ARTICLE 46 EFFECTIVE DATE, DURATION, AND CHANGES SECTION 1 - EFFECTIVE DATE The effective date of this Agreement is the date of approval by the appropriate Defense Finance and Accounting Service authority, or 30 days after being signed by the members of the negotiation team. However, in order to permit local supplementation and orientation, implementation of its provisions will be suspended at the Center level for 30 days after the effective date. Until implementation of these provisions, the Centers will be governed by their existing agreements. SECTION 2 - DURATION This Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of 3 years from the effective date and shall be automatically renewed each year, unless either Party gives written notice to the other Party of its desire to negotiate portions of this Agreement between 90 to 60 calendar days prior to the anniversary of the effective date of this Agreement. Such renegotiations, if held, will be separate and distinct from a mid-term bargaining set forth below. In lieu of renegotiations, the parties may proceed as described in Section 3B below. SECTION 3 - MID-TERM BARGAINING A. Either Party to this Agreement may request that it be opened for amendment when it is considered that a portion of the Agreement is unworkable, unequitable, no longer cost-effective, or contrary to subsequent law, rule, or regulation. Such opening would occur 18 months from the effective date of the Agreement and the request to open portions of this Agreement must be made 90 to 60 calendar days prior to the end of the 18th month. B. In lieu of the above and full-term bargaining, the parties may mutually consent to utilize an alternative method to resolve mid-and/or full term issues which arise, as described in the Memorandum of Understanding; dated May 4, 1995. If either party to this Agreement decides that the alternative method is not effective, they will notify the other party of the need to revert to Sections 2 and 3 of this Article. C. All addenda to the Multi-Unit Master Agreement will be signed by the parties, printed and distributed as they occur. SECTION 4 - INVALID OR ILLEGAL PROVISION Should any part or any provision of this Agreement be rendered or declared invalid or illegal, by reason of any existing or subsequent law, rule, or regulation, the invalidation of such part or provision of this Agreement shall not invalidate any of the remaining parts or provisions of this Agreement, and they shall remain in full force and effect.