14.  PERIOD OF VALIDITY OF TENDERS  15. TENDER SECURITY  14.1. Tenders must remain valid for a period of 90 days after the deadline for submitting tenders  indicated in the contract notice, the invitation to tender or as amended in accordance with  Clauses 9 and/or 18.  14.2. In exceptional circumstances, the contracting authority may, before the validity period expires,  request that tenderers extend the validity of tenders for a specific period, which may not exceed  40 days. Such requests and the responses to them must be made in writing. A tenderer may refuse  to comply with such a request without forfeiting its tender security. If the tenderer decides to  accept the request, it may not amend its tender and it is bound to extend the validity of its tender  security for the revised period of validity of the tender. In case the contracting authority is  required to obtain the recommendation of the panel referred to in Section 2.6.10.1.1. of the  practical guide, the contracting authority may request an extension of the validity of the tenders  up to the adoption of that recommendation.  14.3. The successful tenderer must maintain its tender for a further 60 days. This period is in addition  to the validity period, irrespective of the date of notification.   15.1. The tenderer must provide, as a part of its tender, a tender security in the form set out in Volume 1, Section 3 of the tender dossier, or in another form acceptable to the Contracting  Authority that meets the essential requirements set out therein. The tender security must be for  an amount of  15.2. It may be provided in the form of a bank guarantee, a banker’s draft, a certified cheque, a  guarantee provided by an insurance and/or guarantee company or an irrevocable letter of credit  made out to the contracting authority.  15.3. The tender security must remain valid for 45 days beyond the period of validity of the tender,  including any extensions, and be issued to the Contracting Authority for the requisite amount.  15.4. The tender securities of unsuccessful tenderers will be returned together with the information  letter that the tenderer has been unsuccessful.  15.5. The tender security of the successful tenderer must be released when the tenderer has signed the  contract and provided the requisite performance security.  EUR 200,000  for Lot 1 and  EUR 150,000  for Lot 2. The original security must be included in the original tender.  Page 15 of 23  August 2020 d4b_itt_en 