Norway – Home-help services – Invitation to market dialogue - Free user choice in practical assistance in Kristiansand municipality.

Market dialogue - For free user choices in practical assistance. The city council in Kristiansand decided on 24 September 2025 that the municipality shall introduce free user choice in district nursing, with the aim of implementation from 1 January 2027. In this connection, it was also decided that the scheme for free user choice of home nursing care should be coordinated with the scheme free user choice of practical assistance. However, as the existing service concession agreements on practical assistance expire in 2026, it was decided by the city council on 28 January 2026 that a separate procurement of the service practical assistance shall be carried out in 2026. Kristiansand municipality has had free user choice of practical assistance since 2010. Approx. 17 percent choose private tenderers. Kristiansand municipality plans to announce a competition shortly to continue the scheme for free choice of user when it comes to practical assistance. A market dialogue will be held in connection with the preparation of this competition. Kristiansand municipality suggests that new contracts will start after the summer 2026.Se annex for more information.