Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2022-01-21
Buyer: Vestland fylkeskommune
Country: NO
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Contract award without prior publication
CPV classification: 45000000: Construction work | 45221100: Bridge construction works | 45221119 | 73000000
Estimated value: 2940000 NOK

Technical requirements: Voluntary ex-ante transparency notice for a R&D project - reinforcement of bridges with composite surface
Vestland County would like to establish a development project in cooperation with Module Solutions Systems (MSS). The main aim is to find out whether it is possible to use composite surfaces as reinforcement or for a complete replacement of existing bridge surfaces on concrete girder bridges and steel beam bridges within Norwegian rules and Norwegian climate conditions.
VLFK would like to prepare interim reports and a final report with an evaluation of the test result, an evaluation of the project, and further advice. This final report will be public and will benefit everyone. The project has assessed that the time perspective for the testing ought to be five years. During this period sufficient data will have been gathered on how the Surebridge concept functions in Norwegian climatic conditions.
• One is based on strengthening concrete surfaces by gluing on a relatively thin composite layer on the top of the existing surface, which is called SUREbridge Light.
• The other concept is based on the complete replacement of an existing concrete bridge surface on a steel girder bridge with a bridge surface in a composite material.
Both concepts can strengthen bridges so that the upper edge of the bridge is protected from water and a new wearing course is laid. In addition certified bridge railings can be fixed, which will greatly improve traffic safety on the bridges in question. The composite material is more or less maintenance free, and can extend the lifetime of bridges significantly. The concept also gives a reduction in the time that road must be closed during the construction period. This is very advantageous as many of the county roads in question are narrow and do not have an alternative route.
(1) The Public Procurements Act and regulations do not apply for contracts for research and development services.
(2) The Public Procurement Act and regulations apply however for contracts that are covered by the CPV codes (see the wording in the regulations) when
The condition for research and development. The main aim of this project is research and development. VLFK believes that a feasibility study and testing of the bridge concept from MSS under Norwegian conditions will provide new knowledge on the qualities of the composite material in a cold climate. One of the largest differences as regards most other countries in Europe is that a lot of vehicles use studded tyres and chains. This is challenging for composite materials as a thin wearing course is generally used, which does not take studded tyres into account. In this case requirements are therefore set for asphalt to be used as the wearing course. As previously stated, interim reports and a final report will be written, which will be made public.
The condition that the contracting authority does not pay for the entire service. The project is 'shared' where all the participants participate with their own contributions. The result/final report/evaluation from the project will be made public. If the project is successful, contracts can be announced for composite surfaces for existing bridges in the future.
The largest benefit of the project is that large sums can potentially be saved in Vestland County and nationally on bridge maintenance. This can, in turn, help reduce climate gas emissions, as existing bridges can be used for longer and the replacement of old bridges with new bridges can be postponed. This can contribute to meeting the goal of more road for money and a reduction in climate gas emissions.
If you have any comments on this voluntary ex-ante transparency notice, contact Øyvind Sætra by email, oyvind.setra@vlfk.no, by 3 February.


Winner: Module Solutions & Systems
Award value: 2940000