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.7  CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND PROFESSIONAL CONFLICTING INTERESTS  II.8  CONFIDENTIALITY  II.7.1  The contractor must take all the necessary measures to prevent any situation of  conflict of  interest  or  professional conflicting interest.  II.7.2  The contractor must  notify the contracting authority in writing as soon as possible of any  situation that could constitute a  conflict of interest  or a  professional conflicting interest  during  the  performance of the contract . The contractor must immediately take action to rectify the  situation. The contracting authority may do any of the following:  (a) verify that th e contractor’s action is appropriate;  (b) require the contractor to take further action within a specified deadline; II.7.3  The contractor must pass on all the relevant obligations in writing to:  (a) its  personnel ; (b) any natural person with the power to represent it or take decisions on its behalf; (c) third parties involved in the  performance of the contract , including subcontractors. The contractor must also ensure that the persons referred to above are not placed in a situation which  could give rise to conflicts of interest. II.8.1  The contracting authority and the contractor must treat with confidentiality any information or  documents, in any format, disclosed in writing or orally relating to the  performance of the  contract  and identified in writing as confidential.  II.8.2  Each party must: (a) not use  confidential information or documents  for any purpose other than to perform its  obligations under the contract without the prior written agreement of the other party; (b) ensure the protection of such  confidential information or documents  with the same level  of protection as its own  confidential information  and in any case with due diligence; (c) not disclose, directly or indirectly,  confidential information or documents  to third parties  without the prior written agreement of the other party.  II.8.3  The confidentiality obligations set out in this Article are binding on the contracting authority  and the contractor during the  performance of the contract  and for as long as the information  or documents remain confidential unless: (a) the disclosing party agrees to release the receiving party from the confidentiality  obligation earlier; (b) the  confidential information or documents  become public through other means than a  breach of the confidentiality obligation;  II.8.4  The contractor must obtain from any natural person with the power to represent it or take  decisions on its behalf, as well as from third parties involved in the  performance of the contract ,  a commitment that they will comply with this Article. At the request of the contracting authority,  the contractor must provide a document providing evidence of this commitment.  (c) the applicable law requires the disclosure of the  confidential information or documents . 20 