arise only on signature of the contract.