1.8 Duration of the contract: how long do we plan to use the contract?  1.9 Electronic exchange system: can exchanges under the contract be automated?  The contract(s) resulting from the award of this call for tenders will be concluded for at most  18 months . The details of the initial contract duration and possible renewals are set out in  Article I.3 of the Draft contract.  For all exchanges with the contractor during the implementation of the contract as well as for  future possible subsequent proceedings for the purposes of EDES (European Union's Early  Detection and Exclusion System) the  Contracting authority  may use an electronic exchange  system meeting the requirements of Article 148 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the  European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the  general budget of the Union $^{1}$. At the request of the  Contracting authority  the use of such a  system shall become mandatory for the contractor(s) at no additional cost for the  Contracting  authority . Details on specifications, access, terms and conditions of use will be provided in  advance.  16