The aim of the procurement is to get an operator in place for running the express boat routes between Bergen, Nordfjord, Sogn/Flåm. All the routes will be included in one operation contract. The contracting authority would like to enter into a contract with one operator for the entire contract. The assignment must commence by 1 December 2026 at the latest. The winning operator has an option to start the assignment earlier, see the contract point 1.1.6. The contract will be valid for 15 years, calculated from 1 December 2026. The contract is a net contract, where the winning operator will be responsible for income, including, amongst other things, responsibility for route information, marketing, and customer information. See the contract, point 1.2.2 for further information on the distribution of responsibility.

There are maximum requirements for CO2 equivalent emissions per route kilometer. In addition the contract includes a bonus model that give the operator a bonus payment for lower CO2 emissions than the requirement.

It is up to the operator to determine the use of technology. The operator must be responsible and carry the risk for the establishment of any energy infrastructure on the quay. The contracting authority will have the cost risk for any grid upgrades on the quays in Sogndal, Strandkaien, Selje, and Flåm.

The contracting authority estimates the annual contract sum to be approx. NOK 59 million - NOK 108 million after subsidies have been deducted. In addition, the contracting authority estimates one-time costs for energy infrastructure, grid upgrades, and quay improvements to be NOK 171 million - NOK 193 million. This is equivalent to NOK 11.5 million - NOK 13 million a year if the costs for energy infrastructure, quay improvements, and grid upgrades are annualised. These estimates do not include the contract's rights to change and options, for example, the operator's right to start operations earlier, the contracting authority's right to increase the route production, access to require larger and/or extra vessels on the routes, and other change rights. The estimate is given in third quarter 2021 NOK.