II. GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR THE FRAMEWORK CONTRACT  II.1. DEFINITIONS  For the purpose of this FWC, the following definitions apply:  ‘Back office’:  the internal system(s) used by the parties to process electronic documents such as orders and  invoices; ‘Confidential information or document’ : any information or document received by either party from the  other or accessed by either party in the context of the implementation of the FWC, that any of the parties has  identified in writing as confidential. It may not include information that is publicly available;  ‘Creator’ : means any natural person who contributes to the production of the result;  ‘EDI message’ : an electronic document structured by using an agreed standard, prepared in a computer  readable format and capable of being automatically and unambiguously processed;  ‘e-PRIOR’ : the service-oriented communication platform that provides a series of web services and allows  the exchange of standardised electronic messages and documents between the parties. This is done either  through web services, with a machine-to-machine connection between the parties’ back office systems (EDI  messages), or through a web application (the supplier portal). The Platform may be used to exchange  electronic documents (e-documents) such as electronic requests for services/supplies (request for quotation,  final offer, etc.) electronic specific contracts, electronic transmission of timesheets, deliverables and its  acceptance (service receipt, dispatch advices and receipt advices) or electronic invoices between the  parties. Technical specifications (i.e. the interface control document), details on access and user manuals  are available at the following website: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/wikis/display/ePRIOR/The+e- Procurement+suite;  ‘Force majeure’ : any unforeseeable, exceptional situation or event beyond the control of the parties that  prevents either of them from fulfilling any of their obligations under the FWC. The situation or event may not  be attributable to error or negligence on the part of the parties or on the part of the subcontractors and must  prove to be inevitable despite their exercising due diligence. Defaults, defects in equipment or material or  delays in making them available, labour disputes, strikes and financial difficulties may not be invoked as  force majeure, unless they stem directly from a relevant case of force majeure;  ‘Formal notification’  (or ‘formally notify’): form of communication between the parties made in writing by  mail or e-mail, which provides the sender with compelling evidence that the message was delivered to the  specified recipient;  ‘Fraud’:  any intentional act or omission affecting the Union’s financial interests relating to the use or  presentation of false, incorrect or incomplete statements or documents or to non-disclosure of information in  violation of a specific obligation;  ‘Implementation of the FWC’ : the purchase of supplies and/or services envisaged in the FWC through the  signature and performance of specific contracts;  ‘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 and is available on the e-PRIOR website; ‘Irregularity’ : any infringement of a provision of Union 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;  12 