Agreement of Contractor Response

2.2.  If the Authority requests to approve any Third Party Costs prior to that Third Party being appointed to prepare the Contractor's Response, the time period for the Contractor to submit its response in accordance with paragraph 2.1 shall be suspended from the date on which such Third Party Costs are submitted for approval until approval is granted (or the parties have otherwise agreed or such Third Party Costs or they have been determined through the Dispute Resolution Procedure).

2.3.  As soon as practicable and in any event no later than [ten (10)] Business Days after the Authority receives the Contractor Response, the parties shall discuss and endeavour to agree the issues set out in the Contractor Response, and the Contractor shall:

(a)  provide evidence that the Contractor has used reasonable endeavours (including, where practicable, and without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 7 (Competitive Tendering) of Part 4 (High Value Change) of this Change Protocol, (the use of competitive quotes) to oblige sub-contractors and suppliers to minimise any increase in costs and maximise any reduction in costs;

(b)  demonstrate how any Capital Expenditure to be incurred or avoided is being measured in a cost effective manner, including showing that when such expenditure is incurred, foreseeable Changes in Law at that time would be taken into account by the Contractor; and

(c)  demonstrate that any expenditure that has been avoided, which was anticipated to be incurred that has been affected by the Authority Change, has been taken into account in the Estimated Change in Project Costs.

(d)  If the Contractor fails to provide the information required by paragraph 2.2 of this Part 2 of this Change Protocol or satisfy the provisions of paragraphs 2.3(a) - 2.3(c) (inclusive) of this Part 2 of this Change Protocol the Authority may (in writing) reject the Contractor Response, in which event the parties shall meet within ten (10) Business Days of the notice of rejection to discuss the reason for the Authority's rejection of the Contractor Response.  The Contractor shall use reasonable endeavours to address the Authority's concern about the quality and content of the Contractor Response.  In particular, the Contractor shall provide any additional information or documentation that the Authority shall reasonably require which relates to the contents of the Authority Change Notice and/or the Contractor Response and/or the information required by paragraphs 2.3(a) - 2.3(c) (inclusive) of this Part 2 of this Change Protocol.  The Authority may require the Contractor to resubmit the Contractor Response amended to take account of, and address, the Authority's concerns and the Contractor shall submit such revised Contractor Response within twenty (20) Business Days of such request.

2.4.  If the parties cannot agree on the contents of the Contractor Response (as may be amended pursuant to paragraph 2.3(d) of this Part 2 of this Change Protocol), then either party may refer the dispute to the Dispute Resolution Procedure, provided that no determination shall oblige the Authority to issue an Authority Confirmation in respect of the disputed Medium Value Claim.