Page 18 of 19  39.3. Such persons shall be jointly and severally liable for the proper performance of the contract to the  same extent as the Consultant. Continuation of the contract shall be subject to the rules relating to  establishment of any guarantee provided for in the contract.  39.2. If the Consultant is a group of natural persons and one or more of them die, a report shall be agreed  between the parties on the progress of the services and the Contracting Authority shall decide whether  to terminate or continue the contract in accordance with the undertaking given within 15 days of the  date of decease by the survivors and by the heirs or beneficiaries, as the case may be. The decision  of the Contracting Authority shall be notified to those concerned within 30 days of receipt of such a  proposal.  39.1. If the Consultant is a natural person, the contract shall be automatically terminated if that person dies.  However, the Contracting Authority shall examine any proposal made by his/her heirs or beneficiaries  if they have notified their wish to continue the contract within 15 days of the date of decease. The  decision of the Contracting Authority shall be notified to those concerned within 30 days of receipt of  such a proposal.  38.7. If circumstances of force majeure have occurred and persist for a period of 180 days then,  notwithstanding any extension of the period of implementation of the tasks that the Consultant may by  reason thereof have been granted, either party shall be entitled to serve upon the other30 days'  notice to terminate the contract. If at the expiry of the period of 30 days the situation of force majeure  persists, the contract shall be terminated and, in consequence thereof, the parties shall be released  from further performance of the contract.  38.6. For a fee-based contract, if the Consultant incurs additional costs in complying with the Project  Manager's directions or using alternative means under Article 38.5 the amount thereof shall be certified  by the Project Manager subject to the maximum contract value.  38.5. If either party considers that any circumstances of force majeure have occurred which may affect  performance of its obligations it shall notify the other party immediately giving details of the nature, the  probable duration and likely effect of the circumstances. Unless otherwise directed by the Project  Manager in writing, the Consultant shall continue to perform its obligations under the contract as far  as is reasonably practicable, and shall seek all reasonable alternative means for performance of its  obligations which are not prevented by the force majeure event. The Consultant shall not put into effect  such alternative means unless directed so to do by the Project Manager.  38.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 19 and Article 35, the Consultant shall not be liable for  liquidated damages or termination for default if, and to the extent that, its delay in performance or other  failure to perform its obligations under the contract is the result of an event of force majeure. The  Contracting Authority shall similarly not be liable, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 29 and  Article 37, to payment of interest on delayed payments, for non-performance or for termination by the  Consultant for default, if, and to the extent that, the Contracting Authority's delay or other failure to  perform its obligations is the result of force majeure.  38.3. A party affected by an event of force majeure shall take all reasonable measures to remove such  party's inability to fulfil its obligations hereunder with a minimum of delay.  38.2. The term "force majeure", as used herein shall mean acts of God, strikes, lock-outs or other industrial  disturbances, acts of the public enemy, wars, whether declared or not, blockades, insurrection, riots,  epidemics, landslides, earthquakes, storms, lightning, floods, washouts, civil disturbances, explosions,  and any other similar unforeseeable events, beyond the control of either party and which by the  exercise of due diligence neither party is able to overcome.  38.1. Neither party shall be considered to be in breach of its obligations under the contract if the performance  of such obligations is prevented by any circumstances of force majeure which arise after the date of  notification of the award or the date when the contract becomes effective.  37.3. In the event of such termination, the Contracting Authority shall pay the Consultant for any loss or  injury the Consultant may have suffered. Such additional payment may not be such that the total  payments exceed the amount specified in Article 3 of the Special Conditions.  37.2. Such termination shall be without prejudice to any other rights of the Contracting Authority or the  Consultant acquired under the contract.  ARTICLE 38. FORCE MAJEURE  ARTICLE 39. DECEASE 