Model version of 31-08-2020 Except in duly justified cases, candidates who have failed to submit evidence or to make  statements as required in the procurement documents, shall be contacted by the contracting  authority to provide the missing information or clarify supporting documents. The contracting authority may correct obvious clerical errors in the request to participate after  confirmation of the correction by the candidate. Such information, clarification or confirmation shall not substantially change the request to  participate.  Candidates will be notified of the outcome of the first step (evaluation of requests to  participate) by e-mail. The notification will be sent to the e-mail address provided in the  request to participate for the candidate (group leader in case of a joint tender). The same e- mail address will be used by the contracting authority for all other communications with the  candidate during the procedure.  It is the candidate's responsibility to provide a valid e-mail address and to check it regularly.  See sections 1 and 3.1 above.  Please note that only selected candidates may request additional information at this stage.  Similarly, any documentation uploaded on the TED eTendering website at this step of the  procedure will be available to all selected candidates and only to them. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to requests for additional information received  less than six working$^{2}$ days before the time-limit for receipt of tenders. The opening of the received tenders is not public.  Once the contracting authority has opened the tenders, they shall become its property and will  be treated confidentially.  The contracting authority may negotiate with tenderers the tenders they have submitted, in  order to adapt them to the procurement documents and in order to find the most economically  advantageous tender. The minimum requirements and the criteria defined in the procurement  documents are not subject to negotiation. During negotiations equal treatment of all tenderers  will be ensured. The contracting authority reserves the right not to negotiate and to award the  contract on the basis of the tenders initially received.  $^{2}$ Working days at the contracting authority's location indicated under Heading I.1 of the contract notice.  3  3.7 Evaluation of tenders 3.6 Opening of tenders 3.5 Submission of tenders phase  3.4 Selection phase  3.3 Evaluation of requests to participate