Forskrift om forsvars- og sikkerhetsanskaffelser (FOSA)
Forskrift om forsvars- og sikkerhetsanskaffelser (FOSA) is the Norwegian regulation governing defense and security procurement. It transposes EU Defence and Security Procurement Directive 2009/81/EC into Norwegian law and applies whenever a defense buyer awards contracts above defined thresholds. FOSA sets the procedure rules for tendering, qualification, and contract award for sensitive defense purchases.
Etymology / origin
Enacted in 2013 alongside the broader revision of Norwegian procurement law (Anskaffelsesloven). FOSA is sometimes referred to in full as 'Forskrift om forsvars- og sikkerhetsanskaffelser'.
Where you encounter this term
FOSA governs almost all visible defense procurement by Forsvarsmateriell, Forsvarsbygg, and other Norwegian defense agencies above the relevant value thresholds. The regulation specifies procedure types (open, restricted, competitive negotiated), security-clearance requirements, and exemptions for classified contracts. Suppliers bidding on Norwegian defense tenders should expect FOSA-compliant procedures in every notice published on Doffin or TED.
Example — from the WULFRN database
Forsvarsmateriell — which published 16 disclosed awards in 2025 visible in WULFRN — operates substantially under FOSA procedure rules for its supplies and services contracts above the FOSA thresholds.
Related glossary terms
- Anskaffelsesloven (Norwegian Public Procurement Act)Norway's general public procurement act, the legal foundation governing all public contracts including most defense purchases.
- DoffinNorway's national procurement portal, the primary source for below-threshold Norwegian defense tenders that never reach TED.
- Tenders Electronic Daily (TED)EU's official platform for above-threshold defense and public procurement notices from 27 member states plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
- Forsvarsmateriell (Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency)Norway's central defense materiel agency, the primary contracting authority for Norwegian Armed Forces equipment and sustainment.
- Below-threshold procurementPublic-sector contracts below the EU procurement directive thresholds, published only on national portals — invisible on TED.
Continue reading on WULFRN
Frequently asked questions
What is FOSA in Norwegian defense procurement?
FOSA (Forskrift om forsvars- og sikkerhetsanskaffelser) is the Norwegian regulation governing defense and security procurement. It transposes EU Defence Directive 2009/81/EC into Norwegian law and sets the procedure rules for tendering, qualification, and award of sensitive defense contracts above defined thresholds.
Which Norwegian agencies operate under FOSA?
FOSA applies to all Norwegian defense buyers when contracting above the regulation's thresholds: Forsvarsmateriell, Forsvarsbygg, FFI, FLO, NSM, and Cyberforsvaret in their defense-procurement capacity. Below-threshold contracts may fall under the broader Anskaffelsesloven instead.
How does FOSA relate to the EU Defence Directive?
FOSA is the Norwegian transposition of EU Defence and Security Procurement Directive 2009/81/EC, which Norway implements through the EEA Agreement. The two share procedure types, security-classification rules, and supplier-qualification standards.