Contract number: ECHA/2020/666  change the comparison group algorithm to reflect any changes in its business from time to  time. The Bench marker shall be a qualified and objective third party selected by the contracting  authority. The contracting authority shall ensure that no conflict of interest exists on the  side of the Bench marker. The contracting authority will pay all of its own costs and the  Bench marker’s costs during the benchmarking. The contractor will pay all of its own costs. The contracting authority and the contractor shall set aside sufficient time and resources  for each stage of the benchmarking, such as: - identification and location of Benchmarking data, - performing the Benchmarking, and - implementation of the conclusions of the Bench marker. The contracting authority and the contractor will be free to suggest changes in  benchmarking parameters as the Services evolve over the term of this Framework contract. The Bench marker shall treat as confidential all data provided by the contracting authority  and the contractor, and will return all material and media once the benchmarking is  completed. If a benchmarking reveals that the level of a service does not reach the comparison group’s  service levels or the level based on the relevant industry best practices or of markets with  similar requirements, the contractor shall immediately prepare an action plan, which will  specify all actions necessary to rectify the deviations. The full and measurable  implementation of the action plan shall in no circumstances exceed one (1) year. If the  contractor fails to fully implement the action plan, the contracting authority may claim  damages. If a benchmarking reveals that charges are higher than the comparison group’s charges,  the reduction of the prices shall be applicable on the 30th day from the date on which the  results of the benchmarking were delivered to the parties. The reduction shall not have  retroactive effect and shall be only valid for the specific contracts concluded after this date.  19 