Under competitive dialogue procedure, the competitive stage or dialogue occurs before the final tender process, and consequently there are strict rules on the conduct of discussions at the post tender stage. For this stage it is important for authorities to define at the outset how they plan the dialogue phase will be conducted and on what basis bidders will be excluded at progressive stages of the dialogue. The dialogue ends once the authority identifies a procurement solution, which meets requirements. The authority then declares that the dialogue is concluded. Final tenders are then submitted: all commercial issues of substance must be finalized in advance.