The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok invites a selection of suppliers to take part in a competition not involving negotiation for a contract to provide consultancy services in connection with outsourcing of tasks related to the receipt of applications for visas and residence permits and other preliminary tasks.

Due to a continuing increase in the workload at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok in connection with receiving and handling visa and residence permit applications, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok is inviting tenders for the provision of services related to the receipt and control of applications for Schengen visas and residence permits. Based on the numbers in recent years, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok expects to receive between 6,000-8,000 applications for Schengen visas and 1,200 applications for residence permits in 2010.

For the Royal Norwegian Embassy, there are two main objectives for outsourcing:

• Outsourcing of the receipt of applications and information services makes it possible for the diplomatic staff to focus primarily on case handling, thus shortening the overall case processing time and the application procedure, which will in turn contribute to improved customer service.
• Outsourcing will improve the security situation at the Embassy by removing lines of applicants waiting outside the premises. The Embassy offices were not meant to accommodate the large number of applicants who presently come to the Embassy to submit visa applications.