This formal ESA action activates the placing of a contract. When an ITT is issued by ESA it contains: The cover letter The technical and management requirements The draft contract The Special Tender Conditions In particular the cover letter will indicate: the reference to the programme/activity concerned (item number in the list of ESA intended Invitations to Tender for the year concerned), the name of the contracts officer who will be the only point of contact during the whole tendering procedure, an outline of the main conditions of the ITT: subject and type of procurement, type of contract/price, planning, geographical distribution requirements, the formal conditions of submissions: tendering date and time of delivery of the tender.