Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2023-05-17
Buyer: Tromsø kommune
Country: NO
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Contract award without prior publication
CPV classification: 72200000 | 72212200: Networking software programming services | 72212211 | 72212510 | 72220000: Systems and technical consultancy services
Estimated value: 15000000 NOK

Technical requirements: Voluntary ex-ante transparency notice: Collaboration contract for the development of a technological interaction platform for port authorities
Tromsø Havn KF (The Port of Tromsø) intends to enter into a collaboration contract with Fourpro Solutions AS (Fourpro Solutions) for the development of a technological interaction platform for the port authorities.
The Port of Tromsø is working to reach the national goal of moving more goods over from the road to sea by facilitating efficient and environmentally friendly logistics and transport systems in the port. This contributes to strengthening sea transport's framework terms and making them more competitive.
The Port of Tromsø intends to enter into a collaboration contract with Fourpro Solutions for the development of a technological interaction platform, as described above. Such an interaction platform is not available in the current market. Fourpro Solutions will be responsible for the project's general project management, as well as for work packages connected to the development of a technological interaction platform. The Port of Tromsø understands that the contract can be signed directly with Fourpro Solutions pursuant to the regulations from 12 August 2016 no. 975 on procurement rules in the utilities sector ('FYF') § 2-5, see the justification included below.
FYF § 2-5 (1) states that the Procurement Act and regulations do not apply for 'contracts for research and development services'. The rules can however by used if the contract is covered by one of the listed CPV codes in  § 2-5 (2), and 'all the gains will be fully used by the contracting authority in its organisation', and the contracting authority 'pays in full' for the service.
The collaboration contract has a clear research and development element. The project primarily focuses on the development of technological systems, including the development of an integration server that will let port systems communicate and exchange data in a standardised way. The integration server will consist of a set of services that will be used to connect different applications and systems together. Suitable applications, modules, and widgets will also be developed that can be used with existing port data systems, and thus ensure digital interaction without the need to change the IT infrastructure of each port user.
The technology that will be developed will have a testing purpose after it has been taken into use, and there will be a need to follow-up the technology. The collaboration contract is therefore a research and development service and not a procurement of an innovative product.
The Port of Tromsø has applied for a grant from the Norwegian Coastal Administration for the Havinor project. The grant is limited to 80% of the total financial limit for the project. The project will therefore not be fully financed by the Port of Tromsø.
The Havinor project intends to establish more efficient interaction between authorities and users of ports in the regions. This will be done via digital interaction and the exchange of real time data in order to strengthen efficiency, increase predictably, reduce the environmental footprint, and move more goods from the road to the sea. The gains from the collaboration will thus not all go to the Port of Tromsø.
The Port of Tromsø therefore deems that the terms for exempting the collaboration contract from the Procurement Act and regulations pursuant to FYF § 2-5 are met.
Collaboration contract for the development of a technological interaction platform for port authorities.


Winner: Fourpro Solutions AS
Award value: 15000000