Norway – Postal services related to newspapers and periodicals – Procurement of compensatory postal services - Transitional scheme for the delivery of newspapers in subscriptions.

The procurement is covered by the Utilities Regulations parts I and III. This competition is announced in accordance with this form due to a lack of a form adapted to procedures in accordance with the utilities regulations parts I and III. The Ministry of Transport has sent proposals for a new postal law for a hearing. This procurement is intended to be a transitional arrangement until a new postal law has been approved by the Norwegian Parliament and it will come into force. The competition concerns contracts for a duty to deliver newspapers by subscription to locations without other newspaper distribution, in accordance with the Law on Postal Services dated 4 September 2015 no. 91 ("The Postal Act") § 6 and 7 second sections, cf. the regulations on post by 18 September 2015 no. 1063 ("Postal Regulations") § 19. The service is characterised as a service of general economic importance. The procurement is expected to be carried out in accordance with the EEA agreement ́s rules on public support and the so-called Altmark criteria. The Ministry of Transport ("the Contracting Authority") shall procure postal services in the form of newspaper distribution on three scheduled weekdays (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays) in counter-cyclical distribution for ordinary postal deliveries, as well as distribution on Saturdays. Counter-cyclical distribution involves the delivery of subscription newspapers on only the weekdays that the individual address does not have post deliveries. Such services shall be provided in the geographical the area stated in the Requirement Specifications in Annex 1.3, 2.3, 3.3 and 4.3 - Point 3 ("The Geographical Area"). The geographical area is divided into two delivery areas, delivery area B and delivery area C. Tenderers can submit tenders for contracts in both delivery areas, but there must be separate tender offers. The procurement is divided into two delivery areas: north (delivery area B) and south (delivery area C). One contract for weekday distribution will be signed for each delivery area, and one agreement for Saturday distribution. The Contracting Authority will, thus, enter into four total agreements