Tallinn cancels Olympic-standard pool tender after ministry warning

Tallinn has cancelled its tender for an Olympic-standard swimming centre after the Ministry of Finance warned it was considering an oversight procedure over the tender conditions, ERR reported. The city will prepare a new tender, delaying the pool’s completion by at least a year.

Tallinn has planned the centre in Lasnamäe, next to the Tondiraba ice hall, since 2019. The project includes sports halls, a spa and an Olympic-standard pool. In July, the city launched an international tender to find a private company to build it.

Mayor Peeter Raudsepp said the ministry had raised questions about the tender conditions and the level of competition. He said he disagreed with the ministry’s assessment, but that the city could not risk the project being delayed by lengthy proceedings or legal disputes.

The city has changed the procurement model to encourage more competition and ensure the project qualifies for state aid. The new tender is intended to give developers more freedom, while retaining the core requirements: a 10-lane, 50-metre competition pool, a 25-metre training pool, teaching pools and a car park. Bidders will be able to design other parts of the centre according to their business plans.

Tallinn remains prepared to contribute up to 20 million euros to the project, which the city says is less than it would cost to build a fully municipal pool. The city said several potential developers had expressed interest in the previous tender.

Changes to requirements for public buildings could add new obligations to the project, including the construction of a public shelter. Tallinn’s opposition Social Democrats have previously criticised the plan to use investment support, citing a risk of corruption.