Part I

Part I of the Norwegian public procurement regulation (anskaffelsesforskriften) contains the general provisions that apply to all public procurements above NOK 100,000 excl. VAT. In Norway, this part forms the foundation of the procurement rules — whether a procurement follows Part II or Part III, the rules in Part I always apply in addition. Think of Part I as the baseline rules everyone must follow, while Parts II and III add further requirements based on contract value.

How does Part I work?

Part I covers Sections 1-1 through 7-9 across seven chapters. It sets out which entities qualify as contracting authorities, which procurements are exempt from the rules, definitions of key terms, and threshold values that determine whether Part II or Part III applies on top.

A key distinction is that contracting authorities are not required to prepare formal tender documents for procurements that only follow Part I. This means procurements between NOK 100,000 and the national threshold of NOK 1.3 million can use simpler procedures — but the fundamental principles of competition, equal treatment, and proportionality always apply. Unlike EU procurement directives, which only regulate above-threshold procurements, Norway has chosen to impose baseline rules on all procurements from NOK 100,000.

What does Part I regulate?

Part I covers:

• Scope — which entities and contracts fall under the regulation
• Exemptions — such as security-related procurements or service contracts based on exclusive rights
• Definitions — key terms like supply, service, and works contracts
• Common provisions — requirements for electronic communication, procurement records, and climate and environmental considerations (Section 7-9)

The common provisions in Chapter 7 are particularly significant because they apply to all procurements above NOK 100,000 regardless of value. This includes the requirement in Section 7-9 that criteria must aim to reduce the procurement's overall climate footprint. Tools like Cobrief can help suppliers find relevant tenders regardless of which part of the regulation a procurement follows.

Part I is not a procedure in itself, but the shared foundation that all public procurements in Norway are built upon. For both contracting authorities and suppliers, understanding these baseline rules is the first step in navigating Norwegian public procurement.