1. With regard to operational and infrastructure-specific activities, the contracting authority may award a contract in the form of a conditional stage-payment contract in accordance with this Article.
2. The procurement documents for a conditional stage-payment contract shall refer to the specific features of conditional stage-payment contracts. In particular, they shall specify the subject-matter of the contract, the price or the arrangements for determining the price and the arrangements for the provision of works, supplies and services at each stage.
3. A conditional stage-payment contract shall include:
(a)
a fixed stage which results in a firm commitment to provide the works, supplies or services contracted for that stage; and
(b)
one or more stages, which are conditional in terms of both budget and execution.
4. The obligations under the fixed stage and the obligations under each conditional stage shall be part of a consistent whole, taking into account the obligations under the previous or subsequent stages.
5. Performance of each conditional stage shall be subject to a decision by the contracting authority, notified to the contractor in accordance with the contract.