In the event that an e-document is dispatched using a direct connection established between the  parties’  back offices , the e-document is deemed to have been legally issued or sent when its status is  ‘received’ as defined in the  interface control document . When using the  supplier portal , the contractor (or leader in the case of a joint tender) can download  the PDF or XML message for each e-document for one year after submission. After this period, copies  of the e-documents are no longer available for automatic download from the  supplier portal . The contractor submits a request for each person who needs to be  assigned the role of ‘user’ in  e- PRIOR . These persons are identified by means of the European Communication Authentication Service  (ECAS) and authorised to access and perform actions in  e-PRIOR  within the permissions of the user  roles that the contracting authority has assigned to them.  User roles enabling these  e-PRIOR authorised persons to sign legally binding documents such as  specific tenders or specific contracts are granted only upon submission of supporting documents  proving that the authorised person is empowered to act as a legal representative of the contractor. 18  II.6.6  The contracting authority is not liable for any loss or damage caused to the contractor during  or as a consequence of  performance of the contract , unless the loss or damage was caused by  wilful misconduct or gross negligence of the contracting authority.  II.6.5  If the contractor is composed of two or more economic operators (i.e. who submitted a joint  tender), they are all jointly and severally liable to the contracting authority for the  performance  of the contract .  II.6.4  If a third party brings any action against the contracting authority in connection with the  performance of the contract , including any action for alleged breach of intellectual property  rights, the contractor must assist the contracting authority in the legal proceedings, including  by  intervening  in  support  of  the  contracting  authority  upon  request. If the contracting authority’s liability towards the third party is established and that such liability  is caused by the contractor during or as a consequence of the  performance of the contract ,  Article II.6.3 applies. II.6.3  The contractor is liable for any loss or damage caused to the contracting authority during or as  a consequence of  performance of the contract , including in the event of subcontracting, but  only up to an amount not exceeding three times the total amount of the contract. However, if  the damage or loss is caused by the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the contractor or  of its  personnel or subcontractors, as well as in the case of an action brought against the  contracting authority by a third party for breach of its intellectual property rights, the contractor  is liable for the whole amount of the damage or loss.  II.6.2  If required by the relevant applicable legislation, the contractor must take out an insurance  policy against risks and damage or loss relating to the  performance of the contract . It must  also take out supplementary insurance as reasonably required by standard practice in the  industry. Upon request, the contractor must provide evidence of insurance coverage to the  contracting authority.  II.6.1 The contracting authority is not liable for any damage or loss caused by the contractor,  including any damage or loss to third parties during or as a consequence of  performance of the  contract . II.5.5 Authorised persons in e-PRIOR  II.6 LIABILITY 