NORWAY - Three Norwegian municipalities have re-tendered the provision of the local authority pension schemes.

Skedsmo kommune, or municipality, is seeking a provider to run its scheme from January 2011 to December 2012 - with the possibility of a further one-year extension - just over a year since it appointed Storebrand to the role. (See earlier IPE article: Skedsmo appoints Storebrand to pension role)

The municipality was one of a number searching for pension providers after the contracts started to expire around the same time.

The mandates were mainly awarded to Storebrand, KLP and Forsikring, the three main insurers, as they can provide pension provision in line with the rules of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authority's tariff area. (See earlier IPE articles: Ski and Meland appoint pension providers and Norwegian municipalities award pension mandates)

Meanwhile, Skedsmo is conducting the search with the help of Willis AS.

The closing date for tender submissions is 16 August.

The municipality of Vestvågøy has issued a tender notice for a provider of occupational pension services for 2011.

It said the contract had to be in line with the basic collective agreement and that the pension provision would cover all municipal employees except educational staff and nurses, as they have separate pension arrangements.

Further details can be obtained from the Doffin tender website.

The tender closes to submissions on 1 September.

Lillehammer kommune is seeking a pension provider on behalf of the neighbouring municipality of Gausdal based in the south of Norway.

The contract is for an initial period of one year, with two further one-year extensions, and the closing date for applications is 3 September.