Sykehusinnkjøp HF implements new tender platform

Sykehusinnkjøp HF has previously used the procurement platform Mercell to digitally carry out procurements of goods and services for the Norwegian specialist health service. This means that we have published tenders, received offers, and awarded and signed contracts in Mercell.

On 24 March 2026, we transition to the new platform Ivalua. Several large Norwegian public-sector organisations have already adopted Ivalua. The platform is therefore becoming a new player in the Norwegian market, comparable to Mercell.

On this page, you as a supplier will find information about the transition.

We recommend that suppliers read through this page, watch the introduction videos for Ivalua, and familiarise themselves with the user guide linked here before starting the registration process.

You'll find Ivalua, Sykehusinnkjøp HF’s new portal for procurement and contract management, here.

Why are we changing platforms?

Sykehusinnkjøp HF has previously used a number of different systems throughout the procurement process — from planning and executing procurements to managing established contracts. With Ivalua, we can consolidate many of these into one solution, thereby streamlining, standardising, and simplifying our work. This will strengthen our ability to fulfil our primary mission: creating financial flexibility for the specialist health service through effective, high-quality procurements.

When will Sykehusinnkjøp HF start using Ivalua?

We start using Ivalua on 24 March 2026. From this date, all new procurements from Sykehusinnkjøp HF will be published in Ivalua. New contracts will also be signed and managed in Ivalua during the contract period.

Will procurements published in Mercell be moved to Ivalua?

No, procurements published in Mercell before 24 March will remain in Mercell and be completed there. This means that Sykehusinnkjøp HF will use both Ivalua and Mercell for a period, until all procurements in Mercell have been concluded.

When and how do suppliers register in Ivalua?

Suppliers can register and log in to Ivalua starting Tuesday, 24 March.

Note: Suppliers that currently have active contracts managed by Sykehusinnkjøp HF already have a supplier profile in Kardia. These companies should not register as a new supplier, but instead use the “Forgot your password?” function on the login page. They will then be able to choose a password and log in.

If the supplier has a representative registered as the commercial contact with access to Sykehusinnkjøp HF’s Supplier Portal, that person can log in and will have the rights needed to add other users to the suppliers’s profile and maintain supplier information. Each supplier may create multiple supplier contacts linked to their profile.

If the company does not yet have a supplier profile registered with us, registration can be done on the Ivalua front page by clicking the link “New supplier? Register here.”

Registration consists of three steps:

1. A representative of the supplier registers a supplier profile. This is done only once. The person completing the registration will simultaneously be established as a supplier contact for the organisation. This means that the person receives a personal account linked to the organisation and can log in and act on its behalf — for example, submitting offers, updating company information, reading and responding to messages, and managing contracts.
   
   Important: The personal email address you provide will be your username. Note that an email address can only be linked to one legal entity. This is important for companies consisting of several legal entities with different organisation numbers (e.g., one company in Norway and another in Sweden). It will therefore not be possible to use the same email address to log in on behalf of both entities. A person submitting an offer on behalf of a supplier must ensure their email address is linked to the legal entity submitting the offer. A person managing existing contracts must link their email address to the entity listed as the contracting party in the supplier’s contracts.
   
   
2. The registration will then be approved by Sykehusinnkjøp HF. This is done to verify that the supplier is legitimate and not already registered in the system. Sykehusinnkjøp HF will approve registrations continuously, and suppliers will receive an email once approved. This may take some time if there is high demand.
   
   
3. Once the supplier has been approved, the person who registered it can begin using Ivalua. It is then possible to add additional supplier contacts to the supplier profile. These individuals will have the same ability to log in and act on behalf of the supplier. In this way, a supplier may have many people with access to contribute in Ivalua.
   
   Important: Suppliers are responsible for managing their own users. We recommend adding only contacts with email addresses belonging to the supplier’s domain (not public domains such as Hotmail or Gmail).

Does Ivalua offer support for suppliers?

Yes, Ivalua offers a free support service for suppliers who need technical assistance. Contact information for support is available on Ivalua’s front page. Support is open 09.00-16.00 Central European Time (GMT+1).

Tips for suppliers using Ivalua

The only requirement to participate in procurements published by Sykehusinnkjøp HF is to create a supplier profile and, if necessary, add additional supplier contacts (see instructions above). This can be done the first time a supplier wishes to submit an offer.

As the system is new, we recommend that suppliers start early when preparing their first tender submissions in Ivalua. This means starting the offer early, allocating extra time to prepare it, and submitting it well before the deadline.

A good rule of thumb is to submit at least one day before the deadline. Remember that it is possible to update a submitted offer and resubmit a new version up until the deadline.

Suppliers who begin early will have more time to contact technical support if needed.

Does using Ivalua have a cost?

No, it is free for suppliers to use Ivalua.

Does Ivalua offer tender alerts?

No, Ivalua does not offer tender alert services. However, several external alert services exist, and these will continue to include Sykehusinnkjøp HF’s procurements after the transition to Kardia. This is because our open tenders are automatically published in the national tender database Doffin, from which these services retrieve data. The only difference after the transition is that links to Sykehusinnkjøp HF’s procurements will lead suppliers to Ivalua instead of Mercell.

As before, it will also be possible to search for procurements from Sykehusinnkjøp HF in Doffin and TED. You can read more about this on Doffin’s website.

Will old tenders and contracts be removed from Mercell?

No, previous procurements carried out in Mercell and contracts signed in Mercell will remain there. They are not affected by Sykehusinnkjøp HF’s transition away from Mercell.

In need of help?

If you need help using Ivalua or have technical issues, contact technical support (see Ivalua’s front page).

If you have general questions about Ivalua that are not covered by the information above, you can submit your question using this form.

Welcome as a user of Ivalua. We look forward to working with you on our new platform for procurement and contract management.