Norway – Snow-clearing services – Procurement of winter maintenance services for Statnett in the Southern operations area

Statnett SF, Southern Operations Area, hereinafter referred to as the Client or Statnett, currently operates a number of substations with associated access roads spread across Agder and Rogaland. To ensure proper operation and safety during the winter season, Statnett needs to enter into framework agreements for various winter maintenance services for this area. The work mainly includes snow plowing, handling of snow masses, procurement and storage of grit material, sanding when required, handling of snow poles, weather monitoring, and emergency preparedness. Statnett has varying needs for assistance at the different locations covered by the agreement. The need varies, among other things, based on how critical it is that each individual substation is accessible at all times, and whether Statnett has its own resources to carry out winter maintenance at the substations. See Appendix 1 for an overview of the substations. For three substations, there is a requirement that the supplier has full responsibility for carrying out winter maintenance, and these substations must be accessible in terms of passability at all times. This therefore requires both high preparedness and continuous weather monitoring. These substations are geographically located in both Agder and Rogaland. For five substations, snow plowing services will be ordered as needed. These substations do not have the same requirement for constant accessibility, but the supplier must have sufficient capacity to carry out winter maintenance within a reasonable time, in accordance with the deadlines set out in Appendix 1. The substation at Stølaheia is under construction and is expected to be completed within two years. In addition, Statnett’s own employees are responsible for emergency preparedness and for carrying out winter maintenance at a further five substations. For these substations, assistance will be requested as needed, for example in the event of insufficient internal capacity. Furthermore, another...