Data-analytics technologies and data purchases

EUAF-2026-TA-03 (Union Anti-Fraud Programme — Technical Assistance) funds purchase and maintenance of data-analytics technologies, specialised databases, AI-supported systems and related capacity-building to strengthen investigative and operational capacity protecting the EU’s financial interests. The call opens 17 March 2026 and closes 7 May 2026 with single-stage electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; projects are normally 12–24 months. The TA envelope is €10.8 million across TA topics, minimum project budget €100,000, maximum grant up to €1,620,000 per project with standard funding rate 80% (up to 90% for priority actions), indirect costs 0%, and VAT and personnel costs ineligible. Eligible applicants are national or regional public authorities and international organisations tasked with protecting the EU’s financial interests; proposals must include mandatory training linked to purchased equipment and will be evaluated on conformity, quality, value for money and added value.

Data-analytics technologies and data purchases (EUAF-2026-TA-03) — Union Anti-Fraud Programme Technical Assistance

Call for proposals under the Union Anti-Fraud Programme (EUAF), Technical Assistance strand. Managed by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). This topic supports the purchase and maintenance of data-analytics technologies and data, with a compulsory training component, to prevent and combat fraud, corruption and other illegal activities that harm the EU’s financial interests. Apply via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Topic page: EUAF-2026-TA-03 ¹.

At a glance

Expected outcome

Strengthened and improved investigative and operational capacity of beneficiaries, evidenced by increased successful operations using the purchased data-analytics products. Indicators include number of arrests, convictions, seizures, confiscations, recoveries, prevented losses to national and EU budgets, and fraud schemes uncovered.

Scope: what this topic funds

The Commission will co-fund the purchase and maintenance of data and technologies crucial for anti-fraud analytics, as well as a compulsory training component linked to the purchased tools. Acquisitions may include integrated packages covering hardware, software (including emerging technologies), and training.

• Commercial specialised databases supporting investigations and anti-fraud analysis.
• Data-analysis platforms capable of running analyses in big data environments.
• Risk and predictive analysis tools.
• Data mining tools for pattern detection and anomaly identification.
• AI-supported systems used to prevent and combat irregularities, fraudulent activities and corruption detrimental to the EU’s financial interests.
• Data collection tools for risk assessment and anti-fraud analysis.
• Capacity-building in Member States to develop, use and share databases and business-intelligence tools.
• Integrated packages comprising hardware, software and training, including tools using artificial intelligence, blockchain technology and biometrics.

Mandatory training component:Specialised training for staff on how to operate the purchased tools must be included as part of the action. The training budget must be proportionate and directly linked to the equipment/software acquired. Requests for events or workshops unrelated to the purchased tools are discouraged under Technical Assistance and should be addressed under the EUAF-2026-TRAI calls.

Who can apply

Single-beneficiary applications are allowed. Affiliated entities and other participants may be included if needed.

• Eligible applicants: National or regional public authorities or international organisations whose task is to protect the EU’s financial interests (Technical Assistance call).
• Eligible countries: EU Member States (including OCTs) and countries associated to the EUAF Programme or listed EEA countries, as well as countries in ongoing association negotiations that enter into force before grant signature. International organisations are eligible irrespective of country rules.
• Entities without legal personality may apply if they can assume legal obligations and provide equivalent financial protection.
• EU institutions/bodies cannot be beneficiaries (JRC excepted via specific conditions).
• Compliance with EU restrictive measures is mandatory; such entities are not eligible in any capacity.

Budget and funding

The Technical Assistance call envelope for 2026 is €10,800,000 (covering topics EUAF-2026-TA-01 to TA-04). The maximum grant per project and co-funding rates are defined below.

Cost eligibility highlights (Technical Assistance):Personnel costs: Not eligible. Equipment: Full cost of equipment and maintenance, including delivery and installation where applicable. Training: Eligible under C.3 and compulsory, directly linked to the acquired tools. Indirect costs: 0% flat-rate for TA. VAT: Not eligible. Financial support to third parties: Not allowed. Project websites: Separate project websites are ineligible; communication via participants’ websites or social media is eligible. Consumables under C.3 are ineligible for TA. Travel and subsistence: If applicable for training, must use EU unit costs where available; otherwise actuals per Grant Agreement.

Activities and costs in detail

• Purchases may include hardware and software bundles, including AI, blockchain and biometrics-based tools, provided they directly support anti-fraud objectives.
• Capacity-building to develop, use and share databases and business-intelligence tools at national level.
• Maintenance, updates and integration necessary to operationalise the purchased systems.
• Specialised training directly linked to the acquired systems; include training materials, delivery, and where relevant travel and subsistence using unit costs in Annex 2a of the Grant Agreement.

Project setup and duration

• Consortium composition: Single applicant (mono-beneficiary) grants; affiliated entities and other roles permitted as needed.
• Geographic location: Activities should take place in eligible countries; justified exceptions possible (e.g., essential trainings).
• Duration: Normally 12 to 24 months (extensions possible via amendment).

Submission essentials

• Electronic-only submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Paper submissions are not accepted.
• Part A (online): Administrative data and summary budget. Part B (upload): Technical description, max 70 pages. Use the official templates from the Submission System.
• Mandatory annexes for TA: Detailed Budget Table (Excel template); documents supporting price estimates (quotations, supplier brochures) clearly tied to the detailed budget; list of previous key projects (last 3 years).
• Project acronym naming convention: Year-Country-Acronym (e.g., 2026-BE-REI).
• Ensure budget consistency between Part A and the Detailed Budget Table. The online summary budget prevails in case of discrepancies.
• For Detailed Budget Table: one line per equipment item; tie each to price quotes; no VAT; TA training costs under C.3; do not include consumables under C.3 for TA; use unit costs for travel/accommodation/subsistence when applicable.

Evaluation and award

One-stage submission and one-step evaluation by an evaluation committee. Admissibility and eligibility checks precede assessment against award criteria. Ex aequo proposals are prioritised by coverage of uncovered themes, then Added Value, Conformity, and Quality scores; portfolio and geographical balance may be considered.

Indicative timeline:Evaluation: May to October 2026. Information on results: November 2026. Grant Agreement signature: November to December 2026.

Legal and financial framework

• Form of grant: Budget-based mixed actual cost grant with unit and flat-rate elements where applicable. The grant reimburses eligible costs actually incurred; unit costs for travel/accommodation/subsistence where covered by Commission Decision C(2021)35 or subsequent updates.
• Funding rate: 80% standard; up to 90% for defined priority actions.
• Indirect costs: 0% for TA.
• No-profit rule applies; for-profit organisations must declare revenues. Profit, if any, is deducted from the final grant amount.
• Prefinancing: Normally around 50% of maximum grant amount; no interim payments foreseen; balance paid after final reporting. Prefinancing guarantees may be required.
• Reporting deliverables for TA: Ex post implementation questionnaire due one year after the end of the action; financial reporting as per the Grant Agreement.
• Record-keeping: Maintain original or admissible digital records for the statutory periods; ensure direct reconciliation from accounts to declared costs.
• Checks, audits and investigations: Possible by OLAF, ECA, EPPO and the granting authority; extension of findings may apply within defined time limits.
• IPR and visibility: Standard EU visibility rules apply, including use of EU emblem and funding statement; dissemination and communication must be factually accurate and follow GA requirements.

Eligibility, capacity and exclusion

• Financial capacity: Applicants must have stable resources to implement the project and co-finance their share; public bodies and international organisations typically exempt from financial capacity checks.
• Operational capacity: Demonstrate know-how and resources; list prior key projects in Part B; public bodies/international organisations are exempt from operational capacity checks.
• Exclusion criteria: Bankruptcy, tax or social security breaches, grave professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, money laundering, terrorist offences, child labour/trafficking, significant deficiencies in previous EU contracts, irregularities, entities created to circumvent obligations, etc. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures are ineligible.

What to buy and how to justify

• Specialised data sources: Trade, customs, company registries, beneficial ownership, sanctions, shipping/air cargo, market surveillance, financial and transactional datasets relevant to anti-fraud analytics.
• Analytics platforms: Scalable big-data processing (e.g., distributed computing, data lake/data warehouse solutions) with capabilities for ETL, entity resolution, network analysis and anomaly detection.
• Risk and predictive tools: Models for risk scoring, pattern mining, trend and outlier detection, supervised/unsupervised ML tailored to revenue and expenditure fraud patterns.
• AI-supported systems: NLP for document and invoice analytics, computer vision if applicable to scanned records, graph ML for networked fraud detection, reinforcement learning for decision support where appropriate and explainable.
• Data mining suites: Tools supporting SQL, graph queries, time-series analysis, and join/linkage across heterogeneous sources; audit trail and case management integration.
• Data collection tools: Secure data capture, connectors/APIs to national/EU systems, logging and compliance features.
• Security and compliance: Access control, logging, encryption, privacy-by-design, alignment with GDPR and relevant national frameworks; cyber-security best practices for investigative systems.
• Integration, maintenance and sustainability: Interoperability with existing national and EU systems; update roadmaps; vendor support and SLAs; clear TCO rationale.
• Training plan: Role-based training (analysts, investigators, IT admins); hands-on labs; materials; knowledge transfer; metrics to evidence uptake.

Budget construction tips specific to TA

• Break down equipment/software lines item-by-item; each must clearly map to supplier quotations and the Detailed Budget Table.
• Place all compulsory training costs under C.3 Other goods, works and services; describe linkage to purchased tools.
• Exclude VAT and consumables from TA budgets; consumables under C.3 are ineligible for TA.
• Use unit costs for travel, accommodation and subsistence per Annex 2a; when multiple unit rates apply (by location/distance band), add separate lines rather than averaging.
• Ensure Part A budget equals the Detailed Budget Table totals; mismatches delay evaluation and may trigger corrections.
• For public procurement obligations, ensure best value for money/lowest price and no conflict of interest; contracting authorities/entities must follow applicable national procurement law.

How to apply and key references

• Start submission on the topic page and follow the wizard to select EUAF Project Grants [EUAF-PJG] and the correct MGA type [EUAF-AG].
• Register or update your organisation in the Participant Register to obtain a PIC.
• Consult the Call Document, Model Grant Agreement, Detailed Budget Table template and Application Form templates in the Submission System.
• Contact for TA call: olaf-fmb-hercule-ta@ec.europa.eu.
• Guidance and manuals: Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual; EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement.
• Legal bases: EUAF Regulation 2021/785; EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509; EUAF Annual Work Programme 2026.
• Topic page and documents: Topic page: EUAF-2026-TA-03; EUAF 2026 TA Call Document (V1.0, 12 March 2026); EUAF Model Grant Agreement.

Timeline and budget snapshot

Deliverables, reporting and payments (TA)

• Mandatory TA deliverable: Ex post implementation questionnaire due one year after action end.
• Financial reporting: Periodic/final financial statements via Portal; unit costs for eligible travel/subsistence where applicable; no interim payments are foreseen.
• Prefinancing: Typically around 50% of maximum grant; prefinancing guarantee may be requested by the granting authority.
• Final balance: Calculated after acceptance of final report; no-profit rule applied; revenues declared by for-profit entities; possible recovery in case of overpayment.
• Record-keeping: Keep original or admissible digital records; ensure audit trails for equipment acquisition and training delivery.

Quality and compliance considerations

• Avoid double funding; ensure actions or cost items are not financed by other EU instruments (e.g., CCEI, ERDF, CAP) unless allowed under Synergies and clearly demarcated.
• Demonstrate complementarity and, where relevant, interoperability with equipment/tools purchased under EUAF or other EU programmes; this is assessed under Conformity and Added Value.
• Ensure environmental considerations and sustainability of investments; include plans for maintenance, upgrades, and staff capacity retention.
• Data protection, confidentiality, and (where relevant) classified handling must follow applicable EU and national rules; include access control, logging, and secure data management.

Support and partner search

• IT issues: Funding & Tenders Portal IT Helpdesk.
• General submission guidance: Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ and Online Manual.
• Partner search: Portal feature allows LEARs, Account Administrators and users with public profiles to publish partner requests for open topics.

Comprehensive summary

This opportunity funds national or regional public authorities and international organisations tasked with protecting the EU’s financial interests to acquire and operationalise advanced data-analytics capabilities, data sources and supporting technologies, with mandatory training to ensure uptake. The aim is to measurably strengthen investigative and operational capacity against fraud, corruption and other illegal activities affecting the EU budget. Eligible purchases include commercial databases, big-data analysis platforms, risk and predictive analytics, data mining, AI-supported systems, and data collection tools. Integrated packages of hardware, software and training are permitted, including solutions using AI, blockchain and biometrics. Projects are mono-beneficiary, typically 12 to 24 months, with a minimum total cost of €100,000 and a maximum grant up to €1.62 million at 80% co-funding (or up to 90% for defined priority actions). For TA, personnel costs are not eligible; equipment is funded at full cost; indirect costs are 0%; VAT is ineligible; training is compulsory and must be costed under C.3. Applications are submitted via the EU Portal (Part A and Part B up to 70 pages) with mandatory annexes including a detailed budget table and supplier quotes tied to budget lines. Evaluation scores Conformity, Quality, Value for money and Added value with defined thresholds; complementarity and interoperability with EU instruments are valued. The legal-financial framework uses the EUAF Model Grant Agreement, with typical prefinancing around 50%, final balance after reporting, no-profit rule, record-keeping, audits and EU visibility obligations. In practice, strong proposals will specify exactly what data and tools will be acquired, how they integrate with existing systems, security and compliance measures, a clear training plan, and how results will translate into concrete operational impact such as more arrests, seizures and prevented losses. In short, EUAF-2026-TA-03 is about equipping competent authorities with state-of-the-art data assets and analytics technologies, ensuring staff can use them effectively, and delivering tangible anti-fraud outcomes aligned with EU priorities.

Footnotes

1. 1Primary references: Topic page EUAF-2026-TA-03; Call Document V1.0, 12 March 2026 EUAF 2026 TA/TRAI Call Document; Model Grant Agreement EUAF MGA.

Data-analytics technologies and data purchases — EUAF-2026-TA-03 (Union Anti-Fraud Programme — Technical Assistance)

Programme: Union Anti-Fraud Programme (EUAF) — Technical Assistance. Managing authority: European Commission, European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). Type of action: EUAF-PJG EUAF Project Grants. Model Grant Agreement: EUAF Action Grant Budget-Based [EUAF-AG]. Call identifier: EUAF-2026-TA, Topic: EUAF-2026-TA-03. Opening date: 17 March 2026. Deadline: 07 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Topic page: EUAF-2026-TA-03 Topic Page. Call document: EUAF-2026-TA Call Document (v1.0, 12.03.2026). Model Grant Agreement: EUAF MGA (01.11.2024).

Purpose and Scope

Expected outcome: Strengthened and improved investigative and operational capacity of beneficiaries to protect the financial interests of the EU, evidenced by successful operations supported with the purchased products and tools, including arrests, convictions, seizures, confiscations, recoveries, prevention of losses to national and Union budgets, and fraud schemes uncovered.

Scope: The Commission will co-fund the purchase and maintenance of specialized data resources and analytics technologies to prevent and combat irregularities, fraud, and corruption detrimental to the EU’s financial interests. Eligible purchases include commercial specialized databases; data-analysis platforms capable of big data processing; risk and predictive analytics tools; data mining tools; AI-supported systems for anti-fraud and anti-corruption; and data collection tools for risk and anti-fraud analysis. Capacity-building to develop, use, and share databases and business-intelligence tools in Member States is in scope. Integrated packages comprising hardware, software (including emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and biometrics), and training are eligible. Specialised training for staff on how to operate these tools is mandatory and must be part of the action budget.

Key Facts and Budget

Eligibility and Participation

Eligible Applicant Types (Technical Assistance call):National or regional public authorities whose task is to protect the EU financial interests; International organisations whose task is to protect the EU financial interests.

Geographic Eligibility:Applicants must be from EU Member States (including Overseas Countries and Territories), and listed EEA countries or countries associated to the EUAF Programme or in ongoing association negotiations where the agreement enters into force before grant signature. International organisations are eligible irrespective of the country list condition. Projects should relate to activities in eligible countries, unless otherwise agreed for essential activities.

Consortium Requirement:Single-applicant projects only (mono-beneficiary). Affiliated entities and other participants (associated partners, subcontractors, in-kind contributors) may be involved as needed, but only one beneficiary signs the grant.

What This Topic Will Fund (Technology and Activities)

• Commercial specialized databases relevant to anti-fraud and anti-corruption investigations and controls.
• Data-analysis platforms capable of big data analytics, including scalable architectures and data pipelines.
• Risk and predictive analytics tools for anomaly detection, scoring, and forecasting of fraud risks.
• Data-mining tools for pattern discovery, entity resolution, network analysis, and link analysis.
• AI-supported systems used to prevent and combat irregularities, fraudulent activities and corruption detrimental to the EU’s financial interests (e.g., machine learning models, NLP-based screening, computer vision for document analysis).
• Data collection tools for risk and anti-fraud analysis, including ETL/ELT and APIs to connect with national/EU systems.
• Integrated packages that can include hardware, software, and training; tools using emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and biometrics are explicitly in scope.
• Capacity-building to develop, use, and share databases and business-intelligence tools in Member States.
• Mandatory specialised training for staff to operate acquired tools (must be included in the budget and action plan).

Ineligible or Restricted Cost Items and Compliance Notes

• Personnel costs are not eligible under the Technical Assistance call.
• Indirect costs are set at 0% for TA; no overheads may be claimed.
• VAT is ineligible.
• Consumables under C.3 are not eligible for TA; ensure only eligible cost items are included.
• Financial support to third parties is not allowed.
• Double funding is strictly prohibited; applicants must confirm no overlap with other EU-funded purchases (including Customs Control Equipment Instrument and other EU programmes).
• TA equipment requests must include compulsory training linked to the equipment; standalone events/workshops are discouraged under TA (use the Training call instead).

Evaluation and Award

Single-stage submission and one-step evaluation. Proposals are assessed for admissibility and eligibility and then scored against award criteria. Individual minimum thresholds apply per criterion as well as an overall threshold. Ex aequo priority sequencing is used to ensure coverage and added value.

Priority actions (eligible for 90% funding rate for TA) include: projects reflecting findings from annual reports on the implementation of Article 325 TFEU identifying high-risk/vulnerable situations for the EU’s financial interests; or projects reflecting the findings of European Court of Auditors Special Report 19/2017 on import procedures. See call document for details.

Legal-Financial Setup and Payments

• Grant form: budget-based mixed actual cost grant, with unit costs for travel/accommodation/subsistence where applicable.
• Funding rate: normally 80%; up to 90% for priority actions.
• Pre-financing: typically around 50% of the maximum grant amount after grant signature; no interim payments under TA are foreseen in the call document summary; final balance after project end.
• Certificates on the Financial Statements (CFS): required per standard thresholds (beneficiary-level requested EU contribution to costs ≥ €325,000).
• No-profit rule applies to for-profit beneficiaries; any profit at final payment will be deducted.
• Record-keeping: retain all records and supporting documents as per MGA timelines; time records not applicable for TA personnel as personnel costs are ineligible; still maintain deliverables and procurement documentation.

Administrative Conditions and How to Apply

• Submission must be done electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System on the topic page.
• Part A: Administrative information online; summarised budget.
• Part B: Technical description (download template from the Submission System, complete, and upload as PDF).
• Mandatory annexes for TA: Detailed Budget Table (EUAF TA Excel), and documents supporting price estimates (e.g., supplier quotations and brochures) clearly tied to budget lines; list of previous key projects for last 3 years.
• Proposal page limit for Part B: 70 pages; excess pages are disregarded.
• Project acronym naming convention: Year-Country-Acronym (e.g., 2026-BE-REI).
• Contact for TA call: olaf-fmb-hercule-ta@ec.europa.eu.
• Guidance resources: Online Manual; EUAF Reference Documents including the Annotated Model Grant Agreement (AGA) and validation rules.

Detailed Answers to Classification Questions

Eligible Applicant Types:Government (national or regional public authorities with anti-fraud/financial interests protection mandate); International organisations with a task to protect the EU’s financial interests. Note: Universities, research institutes, nonprofits/NGOs and other entities are eligible under the separate Training call (EUAF-2026-TRAI) but not as beneficiaries for this Technical Assistance topic.

Funding Type:Grant (budget-based action grant under EUAF, with actual costs and unit cost elements for travel and subsistence).

Consortium Requirement:Single beneficiary. Affiliated entities and associated partners may participate; subcontracting permitted under procurement rules; no multi-beneficiary consortia for TA.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States (including OCTs); listed EEA countries and associated countries to EUAF; countries with ongoing association negotiations where the agreement enters into force before grant signature. International organisations are eligible without the country list condition. Activities should occur in eligible countries unless otherwise agreed.

Target Sector:Security/anti-fraud and financial protection of the EU budget; ICT and data analytics; artificial intelligence; big data; risk analytics; data mining; blockchain and biometrics applications; government and law enforcement (e.g., customs, anti-fraud units).

Mentioned Countries:No individual countries named. Regions referenced: EU Member States (including OCTs), EEA/associated countries eligible under EUAF. International organisations are eligible.

Project Stage:Implementation and deployment. Focus on acquisition, integration, and operational use of data-analytics systems and databases, plus mandatory staff training. Not R&D; emphasis is on operational capacity-building and readiness.

Funding Amount:TA call budget: €10,800,000. Per-project minimum total eligible costs: €100,000. Maximum grant request per project capped at 15% of the available TA call budget, i.e., up to €1,620,000. Funding rate normally 80% (up to 90% for priority actions). No indirect costs for TA.

Application Type:Open call. Single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Nature of Support:Money (co-funding grants). The grant reimburses eligible costs for equipment, software, databases, training, and related travel/subsistence per unit cost rules. No separate non-financial services are foreseen.

Application Stages:1 stage (single-stage submission and one-step evaluation). Indicative schedule: evaluation May–October 2026; results November 2026; grant agreement signature November–December 2026.

Success Rates:Not published for this call/topic. No numerical success probabilities are provided.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. Standard co-funding share is at least 20% of eligible costs (10% for priority actions). VAT is ineligible. Personnel costs are ineligible for TA; therefore, co-financing must cover non-funded costs and the unfunded share of eligible costs.

Mandatory Training Component and Equipment-Training Linkage

All TA applications must include specialised training to operate the purchased tools. The training budget should be proportionate and directly linked to the acquired equipment or systems. Standalone events/workshops under TA are discouraged; such activities belong under EUAF-2026-TRAI.

Complementarity and Non-duplication

To avoid duplication with other EU support, EUAF targets acquisition of equipment not in scope of the Customs Control Equipment Instrument (CCEI), or by different authorities than those targeted by CCEI. Proposals should describe complementarities with other EU programmes and interoperability with tools previously purchased under EUAF or other EU funding.

Templates and Application Structure

Use the templates available in the Submission System. A model of the application form is provided for orientation: EUAF Application Form (Part A and Part B) — Example (note: actual forms are generated in the Portal).

Part A (online forms):Administrative data; abstract; participant details; budget summary; declarations (eligibility, exclusion, capacity, double funding); ethics and security tables, as applicable.

Part B (technical description) — indicative sections:1. Conformity with EUAF objectives: background, needs analysis with clear measurable objectives and indicators, relevance, complementarity and European added value. 2. Quality: concept and methodology; project management and quality assurance; project team and roles; risk management. 3. Value for money: cost effectiveness and financial management. 4. Added value for protection of the EU’s financial interests: impact and ambition; communication, dissemination and visibility; sustainability and continuation. 5. Workplan: work packages, activities, resources and timing; deliverables. Subcontracting details if any. Timetable. 6. Other: ethics and security, as applicable. 7. Declarations. Annexes: Detailed budget table; list of previous projects (last 3 years); for TA: price quotations and supplier brochures supporting budget lines.

Detailed Budget Table (EUAF TA) — key instructions:- Use the provided Excel template from the Submission System; do not alter macros or structure. Fill sheets in sequence: Instructions; Start; Detailed budget table; Consolidated (participant); Consolidated (project). - For TA equipment lines, start input from line 3 and add one line per equipment item; provide detailed descriptions; ensure each item ties clearly to supplier quotes. - Mandatory: include compulsory training costs under C.3 and ensure they are directly linked to purchased equipment; do not use C.3 for ineligible consumables. - Travel and subsistence must use unit costs per Commission Decision C(2021)35; enter destination-based amounts under C.1 with separate lines for different unit costs (do not average). - Ensure Part A online budget totals match the Detailed Budget Table; in case of discrepancy, Part A totals prevail.

Admissibility, Eligibility, Capacity and Exclusion

• Admissibility: submit before deadline; respect page limits and formatting; complete all mandatory forms and annexes.
• Eligibility: legal entities that are national/regional public authorities or international organisations tasked with protecting the EU’s financial interests; from eligible countries; single applicant only for TA.
• Operational capacity: demonstrate relevant expertise, team composition, and prior key projects (last 3 years). Public bodies and international organisations are exempt from operational capacity check.
• Financial capacity: not assessed for public bodies and international organisations; otherwise assessed per standard rules (documents requested during grant preparation).
• Exclusion: standard EU exclusion criteria apply (bankruptcy, tax/social breach, grave professional misconduct, fraud/corruption, etc.). Entities under EU restrictive measures or specific ineligible situations cannot participate in any capacity.

Deliverables and Monitoring

• Mandatory for TA: ex post implementation questionnaire one year after the end of the action (template on the Portal).
• Project reporting through the Portal’s Grant Management System; continuous reporting of deliverables per Annex 1.
• Impact indicators should cover operational results supported by the purchased solutions (e.g., verifications, hits, arrests, seizures, prevented losses).

Procurement, Subcontracting and Interoperability

• Purchases must follow the beneficiary’s usual procurement practices; public contracting authorities/entities must comply with national public procurement law; ensure best value for money and no conflict of interest.
• Subcontracting is eligible for action tasks where justified and must follow procurement principles; typically limited share unless the nature of tasks justifies otherwise.
• Emphasise interoperability with existing national/EU systems and tools purchased under EUAF or other EU programmes; demonstrate complementarity and non-duplication.

Indicative Timeline and Process

• Opening: 17 March 2026.
• Deadline: 07 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Evaluation: May–October 2026.
• Information on results: November 2026.
• Grant agreement signature: November–December 2026.

Support and Resources

• TA call contact: olaf-fmb-hercule-ta@ec.europa.eu.
• IT support: Funding & Tenders Portal IT Helpdesk.
• Guidance: EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement; Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment; Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual; Terms & Conditions; Privacy Statement.

Summary: What this opportunity is about and how to explain it

EUAF-2026-TA-03 offers co-funding to EU national or regional authorities and international organisations tasked with protecting the EU’s financial interests to acquire and operationalise state-of-the-art data-analytics capabilities and data assets. The grants cover full equipment costs for eligible tools such as commercial databases, big data analytics platforms, risk and predictive analytics, data mining, AI-enabled anti-fraud systems, and data collection solutions, including integrated packages with hardware, software, and compulsory staff training. Travel and subsistence are reimbursed using unit costs. Personnel costs and indirect costs are not funded under the Technical Assistance call; VAT is ineligible. Projects must demonstrate concrete operational benefits such as increased verifications or hits, arrests, seizures, and prevented losses. Applicants submit a single-stage proposal via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, including a detailed technical Part B and an Excel-based budget with supplier quotations. Proposals are evaluated on alignment with EUAF goals, quality, value for money, and added value for protecting the EU budget, with clear scoring thresholds. Funding typically covers 80% of eligible costs, rising to 90% for priority actions aligned with EU risk areas and key audit findings. This is a deployment and capacity-building opportunity rather than research: its aim is to quickly strengthen anti-fraud data capabilities across the EU through targeted purchases, integration, and hands-on training to deliver measurable investigative and operational impact.

EUAF-2026-TA-03: Data-Analytics Technologies and Data Purchases

Funding Opportunity Overview

This call for proposals forms part of the Union Anti-Fraud Programme (EUAF) Technical Assistance stream for 2026. The European Commission, through the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), invites eligible authorities to submit proposals for the purchase and maintenance of data-analytics technologies and data-related tools designed to strengthen investigative and operational capacity in combating fraud, corruption, and other illegal activities affecting the European Union's financial interests.

Key Dates and Deadlines

Funding Parameters

Total Call Budget:€10,800,000 across all EUAF-2026-TA topics (TA-01, TA-02, TA-03, TA-04)

Minimum Project Budget:€100,000

Maximum Grant Amount:Up to 15 percent of available call budget, equivalent to maximum €1,620,000 per project

Funding Rate:Standard 80 percent of eligible costs. Higher funding rate of 90 percent available for priority actions ¹ reflecting findings from annual reports on combating fraud or the European Court of Auditors' Special Report 19/2017 on import procedures

Indirect Costs:0 percent flat-rate for technical assistance calls

Eligible Activities and Scope

The Commission will support the purchase and maintenance of the following data-analytics technologies and related infrastructure ²: commercial specialised databases; data-analysis platforms capable of running analyses in big data environments; risk and predictive analysis tools; data mining tools; systems supported by artificial intelligence used in preventing and combating irregularities, fraudulent activities and corruption detrimental to the financial interests of the EU; and data collection tools for risk and anti-fraud analysis.

Eligible purchases may include integrated packages comprising hardware, software (including tools using emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain technology and biometrics) and training. Purchases also include capacity-building activities in Member States to develop, use and share databases and business-intelligence tools. Specialised training for staff on how to operate these tools must be included as a mandatory component of the action and should be proportionate and reasonable compared to the price of equipment.

Mandatory Components

• Compulsory training component linked to purchased equipment
• Specialized staff training on tool operation
• Capacity-building activities for database development and business-intelligence tools
• Training component must be proportionate to equipment costs

Eligible Applicants and Participants

Eligible Entity Types

• National or regional public authorities whose task is to protect the EU financial interests
• International organisations with the same mandate
• EU bodies (excluding European Commission Joint Research Centre) cannot participate
• Entities without legal personality may exceptionally participate if representatives can undertake legal obligations on behalf of the entity

Geographic Eligibility:EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories), EEA countries, countries associated with the EUAF Programme, and countries in ongoing negotiations for association agreements where the agreement enters into force before grant signature

Consortium Requirements:Only applications by single applicants are allowed. Affiliated entities and other participants (associated partners, subcontractors, third parties giving in-kind contributions) are allowed if needed

Expected Outcomes and Key Performance Indicators

The primary expected outcome is strengthening and improving beneficiaries' investigative and operational capacity, as measured by concrete operational results. Measurable indicators include: the number of successful operations carried out with purchased products supporting investigations; number of arrests, convictions, seizures, and confiscations; amount of recoveries achieved; prevented losses to national and EU budgets; and fraud schemes uncovered ³.

Evaluation and Award Procedure

Proposals undergo a standard single-stage submission and one-step evaluation procedure. An evaluation committee assesses all applications following formal checks for admissibility and eligibility. Eligible proposals are then evaluated against operational capacity and award criteria.

Award Criteria and Scoring

Scoring Details

Conformity with Objectives (30 points):Evaluated based on coherence of objectives with identified needs and problems; clarity and consistency of project objectives and planning; extent of match with call themes and priorities; contribution to EU strategic context; complementarity with other EU programmes; trans-national dimension; and potential for developing cross-border cooperation

Quality (20 points):Assesses project team competences and qualifications; appropriateness of procedures and problem-solving mechanisms; technical quality and methodology; management and feasibility within timeframe; and appropriate resource allocation

Value for Money (20 points):Evaluates sufficiency and appropriateness of budget for proper implementation; clarity and detail of budget with supporting documentation where applicable; cost-effectiveness of proposed solutions

Added Value (30 points):Considers expected short, medium and long-term impact on target groups; EU-level impact and multi-country interest; sustainability of results after funding ends; appropriateness of dissemination strategy; and potential multiplier effects

Proposals passing individual criterion thresholds AND the overall 60-point threshold are considered for funding within available call budget. Proposals with equal scores are prioritized by theme coverage, added-value scores, and overall portfolio considerations.

Admissibility and Eligibility Requirements

Application Submission Requirements

• Electronic submission only via EU Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System; paper submissions not accepted
• Project acronym convention: Year-Country-Acronym (example: 2026-BE-REI)
• Maximum 70 pages for Part B (technical description); excess pages disregarded
• Minimum font size Arial 9 points; page margins minimum 15 mm
• Proposals must be complete with all requested information and required annexes

Mandatory Documents and Annexes

• Application Form Part A (administrative information, submitted online)
• Application Form Part B (technical description, downloaded, completed, uploaded as PDF)
• Detailed budget table (template in Excel format from submission system)
• Documents supporting price estimates (price quotations and supplier brochures clearly tied to detailed budget)
• List of key previous projects (last 3 years, template in Part B)

Applicants must declare having the mandate to act for all applicants and confirm that proposal information is correct and complete, and that participants comply with eligibility conditions including financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria.

Financial and Operational Capacity

Applicants must demonstrate stable and sufficient resources to successfully implement projects and contribute their share. Financial capacity checks will be conducted based on documents uploaded to the Participant Register (profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, audit reports). Public bodies and international organisations are normally exempt from financial capacity checks. Individual grant amounts not exceeding €60,000 are also exempt from checks.

Operational capacity must be demonstrated through: description of main activities and organisation chart; team composition with names, functions and relevant competences; allocation of tasks within team; and list of key previous projects. Public bodies, Member State organisations and international organisations are exempted from operational capacity checks.

Exclusion Grounds

Applicants subject to EU exclusion decisions or in the following situations cannot participate: bankruptcy, winding up or similar procedures; breach of social security or tax obligations; grave professional misconduct; fraud, corruption, criminal organisation links, money laundering, terrorism, child labour or human trafficking; significant deficiencies in complying with EU obligations; irregularities; or entities created to circumvent legal obligations. Applicants may also be refused if they misrepresented required information or were involved in call preparation creating conflicts of interest.

Project Duration and Budget Planning

Project Duration:Projects should normally range between 12 and 24 months. Extensions are possible if duly justified through an amendment to the grant agreement

Budget Categories and Eligibility ⁴:Category A - Personnel costs not eligible for TA call; Category B - Subcontracting costs; Category C.1 - Travel and subsistence (unit costs); Category C.2 - Equipment (full cost, including maintenance, delivery and installation); Category C.3 - Other goods, works and services; Category E - Indirect costs (0 percent flat-rate); VAT not eligible

Ineligible Costs:Infrastructure costs, land purchases, return on capital, dividends, debt charges, provisions for future losses, interest, currency exchange losses, excessive expenditure, VAT, costs during grant agreement suspension, consumables (under TA call), and double-funded activities

Grant Agreement Terms and Conditions

Grant Form and Structure

The grant is an action grant taking the form of a budget-based mixed actual cost grant, reimbursing only certain types of eligible costs actually incurred during the project period. The maximum grant amount is fixed in the Data Sheet and estimated budget (Annex 2). Budget flexibility allows transfers between participants and budget categories without amendment, unless changes involve volunteers, lump sums, higher funding rates, budget ceilings, or new subcontracts.

Payment and Reporting Schedule

After grant signature, beneficiaries normally receive prefinancing of 50 percent of the maximum grant amount, payable 30 days from entry into force or financial guarantee requirement (whichever is latest). No interim payments are made. Final payment follows submission and approval of the final periodic report. Payments are made in euro to the bank account specified by the coordinator.

Continuous Reporting:Beneficiaries must report progress through the Portal Continuous Reporting tool and submit standardised deliverables using templates

Periodic Reporting:Additional prefinancing reports and final periodic reports must include technical and financial parts with financial statements, explanations of resource use, and certificates on financial statements where required

Mandatory Deliverables for Technical Assistance

• Ex post implementation questionnaire submitted one year after project end
• Technical specifications and documentation of purchased equipment
• Training materials and records of training delivery
• Proof of equipment installation and operational status

Record-Keeping and Audit Requirements

Beneficiaries must keep records and supporting documents for a minimum period of 3 to 5 years after final payment (depending on audit requirements). For actual costs, beneficiaries must maintain adequate records proving costs declared, such as contracts, invoices and accounting records enabling direct reconciliation between declared amounts, account entries, and supporting documents. Equipment depreciation must comply with international accounting standards and the beneficiary's usual practices.

The granting authority (OLAF), European Court of Auditors, European Commission, and the European Public Prosecutor's Office may conduct checks, reviews, audits and investigations including on-the-spot visits. Beneficiaries must provide access to records and allow examination of implementation.

Special Conditions and Complementarity

To avoid duplication of EU support, EUAF targets acquisition of equipment: (a) that does not fall under the scope of the Customs Control Equipment Instrument (CCEI); or (b) for equipment not covered by CCEI, where beneficiaries are different authorities from those targeted by CCEI. Complementarity with other EU programmes and interoperability with equipment purchased under EUAF or other EU programmes will be evaluated as part of award criteria.

Security restrictions apply under Article 12(6) of the Digital Europe Regulation. Restrictions for protection of European digital infrastructures, communication and information systems, and related supply chains also apply.

Application Support and Contact Information

Applicants are encouraged to consult: EU Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual; Portal FAQ on the Topic page; General Portal FAQ; EU Grants AGA Annotated Grant Agreement; and Model Grant Agreement templates.

Non-IT Questions:OLAF-FMB-HERCULE-TA@ec.europa.eu

IT Helpdesk:Contact IT Helpdesk for technical submission issues

Applicants should indicate clearly the call reference and topic EUAF-2026-TA-03 in all correspondence. Submissions must be completed well in advance of the deadline to avoid technical problems; late submission issues are entirely at applicants' risk.

Additional Important Information

• No-profit rule applies; grants may not produce profit (surplus of revenues plus grant over costs)
• No double funding from EU budget except for jointly coordinated Synergy actions
• Proposals for already-completed projects will be rejected; already-started projects assessed case-by-case
• Applicants may submit multiple proposals for different projects but very similar projects will be consolidated
• Beneficiary information including names, addresses, grant amounts and purpose is published annually per EU Financial Regulation Article 38
• Data protection: personal data processed in accordance with applicable legal framework solely for proposal evaluation, grant management and programme monitoring
• Language: proposals may be submitted in any official EU language; English strongly advised for efficiency

Footnotes

1. 190 percent funding rate available for priority actions reflecting findings from annual reports on Article 325 TFEU implementation or European Court of Auditors Special Report 19/2017 on import procedures
2. 2All proposed purchases must be clearly linked to strengthening investigative and operational capacity in protecting EU financial interests from fraud, corruption and illegal activities
3. 3Additional outcome indicators may include technology readiness levels of solutions, stakeholder involvement levels, SME provider participation, resource deployment efficiency, and sustainability mechanisms post-funding
4. 4All costs must comply with general eligibility conditions: be actually incurred, declared in relevant period, declared under appropriate budget category, incurred for action implementation, identifiable and verifiable with supporting documents, comply with applicable law on taxes and labour, be reasonable and sound