Contract number: [ complete ]  Contract conditions of December 2015  II.15.2. Procedure  II.15.3. Claims and liability  II.16.1. Suspension by the contractor  II.16. SUSPENSION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CONTRACT  II.16.2. Suspension by the contracting authority  The contracting authority must  formally notify the contractor of its intention to reduce  payment and the corresponding calculated amount. The contractor has 30 days following the date of receipt to submit observations. Failing  that, the decision becomes enforceable the day after the time limit for submitting  observations has elapsed. If the contractor submits observations, the contracting authority, taking into account the  relevant observations, must  notify  the contractor: Any reduction in price does not affect the contractor’s actual or potential liability or the  contracting authority’s rights under Article II.17.  If the contractor is affected by  force majeure,  it may suspend the  performance of the  contract . The contractor must immediately notify the contracting authority about the suspension.  The notification must include a description of the force majeure and state when the  contractor expects to resume the performance of the contract. The contractor must  notify the contracting authority as soon as it is able to resume  performance of the contract, unless the contracting authority has already terminated the  contract. (a)  if the procedure for awarding the contract or the  performance of the contract proves to have been subject to  substantial errors, irregularities or fraud ; The contracting authority may suspend the  performance of the contrac t or any part of it:  (b) in order to verify whether the presumed  substantial errors, irregularities or fraud have actually occurred. The contracting authority must  formally notify the contractor of the suspension.  Suspension takes effect on the day of  formal notification , or at a later date if the  formal  notification  so provides. The contracting authority must  notify  the contractor as soon as possible whether:  24  (a)  it is lifting the suspension; or  (a) of the withdrawal of its intention to reduce payment; or (b) of its final decision to reduce payment and the corresponding amount.