Existing user? Sign in
Share your needs with us, get contacted by law firms.
Free. Takes 2 min.
Government contracting in Trollhättan is governed by Swedish national procurement law and by European Union procurement directives that Sweden has implemented. Public bodies - including municipalities like Trollhättan kommun, county councils, state agencies and many publicly owned companies - must follow formal procurement rules when buying goods, services or works. The core purpose of these rules is to secure fair competition, transparency and best value for taxpayers while preventing discrimination and corruption. Procurement practice in Trollhättan reflects these national and EU rules, but local procedures and internal policies can affect how tenders are run and how contracts are managed.
You may need legal help with government contracts in Trollhättan in many common situations. Examples include:
- Preparing or reviewing tender documents to ensure compliance with LOU or other applicable procurement laws.
- Drafting consortium or subcontracting agreements and clarifying responsibilities between partners.
- Responding to complex qualification or award criteria - for example when technical specifications or scoring methods are unclear.
- Advising on exclusion or selection grounds - such as criminal conduct, insolvency or unacceptable past performance.
- Handling pre-tender clarification requests and supplier communications so you do not inadvertently breach procurement rules.
- Filing a complaint or legal challenge against a procurement decision - for example to stop an unlawful award or to claim damages.
- Managing contract amendments, change orders and disputes about performance, payment or termination.
- Advising on cross-border issues and EU procurement thresholds that may require publication in the EU notice system.
- Ensuring compliance with transparency, equal-treatment and documentation obligations - including preparing for audits.
- Dealing with investigations by oversight bodies or allegations of corruption or conflicts of interest.
Key legal and practical points to understand for government contracting in Trollhättan include the following:
- Primary legislation - Lagen om offentlig upphandling (LOU) sets the basic rules for public procurement by contracting authorities. There are additional laws for utilities and special sectors - for example the law on procurement in the utilities sectors and the law on choice systems for certain welfare services. These laws implement EU directives and are updated from time to time.
- Procurement principles - public procurements must follow the principles of equal treatment, non-discrimination, transparency, proportionality and mutual recognition. These principles affect how requirements, evaluation criteria and communication are handled.
- Procedures - common procedures include open procedures, restricted procedures, negotiated procedures, competitive dialogue and framework agreements. Which procedure applies depends on the complexity, value and nature of the contract.
- Thresholds and publication - procurement thresholds determine when a contract must be advertised at EU level. Thresholds change periodically. Contracts above the thresholds are normally published in the EU notice system; many Swedish contracting authorities also publish notices on national procurement platforms and on their own websites.
- Selection and exclusion - contracting authorities may exclude bidders for reasons such as serious misconduct, bankruptcy or failure to provide required documentation. Selection criteria can be based on economic and technical capacity, past performance and other objective requirements.
- Award criteria - contracts can be awarded based on lowest price or on most economically advantageous tender - commonly called MEAT - which allows weighing price against quality, lifecycle costs and other relevant factors.
- Standstill and remedies - when a contracting authority notifies an award decision, a standstill period - often called an avtalsspärr - normally applies before the contract is signed, giving unsuccessful bidders time to challenge the decision. Remedies include filing a claim with the administrative court system to suspend or set aside the award and to seek damages in some cases.
- Local practice - Trollhättan kommun and regional bodies such as Region Västra Götaland have procurement units and internal procurement policies that set practical requirements, preferred frameworks and local supplier processes. Publicly procured healthcare, transport and construction projects in the region may follow sector-specific rules.
LOU is the Swedish Public Procurement Act that implements EU procurement rules into Swedish law. It applies to most public procurement carried out by contracting authorities in Trollhättan, such as the municipality and many public agencies. Some activities fall under other procurement laws depending on the sector.
Trollhättan kommun publishes its procurement notices through its procurement portal and on national or EU notice platforms when threshold rules require wider publication. If you are interested in local contracts, check the municipality's procurement page and relevant national procurement notification services.
Contracts that exceed the statutory EU thresholds must be advertised in the EU notice system. These thresholds are updated periodically and differ for goods and services, and for works. Even contracts below thresholds need to respect key procurement principles and may be subject to national publication requirements.
Yes. Unsuccessful bidders can use administrative remedies to challenge awards they believe breach procurement law. This generally involves requesting a review by the administrative courts and can include seeking a suspension of the award during the review. Time limits and procedural rules apply, so quick action is important.
The standstill period - sometimes called avtalsspärr - is a short period after a decision to award a contract when the authority must wait before signing. The period allows unsuccessful bidders time to file a complaint. If a challenge is filed, the authority may be prevented from signing until the dispute is resolved.
Not always. Authorities can award on the basis of lowest price or on the most economically advantageous tender - MEAT - which allows evaluation of quality, lifecycle cost, environmental performance, social considerations and other relevant criteria. The award criteria must be clear in the tender documents and applied objectively.
Typical exclusion grounds include conviction for certain crimes, bankruptcy or serious professional misconduct, failure to pay taxes or social security contributions, and false declarations. Authorities may also exclude bidders who cannot demonstrate necessary technical or financial capacity.
Tender documents often require information about intended subcontractors, especially where their role is significant. Authorities may require proof of subcontractors' suitability, but rules vary with the procedure and the authority's instructions.
Yes. Many disputes are resolved through pre-litigation settlement, negotiation or conciliation. An affected party can also request a review from the contracting authority, or use mediation if both parties agree. However, if legal rights are at stake or an urgent suspension is needed, court action may be required.
For most matters in Trollhättan a Swedish lawyer with experience in public procurement and knowledge of national and EU rules is the best choice. For cross-border or EU-wide procurements, counsel with international experience can add value. Choose a lawyer who understands both procurement law and the local administrative practices of the contracting authority involved.
Helpful institutions and resources for government contracting matters in Trollhättan include:
- Upphandlingsmyndigheten - the Swedish Public Procurement Agency - offers guidance, templates and explanatory materials on public procurement rules and practice.
- Konkurrensverket - the Swedish Competition Authority - handles competition and procurement enforcement issues and can act in serious cases.
- Kammarkollegiet - manages certain central government framework agreements and offers guidance on public contracts.
- Trollhättan kommun - the municipality's procurement office handles local tenders and can provide procurement documents and clarifications for municipal contracts.
- Administrative courts - disputes about procurement decisions are brought in the administrative court system, starting with the Förvaltningsrätten and open to appeal to higher administrative courts.
- Industry associations and local chambers of commerce - these organizations can provide practical support for suppliers looking to bid on local contracts, including training and networking.
- Procurement portals and notice systems - national and EU notice platforms publish procurement opportunities and award notices. Monitoring these is important for bidders.
If you need legal assistance with government contracting in Trollhättan - follow these practical steps:
- Gather your documents - collect tender documents, communications with the authority, your bid or contract and any internal records relevant to the issue.
- Note deadlines - procurement processes have strict deadlines for bids, clarifications and legal remedies. Identify statutory timelines such as the standstill period and appeal deadlines.
- Contact the contracting authority - for procedural or clarification questions, contact the procurement officer named in the tender documents. Use written communications where possible and keep records.
- Consider an initial legal review - engage a lawyer experienced in Swedish public procurement to review tender documentation, assess compliance risks and advise on options. Ask for a clear engagement letter that sets out costs and scope.
- Decide on your approach - your lawyer can recommend whether to pursue negotiation, submit a bid amendment, seek a pre-award remedy, challenge an award or negotiate a contract amendment.
- Prepare for formal remedies if needed - if you need to challenge a procurement decision, act quickly to meet procedural time limits and prepare evidence that shows a breach of procurement rules.
- Keep documentation organized - maintain a file with dates, emails, clarifications and copies of all submissions. Good documentation often determines success in disputes.
Working with an experienced procurement lawyer and engaging early will give you the best chance to protect your rights and achieve a good commercial outcome in Trollhättan government contracting matters.
