The Finnish Immigration Service has announced the procurement decisions for the establishment of new reception centres across various geographical areas. A total of 17 new reception centres have been procured through a competitive tendering process. These new centres encompass apartment-based reception centres, collective accommodation centres, and a transit centre.
The first phase of the tendering process took place in autumn 2022, focusing on reception centres in eight regions. The second phase has now been completed and involved competitive tendering for reception centre operations in nine geographical areas: West Uusimaa; Vantaa, Kerava, Central Uusimaa, and East Uusimaa; Southwest Finland; Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia; Kymenlaakso; Satakunta; South Ostrobothnia; Kainuu; and Åland.
To ensure supplier diversity and maintain high-quality services while ensuring cost-effectiveness, the Finnish Immigration Service decided to limit the number of categories won by a single supplier, allowing a company to be selected in a maximum of two categories. Fifteen suppliers submitted tenders.
Elina Nurmi, the Director of the Reception Unit, explains, "Our aim was to ensure supplier diversity and as high quality of suppliers as possible without compromising cost-effectiveness. Making the market as broad and thriving as possible will help us enhance the cost-effectiveness of reception activities through competition and will ensure a better preparedness and availability of capacity in case of large-scale influxes of migrants."
The Finnish Immigration Service conducted the competitive tendering process in cooperation with Hansel, the central purchasing body for the public administration in Finland. The process was carried out nationwide, utilizing a dynamic purchasing system. Suppliers meeting specific criteria can join the system throughout its validity period, which extends until December 31, 2027.
The total value of the procurement is approximately EUR 250 million for the period 2022–2027, depending on factors such as the number of clients in reception centres and the duration of their operation. Each reception centre included in this tendering process has a capacity of 300 beds. The awarded contracts are valid until further notice.
The goal is to open the new reception centres as soon as possible. However, some existing clients may need to be transferred to different reception centres due to the changes. The Finnish Immigration Service aims to transfer them to centres within the same geographical area as their current one. Clients will be informed of any changes well in advance.
Currently, Finland has a total of 107 reception centres, including secondary branches and service points for clients in private accommodation, as well as 10 reception units for minors. Approximately 45,500 people are registered as clients in the reception system, with around 35% residing in private accommodation and 14% living in municipalities under the municipal model for accommodation. The majority of clients in the reception system have sought refuge in Finland from Ukraine.
The Finnish Immigration Service holds responsibility for directing, planning, and supervising the operations of the reception system. While the reception centres in Helsinki, Lappeenranta (Joutseno), and Oulu are maintained by the Finnish Immigration Service, other centres are operated by non-governmental organizations, Finnish municipalities, and private companies.
Contracts Awarded by Category:
- Category 1 West Uusimaa: Luona Oy
- Category 2 Vantaa and Kerava, Central Uusimaa and East Uusimaa: Luona Oy
- Category 3 Southwest Finland: SPR Varsinais-Suomen Piiri
- Category 4 Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia: Pohjanmaan Maahanmuuttokeskus Oy
- Category 5 Kymenlaakso: Kotokunta Oy
- Category 6 Satakunta: SPR Satakunnan Piiri
- Category 7 South Ostrobothnia: Kotokunta Oy
- Category 8 Kainuu: Babando Oy
- Category 9 Åland: Babando Oy
HT
