About market dialogue

What is a market dialogue?

Market dialogue is communication between the contracting authority and the market before a procurement is announced. The aim is not to negotiate a specific contract, but to understand what is technically and commercially possible, to clarify needs, and to let the market contribute to shaping the problem statement.

For complex and innovative procurements, market dialogue is not only permitted but strongly recommended – and in practice almost necessary.

Legal basis

Market dialogue has its legal basis in the Norwegian Public Procurement Regulations and is particularly emphasised for innovative procurements and research and development. The fundamental principles of equal treatment, transparency and verifiability (Public Procurement Act § 4) are not only complied with in this approach – they are built into the method. Open, written input with timestamps and version control makes it possible to document compliance in a way that closed meetings and email cannot.

Relationship to specific procurements

An open market dialogue does not replace the procurement process itself. When the contracting authority moves from dialogue to competition, this is done in the usual way – typically through an announcement on Doffin. Ongoing dialogues concerning the procurement in question are closed prior to the announcement, and further communication takes place through the formal channels.