CHAPTER IGENERAL RULES

Article 7Duration and extension of contracts

1.

The term of a contract including any extensions shall not exceed 4 years, except to the extent that its subject matter or another legitimate reason justifies a longer duration.

2.

If a contract is concluded for a fixed term, its term may be extended beyond that initial term under the following conditions:

(a)

the contract notice or, in the case of a procedure under Chapter III, the request for a proposal, provided for the possibility of extension;

(b)

the extension is duly justified; and

(c)

the extensions were taken into consideration when determining the applicable procedure in accordance with Article 4.

3.

Otherwise, the term of a fixed-term contract may only be extended in the situations described in Article 6(1).