A Design & Construct contract has the following characteristics and project phases

• Femern A/S is responsible for preliminary analyses, environmental surveys, geotechnical investigations etc. for use in the plan approval process during which the authorities set out the terms and conditions for the construction process and for the completed project. This may, for instance, relate to requirements regarding noise, dust, water quality, waste handling, access etc.
• The authorities shall approve the project. In Denmark this will be in the form of a Construction Act while in Germany, the combined road and rail project must be approved by the Schleswig-Holstein plan approval authority. The final alignment and layout of the structure will be decided at this time.
• Femern A/S’ functional requirements as well as requirements concerning planning and execution will be set out. An illustrative design will be prepared as a specific example of how the task could be executed. This, however, will only be a representation of the final project.
• The project will be sent out for international tender under current EU regulations. As the overall task is too comprehensive for any single contractor, it will be divided into several contracts. Initially, Femern A/S will invite contractors to prequalify, i.e. prove that they have the qualifications and capacity to execute their respective part of the project. A number of selected contractor consortia will subsequently be invited to bid. After that, the enquiry documents will be issued after which the contractors will be given six to eight months to submit their detailed bid. During this stage, the contractors will survey the areas for suitable production sites and nominate sub-contractors and suppliers. Following receipt of the bids, Femern A/S will evaluate them and the construction contracts will be awarded to the contractor consortia that have submitted the economically most advantageous bids.
• From the signing of the construction contract to the start of the construction, there will be an interval of approximately one to two months. During this period, the contractor will prepare and present the detailed project for Femern A/S’ approval. The contractor shall also obtain the specific permissions required for this type of construction project. The associated production sites will be prepared concurrently.
• The construction period will last for approximately six years, a compact process that is likely to involve around 6,000-7,000 people per year at its peak.
• Towards the end of the construction project, activity will gradually diminish.
• Up to the inauguration of the link, a number of tests will be carried out, i.e. of the railway, contingency procedures etc. Furthermore, the operational management and monitoring of the link will be established.
• Prior to the opening, a number of new suppliers and contractors will be appointed relative to the operation and maintenance of the completed link, including manning the toll station, control and monitoring, road service and ongoing maintenance of the link.

As was the case with the Øresund Fixed Link, the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link will cross national borders. Many aspects related to the production/construction are subject to detailed laws and regulations in more than just one country. Other aspects are prescribed in technical norms and standards. Aspects which are subject to detailed rules are for instance:

• Permissible extent of noise and dust, e.g. from production sites to avoid disturbing local residents and businesses
• Working environment and health & safety measures
• Traffic to and from the production sites – on land as well as at sea
• Control of sediment spill in the water from excavation works

With respect to technical norms and standards, the extensive development of Eurocodes (EN) means that the way to conduct is more or less harmonized in Denmark and Germany (as in the rest of EU). However, the laws and regulations differ to some extent between Denmark and Germany. The legal requirements, which are applicable at the place where the actual production is carried out, need to be met by the people in charge. Certain cross-border operations require the application of similar rules on activities in both countries and in such situation the most stringent legal requirements should be followed.

Femern A/S wishes to act as a good corporate citizen which means that Femern A/S invests considerable resources for making sure that both its organization and the contractors engaged by it are properly aware of the applicable rules. In addition to enhanced awareness, Femern A/S requires that training and control programs are put in place for ensuring proper compliance with the applicable rules.