The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District, recently gave industry briefings to some 100 representatives of engineering and construction companies in Norway and across Europe about potential construction contracts involving regional security projects.
The industry day held in Oslo on May 22 detailed the registration process for competing on U.S. contracts and provided an overview of the design and construction tasks worth about $200 million for the Royal Norwegian Air Force’s Rygge Air Station. The U.S. European Command’s European Deterrence Initiative funds the projects from a U.S. Air Force budget allocation.
According to Shawna West, U.S. Army Europe and Africa procurement officer, engaging local contractors is critical to successfully delivering design and construction projects, such as the project in Norway.
“In addition to expanding the bidder pool, local contractors know how to get work done in their home countries, how to navigate permitting and local requirements, working in local climates and recruiting local workers,” said West, one of the event’s resource persons.
The Oslo event was organized with the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency and U.S. Air Force units in European sites. Similar events were held in other countries, including Turkey, Poland, Romania Germany and Italy.
