contract notice

A contract notice is a public announcement that a contracting authority wishes to purchase goods or services. For most public tenders, a publication obligation applies, so that all interested suppliers have the opportunity to participate in the competition.

View available contract notices.

Different types of notices

Several types of notices cover each stage of the procurement cycle:

• Prior information notice: Alerts the market to a planned procurement before the competition itself
• Voluntary ex-ante transparency notice: Used when the contracting authority plans a direct award without competition
• Indicative notice: Gives suppliers early information about upcoming competitions
• Standard contract notice: The most common type, announcing a new competition
• Contract award notice: Published after the winner has been selected

All notice types are registered through the EU's standardised eForms templates, and notices above the EEA thresholds are forwarded automatically to Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), the EU's official database for public procurement.

Where are contract notices published?

The most important notice platform in Norway is Doffin (the Database for public tenders). The publication duty is triggered when the value of the procurement exceeds the applicable threshold value, and for larger procurements above the EEA threshold values the notice must also be published internationally on TED.

What must a contract notice contain?

A contract notice must always include:

• A description of what is being procured
• Which procurement procedure will be used in the tender competition
• Deadlines for submitting tenders
• Contact information for the contracting authority
• Any qualification requirements for suppliers

With modern digital tools like Cobrief, suppliers can easily keep track of relevant notices and receive tender alerts when new opportunities appear in their market.

Contract notices are the foundation of open and fair competition in public procurement. They ensure that all potential suppliers receive the same information and equal opportunities to participate. For suppliers, it is therefore important to monitor notices in their market to avoid missing valuable business opportunities.