118It is all the more necessary for a Member State to demonstrate that its purchase of goods or services constitutes a normal commercial transaction where, as in the present instance, selection of the operator has not been preceded by a sufficiently advertised open tender procedure. In accordance with the Commission's settled practice, the fact that such a tender procedure is conducted before a Member State makes a purchase is normally considered sufficient for the possibility that the Member State is seeking to grant an advantage to a given undertaking to be ruled out (see, in particular, Information from the Commission — Community framework for state aid for research and development (OJ 1996 C 45, p. 5), point 2.5, and, to this effect, the Community guidelines on State aid to maritime transport (OJ 1997 C 205, p. 5), Chapter 9).