Finland – Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services – Pohjavesien tarkkailupalvelut 2027-2029 (2030-2031)

The procurement includes groundwater, vadose zone air, vadose zone water, wastewater, surface water, and drainage water sample collection, as well as groundwater level measurements, sample analysis services, interim and annual reporting by operator, and compilation of the annual summary report related to the joint monitoring of the groundwater of Lahti and Hollola (hereinafter “joint monitoring”). The most samples are collected as groundwater samples. Additional work may include other sampling, analysis services, and reporting of these. The contracting entity is the City of Lahti, and the Environmental Services Unit coordinates the monitoring. The procurement is divided into two separate sub-areas. Service providers may submit a bid for either or both sub-areas. The sub-areas are: 1. Joint monitoring of groundwater in Lahti and Hollola sample collection and reporting services (hereinafter “sample collection and reporting services”) and 2. Joint monitoring of groundwater in Lahti and Hollola analysis services (hereinafter “analysis services”). If a service provider submits a bid for both sub-areas, the bid must separately itemize the sub-areas so that the bids are comparable with other bids. A more detailed description of the subject of the procurement is in the tender documents. The joint monitoring of groundwater managed by the City of Lahti was started in 2019, and the contracts for the second procurement period are valid until 31.12.2026 (analysis services) and 28.2.2027 (sample collection and reporting) according to the agreed option period. Now the third period of joint monitoring is being procured for the years 2027–2029. The contracts for the new operating period begin on 1.1.2027. The period can be extended for a two-year option period for the years 2030–2031. Groundwater monitoring requires long-term monitoring and comparability of results. The three-year contract period and the two-year option period ensure the continuity of monitoring, enable cost-effective implementation, and give the procurement unit the opportunity to assess the quality of the service before the option period is taken into use. In the planning of the new operating period and the development of joint monitoring, in addition to the City of Lahti managing the joint monitoring, Hollola municipality, Hollola water utility, and Lahti Aqua Oy have been involved. The environmental sampling of the joint monitoring is mainly groundwater sampling, which also includes groundwater level measurement. Sampling of vadose zone air, vadose zone water, wastewater, surface water, and drainage water may be included in the joint monitoring program. Separate groundwater level measurements are made for each target according to the monitoring obligation of the target. The targets of the monitoring are mainly actors obliged to monitor groundwater in environmental or land use permits, the City of Lahti's own environmental status monitoring, and the voluntary and mandatory monitoring of water utilities. In March 2026, there were a total of 31 separate monitoring targets and 86 groundwater pipes or wells in the joint monitoring. At the beginning of 2027, the joint monitoring will be extended to the Nastolanharju-Uusikylä A and B groundwater areas, from which at least three targets and three groundwater pipes and one surface water observation point are estimated to be involved. One additional target and three observation pipes will be added from Hollola. One monitoring target will be removed after 2026 due to the end of operations. The final number of operators, targets, and observation pipes is only known after the contract phase. Contracts with operators for joining the joint monitoring will be made after the procurement phase, when the procured monitoring costs are known. The buyer does not know the final number of participants when making the procurement. New operators may also join the joint monitoring before the start of the new contract period or during it from the groundwater areas involved in the monitoring. The buyer does not commit to the estimated number of operators, observation pipes, sample points, or analyses. The Environmental Services Unit of the City of Lahti acts as the managing party for the joint monitoring. The Director of Building and Environmental Supervision makes procurement decisions and contracts with service providers related to joint monitoring and separately contracts with operators participating in joint monitoring. Service providers and operators participating in joint monitoring are not in a direct contractual relationship with each other. Service providers invoice the agreed services to the City of Lahti. The amounts of the invoices are divided by operator annually based on the monitoring costs incurred and invoiced to the operators always at the end of each monitoring year. The estimated value of the procurement in the new operating period is 70 000–75 000 EUR per year.