Voluntary ex-ante transparency notice - extension of current ferry contract routes 182, 188 and 198

Description

Troms og Finnmark County intends to enter into a contract for an extension of the current ferry contract on routes 182, 188, and 198 for 10 months. Lot 1: Troms og Finnmark County, c/o Troms fylkestrafikk has a contract with Torghatten Nord AS for the operation of the ferry routes Belvik-Vengsøy, Mikkelvik-Bromnes, and Rotsund-Havnnes-Uløybukt (routes 182, 188, and 198) for the period 1.1.2010 - 31.12.2024. Troms fylkestrafikk intends to enter into a contract with Torghatten Nord AS for an extension of the ferry contract for 10 months, i.e., up to and including 31.10.2025. The reason for the extension is reduce uncertainty on delivery possibilities for tenderers in a coming contest for a new ferry contract for the routes, and because 1 January is an unfortunate start-up date for a new contract, both for the contracting authority and the tenderer. The contracting authority believes that an extension is a change in the current contract that is not significant, cf. the public procurement regulations, paragraph 28-1 (1), letter f, cf. paragraph 28-2. This is despite the extension meaning a significant contract value in itself. However, the increase of the contract value and the contract duration is small (approx. 6-7 per cent) when seen in relation to the original value and duration of the contract. It concerns a long term contractual relationship that requires significant investments from the operator's side. The ferries are particularly small and adapted to the routes, and it is not a realistic alternative to hold a contest for the extension period. The economic balance in the contract is not changed. There are no standpoints for saying that the extension, had it been known in the contest for the current contract, would have affected participant interest or the outcome of the contest.