Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2021-01-13
Buyer: Luftambulansetjenesten HF v / Sykehusinnkjøp HF
Country: NO
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Contract award without prior publication
CPV classification: 30220000 | 34700000: Aircraft and spacecraft | 34710000: Helicopters and aeroplanes | 34711300: Unmanned aerial vehicles | 48000000
Estimated value: 3500000 NOK

Technical requirements: Υπηρεσίες τεχνολογίας των πληροφοριών: παροχή συμβουλών, ανάπτυξη λογισμικού, Διαδίκτυο και υποστήριξη
Voluntary Ex-ante Transparency Notice on a Direct Procurement for the further Operation and Development of the LZ North Application
The Air Ambulance Service (LAT HF) intends to renew the existing contract with Electronic Chart Centre AS (ECC) for the operation and development of the LZ North application that includes a digital overview of pre-defined landing areas for ambulance helicopters in Norway.
ECC has, in cooperation with LAT HF, developed a specially adapted system that is necessary for the emergency services for air safety and vital community services reasons, and which requires ongoing functional continuity. The contract duration is planned to be from 3 March 2021 until 3 March 2024, with an option for a 1 + 1 year extension.
The Air Ambulance Service is giving other potential suppliers the possibility to object to the current contract with ECC being renewed. Any objections must be justified.
The Air Ambulance Service intends to renew an existing contract with Electronic Chart Centre AS (ECC) for the operation and development of the LZ North application, which gives a digital overview of pre-defined landing areas for ambulance helicopters in Norway.
ECC has, in cooperation with LAT HF, developed a specially adapted system with continual and updated control for the LZ North application in order to ensure air safety for rescue and ambulance helicopters when landing 24/7 for more than 10 000 helicopter assignments a year in Norway. LZ North has in addition made coordination more efficient between the patient, ambulance, and ambulanc helicopter, and thus contributed to quicker help for patients.
The application is used on mobiles and tablets on Android and iOS operative systems, in fight modus, and in synchronised modus via a mobile network/wireless network. The application also uses a network based system with different operation centres. The contract is for systems for administering data, back-up systems, training, and support for users. The application and accompanying data is closely connected to other applications, server systems, communication and navigation equipment that is used in helicopters and in different operation rooms. 24-hour operative use of the application and accompanying services during assignments with rescue and ambulance helicopters means that the Air Ambulance Service has strict requirements for quality, availability of functionality, continuity, and delivery of the application. The correct programming of the application requires that the supplier has in-depth knowledge of the users' flight operative needs and good technical knowledge. The background data used in the application, and the need for an efficient functional application used by the emergency services that are vital for society, means that LAT HF, together with the data owners, require acceptance of the supplier. LZ North is further developed in close cooperation with the users and the Air Ambulance Service.
The procurement will be for 3 years, with an option for an extension for 1 + 1 year. The contract is expected to start as soon as possible, with continual functionality of LZ North from the expiration of the current contract on 3 March 2021.
Electronic Chart Centre (ECC) has developed a specially adapted system for the Air Ambulance Service (LAT HF), which allows optimised use of the ambulance helicopter fleet, as the application has continual and updated control of obstacles that are found at different landing places.
The contracting authority can make a procurement without a contest, as competition is not possible due to technical reasons, cf. the Public Procurement Regulations, Section 13-4. Unique knowledge has been built up at ECC, which allows for continual development of the application with simultaneous functionality for users. LAT HF experience is that the supplier requires in-depth knowledge of the flight operative needs to develop the application so that the application can be programmed in a way that takes care of air safety. The application is vital for the emergency services, which LAT HF is a central part of, for air safety and vital community reasons. Downtime and a lack of immediate functionality in these ares cannot be risked. It is, thus, clear that ECC specific knowledge that makes their services vital in order to ensure continual functionality in the application. The EU law court has shown understanding for having the same supplier when it is necessary due to technical complexity, for example in case C-385/02 (Magistrato per il Po de Parma).
The vulnerability of giving access to sensitive map data and the source code in the application to others than companies we have in-depth knowledge of, is not possible for vital community reasons. This is because parts of the information included in the application are also used by, amongst others, the armed forces and the police, and partly foreign aviation. This emphasises the vital community function that the application has. LAT HF therefore is of the opinion that this procurement can be made without a contest due to technical reasons and the background emergency services' need, which forms the basis for the development and maintenance of this application. It is clearly preferable that a 100 % publicly owned company does this job.
Contract between the Air Ambulance Service and Electronic Chart Centre for further Operation and Development of the LZ North Application
A contract will be entered into at the earliest 10 days after this voluntary ex-ante transparency notice has been published.


Winner: Electronic Chart Centre AS
Award value: 3500000