Kotka City Awards €1M Bridge Expert Services Framework to Multiple Winners

Kotka City (Kotkan kaupunki) has awarded a framework agreement for bridge inspection, design, and site supervision expert services across three lots. The framework has a total maximum value of €1 million and runs for an initial 1-year period with two optional 1-year extensions. Multiple winners were selected across the three lots, including AFRY Finland, A-Insinöörit, Kiwa, Silta TSV, Sitowise, Sweco, WSP, FCG, Intec Structures, Welado, Ramboll CM, Rejlers, and Rakennuttajatoimisto HTJ.

Introduction

Kotka City's Technical Services (tekniset palvelut) has conducted an open procedure for the procurement of expert services for bridge inspections, design, and site supervision. The procurement is divided into three sub-areas: Lot 1 (Bridge General and Special Inspections), Lot 2 (Bridge Renovation and New Design), and Lot 3 (Bridge Construction Management and Site Supervision).

The framework has a total maximum value of €1 million and runs for an initial 1-year period (8 June 2026 – 7 June 2027) with two optional 1-year extensions. The framework is established with all bidders who meet the suitability and minimum requirements, with assignments allocated based on the lowest price.

Multiple winners were selected across all three lots, with a total of 18 companies receiving contracts, including AFRY Finland, A-Insinöörit Suunnittelu, Kiwa, Silta TSV, Sitowise, Sweco, WSP, FCG, Intec Structures, Welado, Ramboll CM, Rejlers, and Rakennuttajatoimisto HTJ.

Why This Contract Matters

This contract ensures that Kotka City has access to expert bridge engineering services for the inspection, maintenance, and development of its bridge infrastructure.

This contract matters because it:

• Supports infrastructure maintenance: Ensures safe and reliable bridge infrastructure
• Significant value: €1,000,000 across three lots
• Long-term commitment: Up to 3 years (1 + 2 x 1-year options)
• Comprehensive scope: Inspections, design, and site supervision
• Multi-supplier: 18 winners across three lots
• Price focus: 100% price-based evaluation
• SME participation: All winners are SMEs

Contract Timeline

• Contracts concluded: 11–15 July 2026
• Contract start date: 8 June 2026
• Initial end date: 7 June 2027
• Initial duration: 1 year
• Maximum renewals: 2 (1 year each)
• Maximum total duration: 3 years
• Notice published: 4 September 2026 (OJ S 171/2026)

Contract Overview

Kotka City conducted an open procedure under the standard regime, governed by EU Directive 2014/24/EU and the Finnish Procurement Act.

Key features include:

• Three lots: Lot 1 (Inspections), Lot 2 (Design), Lot 3 (Construction Management & Site Supervision)
• Total maximum value: €1,000,000
• Lot 1 maximum: €200,000
• Lot 2 maximum: €400,000
• Lot 3 maximum: €400,000
• Initial duration: 1 year (8 June 2026 – 7 June 2027)
• Maximum renewals: 2 (1 year each)
• Framework type: Partly without reopening and partly with reopening of competition
• Evaluation: Price (100%) – lowest price
• Winners: 18 companies across three lots
• No subcontracting declared
• No EU funding

Key Contract Details

Detail	Information
Contracting authority	Kotkan kaupunki (Kotka City)
Contract title	Siltojen tarkastusten, suunnittelun ja työmaavalvonnan asiantuntijapalvelut
Main CPV	71000000 Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
Additional CPV	71300000 Engineering services
Procedure type	Open procedure (standard regime)
Legal basis	EU Directive 2014/24/EU; Finnish Procurement Act
Total maximum value (EUR)	€1,000,000.00
Number of lots	3
Initial duration	1 year (8 June 2026 – 7 June 2027)
Maximum renewals	2 (1 year each)
Maximum total duration	3 years
EU funding	None
Covered by GPA	Yes
Evaluation criteria	Price (100%) – lowest price
Location	Kotka, Kymenlaakso, Finland (NUTS: FI1C7)
Subcontracting	No
Number of tenders	6-8 per lot
SME participation	All winners are SMEs

Lot Structure

Lot 1 – Bridge General and Special Inspections

• Title: Siltojen yleis- ja erikoistarkastukset
• Maximum value: €200,000
• Winners (7): AFRY Finland, A-Insinöörit Suunnittelu, Kiwa, Silta TSV, Sitowise, Sweco Finland, WSP Finland
• Tenders received: 7
• Scope: General and special bridge inspections, including planning, studies, permits, laboratory work, reporting, and bridge register updates

Lot 2 – Bridge Renovation and New Design

• Title: Siltojen saneeraus- ja uudissuunnittelu
• Maximum value: €400,000
• Winners (8): A-Insinöörit Suunnittelu, FCG Rakennettu Ympäristö, Intec Structures, Silta TSV, Sitowise, Sweco Finland, Welado Design, WSP Finland
• Tenders received: 8
• Scope: General designs, implementation designs, and construction-phase designs for bridges and other bridge structures

Lot 3 – Bridge Construction Management and Site Supervision

• Title: Siltojen rakennuttaminen ja työmaavalvonta
• Maximum value: €400,000
• Winners (6): Rakennuttajatoimisto HTJ, Ramboll CM, Rejlers Finland, Silta TSV, Sitowise, Welado
• Tenders received: 6
• Scope: Construction management and site supervision, including safety-related tasks

Lot Summary Table

Lot	Title	Max Value (€)	Winners	Tenders
1	General and Special Inspections	200,000	7	7
2	Renovation and New Design	400,000	8	8
3	Construction Management & Site Supervision	400,000	6	6
Total		1,000,000	18

Winners Summary

Supplier	Lots Won	Size	Subcontracting
AFRY Finland Oy	1	Medium	No
A-Insinöörit Suunnittelu Oy	1, 2	SME	No
Kiwa Oy	1	SME	No
Silta TSV Oy	1, 2, 3	SME	No
Sitowise Oy	1, 2, 3	SME	No
Sweco Finland Oy	1, 2	SME	No
WSP Finland Oy	1, 2	SME	No
FCG Rakennettu Ympäristö Oy	2	SME	No
Intec Structures Oy	2	SME	No
Welado Design Oy	2	SME	No
Rakennuttajatoimisto HTJ Oy	3	SME	No
Ramboll CM Oy	3	SME	No
Rejlers Finland Oy	3	SME	No
Welado Oy	3	SME	No

About the Contracting Authority

Kotkan kaupunki (Kotka City) is a Finnish local authority located in the Kymenlaakso region. The city's Technical Services department is responsible for infrastructure maintenance, including bridges, roads, and public works.

About the Winners

All winners are Finnish engineering consultancies, predominantly SMEs:

• AFRY Finland Oy: Engineering and design consultancy (part of AFRY Group)
• A-Insinöörit Suunnittelu Oy: Structural and bridge engineering consultancy
• Kiwa Oy: Inspection and testing services
• Silta TSV Oy: Bridge engineering and site supervision
• Sitowise Oy: Engineering and design consultancy
• Sweco Finland Oy: Engineering and design consultancy (part of Sweco Group)
• WSP Finland Oy: Engineering and design consultancy (part of WSP Group)
• FCG Rakennettu Ympäristö Oy: Built environment consultancy
• Intec Structures Oy: Structural engineering consultancy
• Welado Design Oy / Welado Oy: Engineering and design consultancy
• Rakennuttajatoimisto HTJ Oy: Construction management and project management
• Ramboll CM Oy: Construction management (part of Ramboll Group)
• Rejlers Finland Oy: Engineering and design consultancy (part of Rejlers Group)

Evaluation Criteria

All lots use the same evaluation criterion:

• Price (100%): The lowest price is the basis for decision-making

Framework Structure

• Type: Framework agreement, partly without reopening and partly with reopening of competition
• Allocation: All bidders meeting suitability and minimum requirements are selected
• Orders: Assignments are allocated based on the lowest price
• No commitment: No minimum or maximum purchase obligations

Procurement Analysis

• Procedure: Open procedure under the standard regime, governed by EU Directive 2014/24/EU and the Finnish Procurement Act.
• Competition: 6-8 tenders per lot.
• SME participation: All winners are SMEs.
• Subcontracting: No subcontracting was declared by any winner.
• No EU funding: The procurement was not financed with EU funds.
• No framework agreement with full reopening: The framework is partly without reopening and partly with reopening of competition.
• No dynamic purchasing system used.
• Accelerated procedure: No.
• Review body: Markkinaoikeus (Market Court of Finland).

Additional Procurement Facts

• The contract is covered by the WTO's Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).
• No EU funds were used for this procurement.
• The framework has a total maximum value of €1,000,000.
• The framework runs for 1 year with 2 optional 1-year extensions.
• Price is the sole evaluation criterion (100%).
• All winners are SMEs.
• No subcontracting was declared.
• Lot 2 (Design) has the highest maximum value (€400,000).
• Lot 1 (Inspections) has the lowest maximum value (€200,000).
• Silta TSV and Sitowise won all three lots.
• All tenders were submitted electronically.

Market & Industry Perspective

The Finnish bridge engineering market is competitive, with a mix of large international consultancies and specialised Finnish SMEs. Municipalities like Kotka procure expert services for infrastructure maintenance and development through framework agreements.

Key trends in this market include:

• Infrastructure maintenance: Ongoing investment in bridge maintenance
• Price focus: 100% price-based evaluation
• SME participation: SMEs dominate
• Multi-supplier frameworks: Many suppliers selected
• Long-term relationships: Up to 3-year frameworks

Economic Significance

At €1 million, this framework represents a significant investment in bridge infrastructure services for Kotka City. The contract will:

• Support infrastructure: Maintain and develop bridge infrastructure
• Support SMEs: All winners are SMEs
• Provide long-term stability: Up to 3-year framework
• Ensure quality: Expert inspection, design, and supervision services
• Enable flexibility: Multi-supplier framework with price-based allocation

Future Procurement Opportunities

With this framework now in place, future opportunities include:

• Re-tender: Expected after the 3-year maximum duration
• Related services: Additional infrastructure engineering services
• Subcontracting: Potential opportunities with the winners
• Other Finnish cities: Similar bridge engineering frameworks

Opportunities for Suppliers

While these contracts are awarded, opportunities remain for engineering consultancies:

• Re-tender: Prepare for the next procurement cycle
• Subcontracting: Potential opportunities with the winners
• Related services: Other infrastructure engineering services
• Other Finnish cities: Similar bridge engineering procurements

What Businesses Should Watch

• Kotka City's future procurement notices
• Other Finnish municipal infrastructure tenders
• Bridge engineering market trends
• Changes to Finnish procurement regulations

FinlandTenders Procurement Intelligence

This bridge engineering framework is a notable example of Finnish municipal infrastructure procurement. Several features stand out:

• Scale: €1 million across 3 lots
• Price focus: 100% price-based evaluation
• SME winners: All winners are SMEs
• Multi-supplier: 18 winners across three lots
• Flexible: Framework with no minimum purchase obligations
• Long-term: Up to 3 years with extensions

For suppliers, this procurement highlights the importance of:

• Competitive pricing: 100% price-based evaluation
• Specialised expertise: Bridge inspection, design, or construction management
• SME status: SMEs compete effectively
• Local presence: Being established in the Kymenlaakso region
• Compliance: Meeting suitability and minimum requirements

Supplier Takeaways

• Offer competitive pricing – 100% of evaluation is price-based
• Develop specialised bridge engineering expertise
• Build local presence in Kymenlaakso
• Meet suitability and minimum requirements
• Monitor Kotka City and other Finnish municipal infrastructure procurement opportunities

Key Takeaways

• Kotka City awarded a €1M bridge expert services framework
• Three lots: Inspections, Design, Construction Management & Site Supervision
• 18 winners across all lots
• Duration: 1 year + 2 x 1-year options (max 3 years)
• Evaluation: Price (100%)
• 6-8 tenders per lot
• All winners are SMEs
• No subcontracting declared

Conclusion

This bridge expert services framework ensures that Kotka City has access to specialised engineering expertise for bridge inspection, design, and site supervision over the next three years. By awarding contracts to 18 SME suppliers across three lots, the City ensures competitive pricing, service availability, and flexibility in allocating assignments.

The 100% price-based evaluation reflects the well-defined nature of the services, where price is the primary differentiator among qualified bidders. The framework's flexible structure – with no minimum purchase obligations – allows the City to procure services as needs arise.

For suppliers, this procurement highlights the importance of competitive pricing, specialised expertise, and local presence in winning Finnish municipal infrastructure contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Kotka City?

Ans: A Finnish local authority located in the Kymenlaakso region, responsible for infrastructure maintenance including bridges.

Q: What is the total value of the framework?

Ans: €1,000,000 across all three lots.

Q: Who are the winners?

Ans: 18 companies including AFRY Finland, A-Insinöörit, Kiwa, Silta TSV, Sitowise, Sweco, WSP, FCG, Intec Structures, Welado, Ramboll CM, Rejlers, and Rakennuttajatoimisto HTJ.

Q: What services are covered?

Ans: Bridge general and special inspections, renovation and new design, and construction management and site supervision.

Q: What were the evaluation criteria?

Ans: Price (100%) – lowest price.

Q: How long is the contract?

Ans: 1 year initial, with two 1-year extension options (maximum 3 years).

Q: How many tenders were received?

Ans: 6-8 tenders per lot.

Q: Is this contract funded by the EU?

Ans: No, the procurement is not financed with EU funds.

Q: What is the review body?

Ans: Markkinaoikeus (Market Court of Finland).

Q: Which companies won all three lots?

Ans: Silta TSV Oy and Sitowise Oy.

Source: EU Official Journal, Contract Award Notice 612240-2026, OJ S 171/2026, published 4 September 2026.