Financial instruments for farmers - uptake and obstacles

Planned negotiated procurement by the European Parliament (SG - DG for Cohesion, Agriculture and Social Policies) for an approximately 80-page research study for the AGRI Committee on public and private financial instruments for farmers, covering uptake, barriers to access, comparative case studies, evolution under CAP programming periods and policy options. The procedure is a services contract under CPV 73110000 with an estimated total value of €90,000 and is not yet a live call for tenders. Participation is limited to natural and legal persons from EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories, EEA states Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, SAA countries (North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo) and international organisations, with other entities eligible only as subcontractors. Expressions of interest must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal (EU Login) between 23/09/2026 and 08/10/2026, with an indicative launch of the negotiated procedure on 16/10/2026.

What it will fund

Study contract (research services)

A commissioned study of about 80 pages for the European Parliament AGRI Committee analysing public and private financial instruments available to EU farmers, their uptake, barriers to access, differences across Member States/regions and farm types, evolution under CAP programming periods, case studies, and concrete policy recommendations focused on AGRI Committee competences.

Estimated contract value:€90000 (estimated total procedure value) ¹

1. 1Deliver an ~80 page analytical study with case studies and policy options
2. 2Focus on uptake, obstacles, CAP instruments over programming periods and future legislative implications
3. 3Target audience: Members of the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI)

Who can apply

Participation is open to natural and legal persons established in EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories, EEA members Iceland Norway and Liechtenstein, and SAA countries North Macedonia Albania Montenegro Serbia Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Other entities may participate only as subcontractors.

Minimum team and technical eligibility:Consortium or bidder must include at least 3 experts with relevant education/professional experience (agricultural and farm economics, farm finance, agricultural statistics and CAP policy). At least one member must have recent (past 7 years) peer‑review publications or studies for public authorities on the topic. At least one member must have minimum 7 years project management experience.

Key dates and submission

Expressions of interest and subsequent submissions are electronic via the EU Login / Funding & Tenders Portal; this publication announces intent to launch a negotiated low/middle value procedure.

Footnotes

1. 1Full tender notice and future documents on the Funding and Tenders Portal Opportunity page.

Opportunity summary

Procurement by the European Parliament (SG - Directorate-General for Cohesion, Agriculture and Social Policies) for a research study of approximately 80 pages titled Financial instruments for farmers - uptake and obstacles. The study will be delivered to Members of the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI). The contractor will provide an in-depth analysis of public and private financial instruments available to EU farmers, their uptake, barriers to access, differences across Member States/regions and farm categories, evolution of usage across CAP programming periods and implications of the future legislative framework. The contractor must also produce case studies collecting information beyond existing literature and propose concrete policy options and recommendations, with particular focus on the role and competences of the AGRI Committee. The contract is a services procurement under CPV 73110000 - Research services, planned as a negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract with an estimated total value of €90,000.

Procedure identifier:EP-CASP/2026/MVP/0009-EXA

Contracting authority:European Parliament, Secretariat General - Directorate-General for Cohesion, Agriculture and Social Policies

Estimated total value:€90,000

Procedure type and nature of contract:Planned negotiated procedure for middle/low value contract. Nature of the contract: services (research study). Main CPV: 73110000 - Research services.

Scope of work and deliverables

Core deliverable:a study of around 80 pages addressing the following elements: comprehensive overview of public and private financial instruments available to farmers across the EU; assessment of uptake and barriers to access; comparative analysis across Member States, regions and farm types; case studies to gather primary information beyond existing literature; historical analysis of the evolution of CAP-related financial instruments across programming periods; analysis of implications of future legislative frameworks; and concrete policy options and recommendations targeted at AGRI Committee Members, specifying the Committee's role and competences in implementation or legislation.

Eligibility and participation

Participation is open exclusively to natural and legal persons within the scope of the EU Treaties, to natural and legal persons established in third countries that have a special agreement with the EU in the field of public procurement, and to international organisations. Concretely, access to this procedure is granted to entities based in: EU Member States; Overseas Countries and Territories; EEA Members Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein; and countries under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA): North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Entities not in these categories may participate only as subcontractors. Electronic submission requires an EU Login account.

Minimum team and qualification requirements:The tender requires a team of at least three experts whose education and professional experience are clearly relevant to the research (notably agricultural and farm economics with a focus on financial aspects of farm business, agricultural data and statistics, agricultural policies and legislation, and CAP). At least one team member must have a proven publishing record in relevant academic journals within the past 7 years or must have undertaken studies/reports for public authorities (European Commission, ministries, etc.) on relevant topics in the past 7 years. At least one team member must have at least 7 years of experience in project management.

1. 1Minimum team size: 3 experts.
2. 2Expertise areas required: agricultural and farm economics; financial aspects of farm business; agricultural data and statistics; agricultural policies and legislation; knowledge of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
3. 3Evidence required: at least one team member with recent (past 7 years) publishing record in academic journals on relevant topics OR at least one team member with studies/reports for public authorities on relevant topics within past 7 years.
4. 4Project management experience: at least one team member with minimum 7 years of project management experience.
5. 5Eligible participants: natural and legal persons from EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and SAA countries (North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo). Others only as subcontractors.
6. 6Submission method: electronic via EU Login to the Funding & Tenders Portal (expression of interest).

Important dates and milestones

Submission method and application process

Expressions of interest and any tender submissions must be sent electronically using the EU Login authentication system and the Funding & Tenders Portal e-submission facilities. The method of expression of interest is electronic and an EU Login account is required. The announcement is currently a planned publication (ExA), indicating the contracting authority's intention to launch a future negotiated low or middle value procedure. Submissions must be sent exclusively to the address for submission given in the tender documentation and through the portal. The procurement will follow a negotiated procedure; the expression of interest is the first formal step to be admitted to the subsequent tendering stage.

Application stages:At least two stages are visible: 1) expression of interest (electronic) and registration (EXA), 2) launch of the negotiated procedure (shortlisted participants invited to submit full proposals). Additional stages (clarifications, negotiations, award) will follow in line with the negotiated procedure but are not specified in detail in the published notice.

Evaluation, award and contractual details

The notice describes a negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract. Full evaluation and award criteria will be published in the tender documents when the negotiated procedure is officially launched. The contract is for services and classified under CPV 73110000 - Research services. A framework agreement is not indicated beyond the single project procurement. The contracting authority is the European Parliament (SG - DG for Cohesion, Agriculture and Social Policies).

Funding type:Procurement / service contract (public tender) paid by the European Parliament. This is not a grant, loan or equity instrument but a purchase of research services.

Categorisation and extraction fields

The following structured details are extracted from the published notice and supporting metadata. These answers summarise who can apply, the funding mechanism, scope and practicalities of participation.

Eligible Applicant Types:Natural persons (individual experts) and legal persons (companies, consultancies, research institutes, universities, NGOs) established in eligible jurisdictions listed below; international organisations. Subcontracting allowed to include additional experts or capacity.

Funding Type:Procurement / service contract (purchase of research services).

Consortium Requirement:Not explicitly required as a consortium. The procedure is open to natural and legal persons; bidders may be single legal entities or teams but the tender specifies minimum team composition (3 experts). The notice allows subcontracting; consortiums or joint bids are possible if presented as a single legal tenderer or via a formal consortium arrangement, subject to the contracting authority's tender rules to be published at launch.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Entities based in EU Member States; Overseas Countries and Territories; EEA members Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein; and SAA countries North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Others may participate only as subcontractors.

Target Sector:Agriculture and rural development, agricultural economics, agricultural finance and public policy; cross-cutting topics: finance, public and private financial instruments, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) analysis, farm business management and rural development policy.

Mentioned Countries:Explicitly mentioned: EU Member States (unspecified), Overseas Countries and Territories, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo. The opportunity targets the entire EU/EEA/SAA region rather than specific Member States.

Project Stage:Research and analysis (study), i.e., research, validation and policy recommendations. No technology development or commercialization expected.

Funding Amount:Estimated total procedure value €90,000.

Application Type:Planned negotiated procedure following an expression of interest. Method of expression of interest: electronic via EU Login and the Funding & Tenders Portal. The initial publication is an ExA notice announcing intent to launch the negotiated procedure.

Nature of Support:Monetary payment under a public contract for services. The contractor will receive payment upon performance under contract terms. No non-monetary vouchers or coaching-only support.

Application Stages:Minimum of 2 stages: 1) expression of interest / registration (EXA), 2) negotiated procedure launch and submission of proposals by invited candidates. Further evaluation, negotiation and award phases expected as part of the negotiated procedure.

Success Rates:Not specified in the notice. As a negotiated procurement for a single project with limited budget, success rates depend on number and quality of competing bidders; no historic success rate is provided.

Co-funding Requirement:No co-funding requirement is indicated. This is a fee-for-service public contract paid by the contracting authority; financial co-financing by the bidder is not required unless stated in the tender documentation.

Templates and application documents:The published ExA notice does not include full tender documents or application templates. Submission must be electronic via EU Login and the Funding & Tenders Portal. Full tender documentation, eligibility forms, award criteria, administrative forms and any templates (technical proposal structure, financial offer template, CVs of experts, declarations) will be published when the negotiated procedure is officially launched. Bidders should prepare: a technical offer describing methodology, workplan, case study approach, data sources, dissemination/communication plan and deliverables; CVs and evidence of qualifications/publications for each expert; a management plan showing the project manager with minimum 7 years of experience; and a financial offer consistent with €90,000 estimated value. Prepare to supply references for prior studies and, if applicable, public authority clients.

Practical advice and recommended next steps

Register and ensure an EU Login account in advance. Monitor the Funding & Tenders Portal for the official launch of the negotiated procedure (indicative launch date 16/10/2026). Prepare team CVs, publication lists and evidence of public authority contracts for the past 7 years. Draft a technical methodology that covers comparative analysis across Member States, case study design and data collection (primary and secondary), CAP programming period analysis, and clear, actionable policy recommendations directed to AGRI Committee competences. Prepare a realistic budget and timeline aligned to the €90,000 budget and the contracting authority's expected delivery schedule. If not eligible to tender directly, consider participation as a subcontractor to eligible lead tenderers.

This notice is currently an announcement of intent (ExA). It is not yet the formal call for tenders. Interested parties should submit an expression of interest via the portal within the indicated dates to receive full tender documentation when the negotiated procedure is launched Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity.

For administrative and practical platform instructions, EU Login is required for subscription, submission of questions and electronic tenders. Guidance on EU Login and eSubmission is available on the Funding & Tenders Portal. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1EU Login and Funding & Tenders Portal help pages provide instructions for account creation and electronic submission. Access the portal helpdesk and documentation through the Funding & Tenders Portal main site.

This opportunity is a planned negotiated procurement for a low or middle value service contract, not a live call for tenders yet. The European Parliament is seeking a contractor to deliver an approximately 80 page study on financial instruments for farmers, focusing on uptake, barriers to access, policy options and implications for future CAP related legislation.

Key Facts

What the Study Covers

The study is intended for the AGRI Committee and should provide a comprehensive analysis of public and private financial instruments available to EU farmers, their uptake, and the barriers that prevent farmers from accessing finance. It should also include case studies to gather evidence beyond the existing literature, compare Member States, regions and farm categories, and produce practical policy options and recommendations for EU decision making.

• Public and private financial instruments used by farmers
• Current uptake levels and trends
• Obstacles to accessing finance in agriculture
• Differences across Member States, regions and farm types
• Case studies based evidence beyond desk research
• Evolution of CAP financial instruments across programming periods
• Implications of the future legislative framework
• Policy options and recommendations relevant to AGRI

Who Can Apply

Participation is open exclusively to natural and legal persons within the scope of the EU Treaties, natural and legal persons established in a third country with a special public procurement agreement with the EU, and international organisations. In practical terms, the notice states that access is granted to entities based in EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories, EEA countries Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, and countries under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, namely North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Other entities may only participate as subcontractors.

• EU Member States
• Overseas Countries and Territories
• EEA countries: Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein
• SAA countries: North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo
• International organisations
• Third country entities with an applicable special procurement agreement with the EU

Applicant Requirements

The minimum team composition is three experts. The team must collectively demonstrate strong qualifications and relevant experience in agricultural and farm economics, financial aspects of farm business, agricultural data and statistics, and agricultural policies and legislation, especially the CAP.

1. 1At least three experts are required
2. 2Relevant expertise must cover agricultural and farm economics
3. 3Experience in agricultural data and statistics is required
4. 4Experience in agricultural policies and legislation, especially the CAP, is required
5. 5At least one team member must have a relevant publishing record from the past 7 years or comparable studies and reports for public authorities from the past 7 years
6. 6At least one team member should have at least 7 years of project management experience

Submission and Timing

Expression of interest must be submitted electronically through the Funding and Tenders Portal and requires an EU Login account. The notice states that submissions must be sent exclusively through the designated electronic submission channel. The expression of interest window starts on 23/09/2026 and closes on 08/10/2026 at 00:59 Brussels time, with the indicative launch of the negotiated procedure on 16/10/2026.

Important note:This is a publication announcing the contracting authority’s intention to launch a future negotiated low or middle value procedure, so the procurement documents for a full tender are not yet available.¹

Practical Assessment

This is a specialist research assignment rather than a grant. The main value proposition for bidders will be proven capacity to combine policy analysis, agricultural finance expertise, statistical evidence, and interview or case study based research into a concise, policy oriented deliverable for the European Parliament. Applicants should also pay close attention to geographic eligibility, because the notice restricts full participation to specified EU, EEA and associated countries and limits all other entities to subcontracting roles.

ExA Notice Meaning

In the EU Funding and Tenders Portal, the ExA reference indicates a planned notice of intention to launch a future negotiated procedure, not an open tender call at this stage.

Footnotes

1. 1The notice explicitly states that this is not a call for tenders, but a publication announcing the contracting authority’s intention to publish a future negotiated low or middle value procedure.