There are some peculiarities that foreign tenderers should be aware of. We are happy to give you our 5 best tips for tendering in Norway. We are happy to give you our 5 best tips for successful tendering in Norway.
Tendering in Norway is not very different from tendering elsewhere in Europe. Through the EEA Agreement Norwegian law complies with the EU/EEA rules on public procurement. There are however some peculiarities that foreign tenderers should be aware of.
1) Language
For most competitions all the documents, aside from the contract notice in competitions above EEA-threshold values, are in Norwegian. Moreover, in almost all procurement procedures the contracting authority requests that the tender itself be written in Norwegian. Often, even appendices or qualification documentation must be submitted in Norwegian or accompanied by an official translation.
Look for specifications of language requirements in the competition document and ensure access to a good translating service as soon as possible.
2) Written descriptions
Competition documents in Norway often comprise a lot of written information, and often the contracting authority also requests the submission of written descriptions. As an example, it is common to request tenderers to provide a proposal for solutions to be evaluated under the award criteria “Quality”.
Our experienced advisors can assist your business in every step of a procurement process in Norway. Visit our website for more information: Public procurement in Norway
3) Prequalification
Many major tender competitions in Norway for services or for works are conducted as restricted procedures or competitive procedures with negotiation. For such procedures the number of qualified tenderers invited to submit tenders is normally between 3 and 6, depending on the procedure chosen.
Understanding and replying correctly and pointedly to the criteria used for selecting the successful tenderers is of utmost importance.
4) Dialogue
If the procurement you wish to tender for is below EEA-threshold values but above the national threshold values, national rules and legislation applies.
For such competitions the contracting authorities have more lenient rules of procedure to comply with, including a wider possibility to use dialogue with the tenderers throughout the tender procedure.
Read more: Tendering in Norway below EU/EEA-threshold values
5) Request information
If you find the tender documentation unclear, do not hesitate to request information from the contracting authority, always within the deadline for questions, rather than make assumptions or include reservations in your tender.
Submitting tenders with reservations is a certain way of getting rejected from the competition!
And as a bonus: Start in time and ask for help if you are unsure of what to do.
Article first published May 2018, updated December 2022.
Magnus Legal and Inventura combine forces
In order to offer our customers the best expertise in the area of public procurement, Magnus Legal has entered into cooperation with Inventura. Inventura offers comprehensive and complete assistance, that will increase your chances of winning the competition.
Inventura – experts on procurement and supply chains
Inventura is a Norwegian consulting company, specializing in procurement and public procurement, and the development of efficient value chains. With almost 80 lawyers, economists, engineers and other skilled professionals, passionate about procurement, Inventura can guide you safely through the processes connected to procurement and giving tenders in both the private and public sector. Inventura has experience from many industries and assist both buyers and suppliers. They have offices in Oslo and Bergen, and customers nationwide – and abroad.
Read more on the website: www.inventura.no/en