Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2025-01-30
Buyer: DRAMMEN KOMMUNE
Country: NO
Region: NO082
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Negotiated without a prior call for competition
CPV classification: 72220000: Systems and technical consultancy services

Technical requirements: Drammen municipality intends to enter into agreement with Atea AS for technical consultancy services to assist the municipality for a shorter period until the new competition(s) for the operation of the municipality ́s clients and ICT infrastructure have been carried out. On December 20, 2024, Drammen municipality terminated the agreement with Sopra Steria AS on the operation of the municipality's clients, networks and Azure installation, due to different interpretations of the agreement's payment model. This means that by 1 April 2025 the municipality will take back the operative operational assignments. It is important in such a situation to ensure that the requirements for, among other things, information security and deliveries of critical operational services are well taken care of.  The municipality intends to announce a new competition for the operational assignments around March 2025, and that the new provider of operational services is in place by the end of 2025. In this interim phase from when the contract is terminated until the new contract is signed, it is currently impossible to hold a competition, and for technical reasons imperative to ensure safe and stable operation, to use a tenderer who already has good knowledge of the municipality and the municipality ́s operational systems. Only current and former suppliers have this expertise today, and the use of a new supplier can give a risk of breaching safe operations for several months. Consequently, it is not possible to hold a competition for technical reasons, cf. the Public Procurement Regulations § 13-4, first section, letter b no. 2. Based on the fact that the disagreement with the current supplier on the payment model also involves demanding challenges connected to the delivery of the services, it is not a reasonable option to extend the current agreement. There are, thus, no other reasonable alternatives than using a previous supplier to ensure secure and stable operational services. Atea AS was until the end of 2023 as the municipality ́s technical partner and helped establish the municipality ́s computer room in Azure, in addition to providing assistance with the operation of security and critical systems. It has been clarified that Atea AS will be able to assist with persons/resources who have previously provided operational assistance to the municipality, and who thus know the municipality ́s ICT infrastructure and user needs, then except for the last changes that have occurred in the period Sopra Steria AS has run the municipality ́s ICT infrastructure. The resource assistance from Atea AS can be supported by elements of standard services in order to ensure good and stable operation. An agreement with Atea AS will ensure that the municipality can quickly take over operational responsibility with security for deliveries to critical services such as emergency doctor surgery, the institution services in health and care and water and sewage ́s activities. Safe daily operation of the municipality ́s trade systems is critical for the municipality being able to take care of its statutory assignments, such as safeguarding patient safety, stand-by, privacy, and critical services such as water and sewage services. Implementation of a competition for a assistance contract (SSA-B) would not have given a real competition for providing services with the time perspective available here, both as regards rapid start-up, the knowledge required to provide the operational services and the length of any assistance period. It is the municipality ́s understanding that it is only Atea AS who, in light of the situation with the termination of contract with Sopra Steria AS, will be able to deliver in the new collaboration model that this will require within the time limits that apply. Drammen municipality can therefore enter into a contract with Atea AS without a competition pursuant to FOA § 13-4, first paragraph, letter b, point 2. Development assignments that Atea AS will have to assist with in the period will be able to force their way forward, but will be kept at a minimum in the period. The aim for Drammen municipality is, as previously mentioned, to announce tender documentation on the operational assignments in March 2025 and that tenderers can be chosen so that they can take over the operational assignments by the end of 2025.The estimated value of the procurement: NOK 29 million If there are objections to Drammen municipality ́s intention for signing the contract with Atea AS, this must be claimed on grounds by 10.2.2025. Objections can be addressed to Christian Sundelin, Senior contract consultant, by email: christian.rikheim.sundelin@drammen.kommune.no Drammen municipality has set up the following schedules for the process: Activity DateCl. Notice of Intention Notice, cf. the Public Procurement Regulations §21-528.01.2025 Deadline for objection that Drammen municipality has no right to enter into a contract with Atea AS10.02.202512:00


Winner: Atea AS