Heimevernet (Norwegian Home Guard)
Heimevernet (literally "Home Defence") is the Norwegian Home Guard, the territorial-defense reserve force responsible for protecting Norwegian infrastructure and supporting civil authorities. Operationally distinct from the active Armed Forces, Heimevernet has roughly 38,000 personnel organized into 11 districts across Norway. Procurement-wise, Heimevernet does not generally self-publish; like the other operational branches (Sjøforsvaret, Luftforsvaret, Hæren), it procures through Forsvarsmateriell and Forsvarsbygg.
Etymology / origin
Heimevernet was established in 1946 following the Second World War as Norway's territorial-defense reserve. It is one of the oldest Home Guard structures in NATO and has been continuously active since founding. Reports operationally to Forsvarsstaben (the Defence Staff).
Where you encounter this term
Heimevernet's name appears on contract notices and award notices where the buyer is Forsvarsmateriell or Forsvarsbygg and the end-user is the Home Guard. This is the same FMA-routing pattern that applies to Sjøforsvaret, Luftforsvaret, Hæren, and Forsvarsstaben. Suppliers targeting Heimevernet should monitor FMA and Forsvarsbygg notices and look for end-user references rather than search for Heimevernet as a buyer.
Example — from the WULFRN database
WULFRN does not see Heimevernet as a direct buyer in its verified-defense corpus — Heimevernet procurement flows through Forsvarsmateriell and Forsvarsbygg rather than appearing under its own name. Suppliers targeting the Home Guard should monitor FMA and Forsvarsbygg notices and look for Heimevernet as the end-user in the notice text.
Related glossary terms
- Forsvarsmateriell (Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency)Norway's central defense materiel agency, the primary contracting authority for Norwegian Armed Forces equipment and sustainment.
- ForsvarsbyggNorwegian Defence Estates Agency — manages and procures construction, refurbishment, and facility-management for all Norwegian military estates.
- DoffinNorway's national procurement portal, the primary source for below-threshold Norwegian defense tenders that never reach TED.
- Forskrift om forsvars- og sikkerhetsanskaffelser (FOSA)Norway's defense and security procurement regulation, transposing EU Directive 2009/81/EC into Norwegian law.
- Cyberforsvaret (Norwegian Cyber Defence Force)Norway's military cyber operations branch — established 2012; procures cyber and ICT capability primarily through Forsvarsmateriell.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Heimevernet?
Heimevernet is the Norwegian Home Guard, a territorial-defense reserve force established in 1946. It has roughly 38,000 personnel organized into 11 districts across Norway and is responsible for protecting Norwegian infrastructure and supporting civil authorities.
How do I find tenders for Heimevernet supplies and services?
Heimevernet does not generally self-publish procurement notices. Its purchases route through Forsvarsmateriell (equipment, ICT, supplies) and Forsvarsbygg (facilities, training areas). Search those two buyers on Doffin and TED, and look for end-user references to Heimevernet in the notice text.
Is Heimevernet open to non-Norwegian suppliers?
Heimevernet contracts route through FMA and Forsvarsbygg, which operate under FOSA and Anskaffelsesloven. Above-threshold contracts are open to EU/EEA suppliers under the Defence Procurement Directive on a non-discriminatory basis; non-EEA suppliers face additional eligibility rules per individual notice. Many Heimevernet-relevant supplies (individual equipment, clothing, small ICT) are well-suited to non-Norwegian SMB suppliers.