47.1 All communications between the Applicants, Shortlisted Bidders or Bidders (as applicable) and the Contracting Authority and all information obtained in connection with or arising out of the RFQ, RFP or IFB shall be treated as confidential during as well as after preparation and submission of the Applications, Proposals or Bids (as applicable). In the event of any such breach of confidentiality by the Applicant, Shortlisted Bidder or Bidder, the Contracting Authority, at its sole and absolute discretion, may at any time reject their Application, Proposal or Bid without any further consideration and terminate their right to continue in the bidding process.
47.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation of confidentiality shall not pertain to information which was at the time of disclosure, or which thereafter became, part of the public domain or is required to be disclosed by law or a court order, where, in such cases, all reasonable attempts shall be made to notify the Contracting Authority in advance of doing so.
47.3 Except as otherwise stated, the Contracting Authority shall endeavour to maintain the confidentiality of any information and/or documents relating to the pre-qualification, examination, clarification, evaluation, negotiation, approval or any other function related to the bidding process.
47.4 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Contracting Authority shall not in any way be liable for disclosure of any confidential information if the disclosure is required under the Right to Information Act, 2009 or if the Contracting Authority has been directed to do so by any statutory entity that has the power under law to require its disclosure or is to enforce or assert any right or privilege of the Contracting Authority or as may be required by law or in connection with any legal process.