The Norwegian Coastal Administration is preparing the basis for the competition for the construction of Stad Ship Tunnel. The plan is to announce the work as a major fixed-price design and construct contract, which will be acquired after a competition with negotiation. It is expected to be announced during the first half of 2023.

Invitation to dialogue

The Norwegian Coastal Administration wishes to be in dialogue with the market in advance of the announcement of the competition.

“We are taking a number of steps to ensure that this dialogue will be as good as possible. First and foremost, we are planning to hold a supplier conference at Gardermoen on 31 January next year, with one-on-one interviews on the following days. The purpose of the conference is to prepare the contractor market for the coming competition, while the project also aims to facilitate dialogue on contract strategy and the basis for the competition,” says Terje Skjeppestad, Project Manager for Stad ship tunnel.

There will be more information about the supplier conference when the invitation is published on Doffin around 15 November. Contractors, keep these days free!

Looking for smart technical solutions

The Norwegian Coastal Administration now wishes to get into contact with innovative environments and suppliers of technical systems for use in the ship tunnel. Because, even though formally speaking the responsibility for the technical deliveries will rest with the design and construct contractor, the Stad project wishes to have direct dialogue with possible subcontractors. The purpose is to reveal what the market is capable of delivering in terms of services and products, as well as to get feedback on what specific issues the project must think through before the announcement.

“No ship tunnel of this kind has ever been built before. And although we are good at operating tunnels in Norway, this tunnel has completely different dimensions and will be built in a completely different environment to those we are used to. The technical equipment must be able to withstand sea water, corrosion, fog - conditions that are totally different to those in a normal road tunnel,” says Skjeppestad.

What products and services do you want input on?

“This could be equipment for fendering and entrance structures, cathodic protection systems or analyses of the light, sound and environment inside the tunnel,” says Skjeppestad.

The technical systems are highly significant for functionality, uptime and, not least, safety in the tunnel. It is therefore important to establish how the technical expertise in the market can best be used.

“We would therefore encourage suppliers who have experience of project planning and installation of technical equipment in road and railway tunnels, for example, to contact the project at stad.skipstunnel@kystverket.no. As well as others who have innovative and robust solutions. We will follow up all enquiries and evaluate how we can best use the feedback in the preparation of the project. We wish to ensure that we have the newest and best equipment,” says Project Manager Terje Skjeppestad.