The operation of reception centers in several geographical areas in the areas tendered by the Finnish Immigration Service
As a result of the competition, the Immigration Office has made procurement decisions on the establishment of new reception centers in several geographical areas. In total, the Finnish Immigration Service concludes 16 reception center agreements. The reception centers that are the subject of the tender are intended to open as soon as possible.
The acquisition will be carried out in two stages.
The first phase, which has now been completed, concerned the operation of reception centers in eight welfare service provinces: North Karelia, Etelä Savo, Pohjois Savo, Central Finland, Lapland, Päijät-Hämee, Kanta-Hämee and Pirkanmaa. Two reception centers were offered in each of these counties.
says Pekka Nuutinendirector of the reception unit, from the Finnish Immigration Service.
There are currently a total of 83 reception centers in Finland, their branches and service points in private residences, as well as 8 reception units for minors. About 40,000 people are currently registered as customers in the reception system. About 50 percent of them live in a private apartment and 10 percent live in municipalities as part of the municipal model for those seeking temporary protection. Most of the customers are people who fled to Finland from Ukraine. The number of new asylum seekers from other countries is low.
– The tendered reception centers operate in parallel with the existing reception centres. If the number of people seeking protection decreases, we will adjust the accommodation capacity by closing the necessary number of reception centers, says Nuutinen.
The value of the acquisition is approximately EUR 250 million for the period 2022–2027. The final amount depends, among other things, on the utilization rate of the reception centers, the number of customers and the operation of the reception centers. In the tendered reception centers, the accommodation capacity of one individual reception center is 300 places. The agreements made are valid until further notice.
Customers will be informed about future changes
The clients of the reception centers are either asylum seekers or temporary protection applicants or recipients. Clients can live in the reception center, and the reception center provides them with reception services, such as health and social services, and pays them reception money if necessary. Instead of living in the reception center, customers can arrange their accommodation elsewhere if they wish.
“For some reception center customers, the results of the tender may mean that their reception center will change at some point. As soon as there is information about the practical consequences of the tender, we will inform our customers how it will affect them,” says Nuutinen.
Tendering for the reception operation is carried out in stages
The Finnish Immigration Service is responsible for directing, planning and supervising the operation of the reception system. The reception centers run by the Finnish Immigration Service are located in Helsinki, Lappeenranta (Joutseno) and Oulu. Other reception centers are, for example, maintained by organizations, Finnish municipalities and companies.
The Finnish Immigration Service is currently preparing the next phase of the procurement, which consists of bidding for reception center operations in Kainu, Kymenlaakso, Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, South Ostrobothnia, Uusimaa, Satakunta, Varsinais Suomi and Åland.
The Finnish Immigration Service organizes the competition in cooperation with Hansel, the central procurement body of the Finnish public administration. Bidding is carried out nationwide and a dynamic procurement system is in use. Suppliers who meet the predetermined criteria can join the system as bidders for the entire duration of the procedure, i.e. until 31 December 2027.
New reception center contracts were awarded:
- Kotokunta Oy:
- Joensuu
Kitee, Kontiolahti, Lieksa or Nurmes - Michael
- Savonlinna or Pieksämäki
- Kuopio
- Varkaus or Iisalmi
- Jyväskylä
- County of Central Finland’s welfare services
- Rovaniemi
- Bay
- Päijät-Häme welfare services county
- Hämeenlinna
- Kanta-Häme welfare service municipality
- Tampere
- Pirkanmaa welfare services province
- Joensuu
- Hemcare Oy: Kemi or Tornio
HT
Source: Finnish Immigration Service