public procurement act

The Public Procurement Act (anskaffelsesloven, commonly abbreviated LOA) is Norway's overarching law governing public procurement of goods, services, and works. The Act is a framework law that establishes the purpose, fundamental principles, and enforcement rules for public procurement, while the detailed procedural rules are found in the public procurement regulation. The current Act dates from 17 June 2016 and entered into force on 1 January 2017.

How does the Public Procurement Act work?

The Act applies to all contracting authorities — central government, municipal, and county authorities, as well as bodies governed by public law. It covers all procurements with a value above NOK 100,000 excluding VAT.

The Act's purpose (Section 1) is to promote efficient use of society's resources and ensure that public bodies act with integrity. The fundamental principles (Section 4) require that procurements be based on competition, equal treatment, predictability, verifiability, and proportionality. These principles apply across all procedures and threshold values.

As an EEA member, Norway uses this Act to implement three EU directives (2014/23/EU, 2014/24/EU, and 2014/25/EU) into national law, ensuring alignment with the broader European procurement framework.

Key provisions

• Purpose (Section 1): Efficient use of resources and public integrity — preventing corruption and favouritism
• Scope (Section 2): Applies to all public authorities and bodies governed by public law
• Fundamental principles (Section 4): Competition, equal treatment, transparency, verifiability, and proportionality
• Societal considerations (Section 5): Requirements on labour conditions, climate and environment, and security and preparedness
• Enforcement (Sections 8–12): KOFA handles complaints, while courts can declare contracts invalid for regulatory breaches

Tools like Cobrief can help suppliers understand how the Act's requirements affect specific tender procedures and stay informed about procurements where these principles are particularly relevant.

The Public Procurement Act is the foundation on which Norway's entire procurement regulatory framework rests. While FOA provides the detailed rules of procedure, it is the Act that sets the direction and ensures public purchasing happens in a fair and trustworthy manner. For suppliers, this means the Act's principles always apply — regardless of the procurement's size or procedure.