Call for tenders' details
Status
Submission date
13/04/2017
Answer date
19/04/2017
Language
Status
Answered
Question details
Subject
Follow-Up on Q&A 142
Question
The uncertainty all tenderers have is the rate between the Euro and Dollar. Since that rate can change significantly between now and signing, the tenderers must today secure this fluctuation at the bank. The cost for doing so equates to several 100.000 €. Each tenderer/manufacturer therefore needs to invest this amount upfront but only the awarded tenderer (the final contractor) can recover these costs during execution. By not securing the exchange rate with the bank a tenderer would be speculating in regards to the future exchange rates. This is not allowed for stock listed companies and is neither the object of business. Would you therefore consider changing the 'as applicable on the date of submission of the tender' of the To definition in Section I.5.2 of Annex 5 to the Tendering Specifications into 'as applicable on date of signing the tender' for both lots?
Answer
19/04/2017
No, the Commission does not agree to modify this clause. The date is fixed at 12 April 2017 so that the exchange rate To is the same for all tenderers and is known to them before they submit their prices. This ensures that all tenderers can calculate their pricing on the same basis. It is not clear how changing the To definition date to the date of signature of the Framework Contract would allow tenderers to insure the possible exchange rate fluctuations for the period between submission of their tender and signature of the Framework Contract. This constitutes indeed an undefined period of several months. The decision to get insurance against exchange rate fluctuations or to cover this risk otherwise is entirely up to each tenderer, and their choice cannot oblige the Commission. Tenderers are supposed to reflect their decisions on this point in their pricing.