Anskaffelsesloven (Norwegian Public Procurement Act)
Anskaffelsesloven (Lov om offentlige anskaffelser, 2016-06-17 No. 73) is Norway's general public procurement act. It is the legal foundation for every public contract awarded by a Norwegian state, regional, or municipal buyer. Anskaffelsesloven sets the principles of competition, equal treatment, and transparency, and works in tandem with FOSA for defense and security purchases.
Etymology / origin
The current Anskaffelsesloven entered into force on 1 January 2017, replacing the 1999 version. It implements EU Public Procurement Directive 2014/24/EU via the EEA Agreement and modernised Norway's procurement regime in line with European practice.
Where you encounter this term
Anskaffelsesloven applies to every Norwegian defense buyer for non-classified contracts, with FOSA layering on top for defense-specific procurement. Below-threshold contracts (under NOK 1.4 million for goods and services) are exempt from the law's notice-publication rules but are still subject to its principles. The Klagenemnda for offentlige anskaffelser (KOFA) is the appeal body for disputes arising under the act.
Example — from the WULFRN database
All 1,029 verified Norwegian defense records in WULFRN — including Forsvarsmateriell, Forsvarsbygg, and Politiets fellestjenester contracts — fall under Anskaffelsesloven's procurement-principles framework, with most above-threshold awards subject to FOSA's defense-specific rules.
Related glossary terms
- Forskrift om forsvars- og sikkerhetsanskaffelser (FOSA)Norway's defense and security procurement regulation, transposing EU Directive 2009/81/EC into Norwegian law.
- DoffinNorway's national procurement portal, the primary source for below-threshold Norwegian defense tenders that never reach TED.
- Below-threshold procurementPublic-sector contracts below the EU procurement directive thresholds, published only on national portals — invisible on TED.
- Forsvarsmateriell (Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency)Norway's central defense materiel agency, the primary contracting authority for Norwegian Armed Forces equipment and sustainment.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Anskaffelsesloven?
Anskaffelsesloven (Lov om offentlige anskaffelser) is Norway's Public Procurement Act, the legal foundation governing all public-sector contracts awarded by Norwegian state, regional, and municipal buyers. It sets the principles of competition, equal treatment, and transparency.
What is the difference between Anskaffelsesloven and FOSA?
Anskaffelsesloven is the general law for all Norwegian public procurement. FOSA (Forskrift om forsvars- og sikkerhetsanskaffelser) is the defense-and-security-specific regulation that applies on top of the general law for sensitive defense contracts. Defense buyers operate under both simultaneously.
What is the Norwegian below-threshold limit?
Contracts under NOK 1.4 million for goods and services are exempt from Anskaffelsesloven's mandatory-publication rules, though the act's competition and equal-treatment principles still apply. Above that threshold, notices must publish on Doffin (and on TED if above the EU threshold).