Article 106 · Modifications of contracts during their term

1.Public buyers may modify awarded contracts or framework agreements during their term without a new procurement procedure provided that the modification is not substantial within the meaning of paragraph 3 or falls within one of the cases referred to in paragraph 4. Any such modification shall respond to objective needs arising during the performance of the contract, be limited to what is necessary and appropriate to ensure its performance and continuity and not alter the initial economic balance of the contract in favour of the contractor.

2.Modification, the value of which does not exceed 15 % of the value of the initial contract shall be considered non-substantial and may be made without a new procurement procedure, provided that the modification does not alter the initial economic balance of the contract. Where several successive modifications are made, the thresholds shall be assessed on the basis of the net cumulative value of the successive modifications.

3.A modification shall be considered substantial where it introduces terms which, had they been part of the original procurement procedure would have changed the condition of competition, or where it changes essential terms or conditions of the contract, such as the scope of the contract, the initial economic balance in favour of the contractor or the identity of the original contractor, in cases other than those referred to in paragraph 4, point (c).

4.Provided that they do not alter the initial economic balance of the contract in favour of the contractor, substantial modifications shall be permissible within the meaning of paragraph 1 only in the following cases:

(a)where additional works, services, or supplies have become necessary during the performance of the contract, provided that a change of contractor is not technically or economically feasible, including due to the interdependence of the existing works or services or because it would result in substantial increase in costs;

(b)where the modification is necessary due to circumstances which could not reasonably have been anticipated by a diligent public buyer at the time of the launch of the procedure, and which significantly affect the performance or feasibility of the contract, including:

(i)substantial changes in the applicable regulatory or legal framework;

(ii)significant technological developments;

(iii)disruptions, emergencies or crises having a significant economic, societal or operational impact;

(c)where the original contractor is replaced by another entity due to:

(i)a merger, takeover, acquisition, insolvency or other corporate restructuring, another economic operator succeeds, wholly or partly, to the rights and obligations of the initial contractor, provided that the new entity fulfils the original qualitative selection criteria; that no other substantial modifications are made to the contract and that the replacement is not intended to circumvent the application of this Regulation; or

(ii)the public buyer assuming the main contractor’s obligations towards its subcontractors where that possibly is provided for under national law.

5.Before modifying a contract, the public buyer shall establish, on the basis of objective and verifiable elements, that the conditions set out in paragraph 1 are satisfied. Public buyers shall maintain detailed written records of the essential elements of the modification, including its justification, its necessity or appropriateness, and its impact on the economic balance of the contract, in particular allocation of risks and economic advantages, in order to justify the decisions to modify the contract and to enable verification of compliance with this Article by competent supervisory, audit and review bodies.

6.Before any modification of a contract that exceeds 50 % of the initial estimated value of the contract, the public buyers shall publish a public summary of modification to that effect. That public summary shall contain the justification for the modification without a new procurement procedure and the information set out in Article 110. Successive modifications shall not be aimed at circumventing this Regulation. By way of derogation from the first subparagraph of this paragraph, the prior publication obligation does not apply where urgency resulting from an emergency determined in accordance with Article 48 does not allow for prior publication of the public summary of modification. In such case, public buyers shall publish a public summary of modification pursuant to paragraph 7 of this Article.

7.Where public buyers substantially modify a contract pursuant to paragraph 4 of this Article, and the modification does not exceed 50 % of the initial estimated contract value of the contract, they shall publish a public summary of modification containing the information set out in Article 110 within 20 days from the date on which the modification was made.

8.For the purpose of the calculation of the value referred to in the paragraphs 2, 6 and 7, the updated value shall be the reference value when the contract includes an indexation clause. If the contract does not include an indexation clause, the updated value shall be calculated taking into account the average inflation in the Member State of the public buyer.

9.Modifications of a contract shall not be used to remedy deficiencies of the contractor’s performance that are not justified by circumstances beyond its control.