Framework contract for the organisation of study visits and market access analysis in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary field (SPS)

This is an open-procedure EU tender by the European Commission DG TRADE to award a single framework contract (maximum duration 48 months) for the organisation of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) study visits and SPS market access analyses to support EU agro-food market access in selected third countries. The estimated total framework value is €1,000,000 and the contract will be awarded on the best price-quality ratio with quality weighted at 70% and price at 30%; specific tasks will be commissioned through specific contracts under the framework. Tenders must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission and the deadline for receipt of tenders is 16 November 2026 at 14:00 (Brussels time).

What it funds

Scope at a glance

Organisation of study visits for third‑country SPS officials to the EU and targeted market access analyses of third‑country sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures to support EU agro‑food market access.

Estimated contract value:Estimated overall ceiling approximately €1 000 000 for the framework (all specific contracts combined); framework duration up to 48 months.

1. 1Who can apply: any natural or legal person, or a group of economic operators (joint tender); subcontracting allowed (identified subcontractors >10% must be listed).
2. 2Procedure: open procedure; award by best price-quality ratio (quality 70%, price 30%).
3. 3How to submit: electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (EU Login required).

Eligibility notes:participation is open to entities from EU Member States and third countries covered by the applicable procurement access rules; tenderers must meet exclusion and selection criteria (financial, technical and professional capacities) and provide required declarations and annexes with the tender.

Typical deliverables:Study visits (programme, logistics, expert engagement, participant management, final report) and SPS market access analyses (desk research, stakeholder consultations, final country/product report). Travel and subsistence reimbursed separately per contract rules.

Procurement documents (invitation letter, tender specifications, draft framework contract, annexes and financial offer templates) are published on the F&T Portal where you submit your tender; subscription and eSubmission require EU Login F&T Tender page ¹ .

Footnotes

1. 1All procurement documentation, annexes and the eSubmission interface are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal (EU Login required): see the call EC-TRADE/2026/OP/0027 tender page linked above.

Opportunity description

This is an open-procedure tender published by the European Commission, DG TRADE (Unit D.3 Agriculture, Food and Sanitary and Phytosanitary matters) to award a single framework contract (maximum duration 48 months) for two principal types of services: (1) organisation and delivery of study visits to the EU for SPS officials/policy makers from third countries; and (2) SPS market access analysis (desk-based legal and technical analyses and handbooks). The objective is to improve conditions for EU agro-food exporters to access selected third-country markets by increasing mutual understanding of SPS measures and helping to remove or avoid unjustified SPS-related trade restrictions.

Estimated total value:€1,000,000 (estimated overall contract amount / framework ceiling).

Contract duration:Up to 48 months from entry into force of the framework contract.

Key administrative details

Procedure identifier EC-TRADE/2026/OP/0027. Procedure type:open procedure (call for tenders). Submission method: electronic via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission. Tender notice and procurement documents (invitation letter, tender specifications, draft framework contract, annexes) were published on the Portal. Deadlines published in the call: deadline for receipt of tenders: 16/11/2026 14:00 (Europe/Brussels). Public opening: 17/11/2026 14:00 (Europe/Brussels). Contracting authority: European Commission, DG TRADE - Trade, Directorate D, Unit D.3. Award method: Best price-quality ratio (weighting: Quality 70%, Price 30%).

Submission and platform:Tenders must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission (EU Login and Participant Register PIC required). All required attachments must follow the eSubmission technical rules (file types, sizes, naming) and be uploaded to the relevant eSubmission sections. The contracting authority may use electronic exchange systems (e-Request, e-Ordering, e-Fulfilment and e-Invoicing) during contract implementation. See the procurement documents on the portal for full technical and procedural guidance Funding & Tenders Portal - Opportunity page ¹.

Who can apply and how the tender is structured

Eligibility and participation rules:open to all natural and legal persons that have access to EU procurement under the EU Treaties and applicable international procurement agreements (GPA). Tenderers must be registered in the Participant Register and use a PIC. Participation may be as a sole tenderer or as a joint tender (group of economic operators). Subcontracting is permitted; certain subcontractors must be identified and documented in Annex 4 and commitment letters obtained (Annex 5.1). Entities on whose capacities the tenderer relies (not subcontractors) must provide commitment letters (Annex 5.2).

Eligible applicant types:SMEs, large enterprises, consultancies, service providers, universities, research institutes, non-profits, NGOs, professional associations, public entities (where allowed by access-to-procurement rules), consortia / joint ventures. Joint tenders are explicitly permitted; where a joint tender is submitted the group leader must be appointed and a power of attorney (Annex 3) provided.

Funding type:Procurement / tender resulting in a service contract (framework agreement) with payment for deliverables and reimbursable costs under specific contracts.

Consortium requirement:Single economic operator or consortium (joint tender) allowed. The framework itself will be concluded with one contractor (single-award FWC).

Beneficiary scope (Geographic eligibility):Applicants established in EU Member States and in third countries where procurement access rules apply under EU law and international agreements (e.g. GPA). The contracting authority is EU-level (DG TRADE).

Target sector, activities and required expertise

The subject is in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) thematic domain at the intersection of agriculture/food, trade policy and regulatory affairs. The services required are operations and analytical services focusing on market access issues, SPS legislation, certificates, import procedures, and organisation of study visits (logistics, programme design, expert participation, travel management).

Target sector:Agriculture / agro-food / food safety / animal & plant health; trade policy / market access; consulting and training services in SPS.

Typical activities / technology and skills required:Design and delivery of five-day study visits for SPS officials (programme design, field visits to laboratories, control authorities, production facilities), selection and recruitment of SPS experts, logistical management (travel, visas, insurance, catering, interpretation), reporting and evaluation. SPS market access analysis (desk research, stakeholder consultations, legal and technical comparison with EU legislation and international standards, drafting of practical guides and handbooks, targeted translations where needed). Proficiency in English (C1) required; expert backgrounds in veterinary sciences, plant health, food safety, agronomy, and experience in regulatory and trade contexts are required.

1. 1Project management and quality assurance for events and studies
2. 2SPS technical expertise (veterinary, plant health, food safety)
3. 3Legal analysis of third-country SPS legislation and import certificates
4. 4Stakeholder consultation and interviewing (EU Member State authorities, EU Delegations, third-country administrations, industry)
5. 5Translation and interpretation management where required
6. 6Experience organising field trips and site visits in multiple EU Member States

Project stage and expected deliverables

Expected project maturity:implementation / delivery of operational services and production of applied analytical outputs. The contractor will be engaged through Specific Contracts under the FWC for defined tasks. Main deliverables per Specific Contract include study visit organisation and a narrative+financial final report (including participant evaluations and a short publishable executive summary if requested) or an SPS market access analysis final report (narrative, legal references, comparison with EU and international standards, practical guidance for exporters) with an executive summary if requested.

Project stage:Development / operational delivery / demonstration: the framework enables repeated service orders to implement targeted study visits and market analyses (no R&D experimental TRL context).

Funding and application details

Funding amount and scale:Estimated overall contract value / framework ceiling: €1,000,000. Specific Contracts will be issued under the framework for individual study visits and for individual SPS analyses (typical number of analyses per year estimated at two to three; number of study visits depends on demand).

Application type:Open call / open procedure tender. Electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission only; EU Login and Participant Register PIC mandatory. Questions during the submission period must be raised via the Portal Q&A facility within the deadlines indicated in the procurement documents.

Nature of support:Monetary: fee payments for services delivered under Specific Contracts and reimbursement of eligible travel and subsistence costs (supported by receipts). Non-monetary: access to contracting authority guidance, contacts, and EU data sources (e.g. Access2Markets/MADB).

Application stages:Multi-step administrative and evaluation sequence: 1) eSubmission tender submission (one initial electronic stage); 2) administrative/eligibility checks and exclusion/selection assessment; 3) technical evaluation of quality (case studies required) and financial evaluation; 4) ranking and award decision. Practically this is a 3 to 4 stage procedure (submission; checks; technical + financial evaluation; award and signature).

Success rates:Not specified in the procurement documents. This is a competitive open procedure with a single framework award; typical EU DG tenders of this nature are competitive and success depends on meeting selection criteria and scoring highly on the quality case studies and price. No numerical success rate is available from the call documents.

Co-funding requirement:No co-funding is required from applicants. The financial offer should exclude travel/subsistence costs (these are reimbursed as eligible reimbursables when incurred and supported by documentation) and must quote unit rates and fixed fees for deliverables and expert daily rates as required in Annex 6 (financial offer form).

Eligibility, selection and evaluation criteria (summary)

Mandatory exclusion rules apply (Declaration on Honour, Annex 2). Selection criteria include economic and financial capacity (average annual turnover for last two years above €400,000) and technical and professional capacity:

1. 1At least five similar projects in SPS in the last five years: minimum three projects organising SPS-related events (each at least €50,000) and at least two projects analysing third countries' SPS legislation (each at least €20,000).
2. 2Project manager with higher education degree, minimum five years project management experience (including oversight of projects >= €50,000) and two years SPS experience.
3. 3SPS expert(s) with higher education in veterinary sciences, agronomy or food safety and minimum three years professional SPS experience.
4. 4Proven ability to produce English-language deliverables to CEFR C1 level (sample documents required).

Quality award assessment is based on two mandatory case studies (organisation of a 5-day study visit scenario and a legal/technical analysis case study on two draft Indian SPS certificates). Minimum quality thresholds apply (50% per subcriterion and 60% overall for each case study). Price is 30% of the score and quality 70%.

Documents, templates and annexes (what to prepare)

All procurement documents are provided as annexes on the Portal. Tenderers must submit specific forms described in Annex 1 (list of documents). Key annexes and templates included with the procurement are:

1. 1Invitation to Tender Letter (publication and submission instructions, eSubmission guidance).
2. 2Tender specifications (Annex I of the FWC) - full scope, deliverables, selection criteria, award criteria, detailed reporting and reimbursement rules.
3. 3Draft Framework Contract (terms and general and special conditions).
4. 4Annex 2 - Declaration on Honour on exclusion and selection criteria (mandatory).
5. 5Annex 3 - Agreement/Power of attorney (to be used by joint tenders; signed by all group members).
6. 6Annex 4 - List of identified subcontractors and proportion of subcontracting (must be completed if identified subcontractors exceed thresholds).
7. 7Annex 5.1/5.2 - Commitment letters for identified subcontractors and entities on whose capacities the tenderer relies.
8. 8Annex 6 - Financial offer form (Excel): unit prices, daily expert rates and fixed fees for the prescribed items and templates for financial calculations.
9. 9Annex V (to FWC) - Template for Declaration on the list of pre-existing rights (IP clearance).
10. 10Annex VI (to FWC) - E-invoicing Interchange Agreement and e-PRIOR / web services supplier portal details.
11. 11Appendix 1 to FWC - Security requirements for contractors (including ethics reminder and screening rules when personnel require access).

Important guidance for tender preparation:complete the Declaration on Honour (Annex 2); provide the list of project references and supporting evidence for the selection criteria (F1, T1, T2, T3) as requested; prepare CVs of the core team (project manager and SPS expert(s)) demonstrating the required experience; complete Annex 6 financial form exactly as instructed (do not add additional cost items). If the tenderer will rely on other entities or subcontractors for selection criteria, include Annex 5 commitment letters and Annex 4 listing, and ensure the PIC and Participant Register information is ready for eSubmission.

Practical and contractual highlights applicants must note

1. 1Single framework contract to be concluded with one contractor; Specific Contracts (orders) will be issued against the framework for individual study visits and analyses.
2. 2Financial offers must exclude travel and subsistence (these are reimbursable and must be supported by receipts). Financial offer must quote rates for every listed item in Annex 6.
3. 3Study visits standard duration: 5 working days (max 10 working days if extended); standard deliverables include final narrative and financial reports submitted within 60 calendar days after the visit.
4. 4SPS market access analyses: typical deliverable is a final report (English) with comparisons to international standards and EU rules; the contractor may be authorized to conduct exceptional on-the-spot research visits if prior written approval is granted.
5. 5All reports are delivered electronically and must include a disclaimer. Executive summaries may be requested for publication.
6. 6The contracting authority may require additional documentary evidence (exclusion/selection) from the presumed winner before award; failure to provide requested evidence in time may lead to rejection.
7. 7Security and personnel screening requirements apply when contractor personnel need access to Commission premises or IT assets. Appendix 1 contains the Commission security requirements and ethics reminders.

Mentioned countries and geographic references in the call

Explicitly named countries or places in the procurement materials:Mexico (example study visit participant country and case study scenario), India (case study analysis of draft import certificates), Belgium (location of Commission/contracting authority and national security screening), EU Member States (places of study visits and field trips). The contract is EU-led and focused on third-country markets. The call documents cite Access2Markets / Market Access Database (MADB) and general global trading partners.

1. 1EU (European Union) - contracting authority, place of performance (study visits in Member States)
2. 2Mexico - used as an example third-country for a study-visit case study
3. 3India - used as an example for SPS certificate analysis case study
4. 4Belgium - contracting authority seat and national screening arrangements for personnel

Success tips and compliance checklist

Minimum compliance and practical recommendations for a compliant, competitive tender:

1. 1Register organisation in Participant Register and obtain PIC well before eSubmission.
2. 2Read and follow the Tender Specifications and Draft Framework Contract in full. Pay attention to Annex 6 for financial offer structure and Annex 2 for Declarations.
3. 3Provide the two required case studies (study visit organisation and SPS legal analysis) as requested — these are mandatory and scored with minimum thresholds.
4. 4Include CVs for the project manager and SPS expert(s) demonstrating the required experience and language proficiency (English C1).
5. 5If you rely on subcontractors or other entities for selection criteria, include Annex 4 and the commitment letters (Annex 5.1/5.2) in the submission.
6. 6Ensure the Financial Offer follows exactly the Annex 6 template and does not include travel/subsistence; quote unit rates requested (expert daily rates, fees).
7. 7Prepare evidence for economic & financial capacity (average turnover documents) and for project references; these may be requested during evaluation or before award.
8. 8If personnel require access to Commission premises or IT systems, be ready to comply with security screening and to provide signed ethics reminders for service providers.

Templates and application form structure (how application forms look)

The procurement uses the EU eSubmission application. The tender package must be uploaded into the specific eSubmission sections described in Annex 1 (List of documents). Templates in the procurement Annexes must be used where provided. Main templates and structure:

1. 1Annex 2 Declaration on Honour (exclusion and selection) – electronic signature recommended (QES) or handwritten if QES not available.
2. 2Annex 3 Group Agreement / Power of Attorney – required for joint tenders (signed by all group members).
3. 3Annex 4 List of identified subcontractors and proportion of subcontracting – required if subcontractors exceed thresholds or are relied upon for selection criteria.
4. 4Annex 5.1 Commitment letter by identified subcontractor and Annex 5.2 Commitment letter by entity on whose capacity is being relied – must be signed and included where relevant.
5. 5Annex 6 Financial Offer form (Excel): contains price schedule, unit rates, daily expert rates and fixed fees. Must be completed exactly and uploaded in the financial tender section.
6. 6Technical tender document uploaded in the 'Technical tender' field of eSubmission: include company profile, methodology, case studies, work plan, CVs, references, and any quality assurance statements.
7. 7Administrative and supporting evidence uploaded under the specific 'Parties' / attachments sections of eSubmission (legal / financial documents, signed declarations, authorisations to sign, PIC details).

Electronic signature recommendations and authorisation evidence:the contracting authority recommends qualified electronic signatures (QES) for signed declarations; where representatives sign, provide evidence of the delegation of signatory powers (eg extract from register, power of attorney). The Participant Register and PIC information are mandatory for submitting tenders.

Co-funding, intellectual property and exploitation

Co-funding is not required. Intellectual property and rights:the draft framework contract stipulates that the Union acquires ownership of results produced specifically for the Union under the FWC (Article II.13). Pre-existing rights must be declared in Annex V and licensing arrangements for any incorporated third-party material must be documented.

How to learn more / where to apply

Tender documents, annexes and templates are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal tender page for EC-TRADE/2026/OP/0027. Detailed tender specifications, draft contract, and annexes must be consulted and followed precisely. Portal subscription and eSubmission technical instructions are provided on the Portal. The contracting authority will not accept submissions by email or postal mail.

Portal opportunity link and main procurement documents are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal Opportunity page EC-TRADE/2026/OP/0027. ¹

Final summary — what is this opportunity about and how to explain it

This is a European Commission DG TRADE open tender to select a single contractor to hold a framework service contract to support SPS market access objectives. The contractor will be commissioned through Specific Contracts to organise study visits in the EU for SPS officials from third countries (programme design, field visits, experts, logistics, reporting) and to produce SPS market access analytical outputs (detailed legal and technical analyses of import requirements, certificates, procedural handbooks). The framework ceiling is €1,000,000 for up to 48 months. Applicants must submit an electronic tender via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission, follow the procurement templates and Annex forms strictly (Declaration on Honour, financial offer template, commitment letters, list of subcontractors, draft contract review), and provide two mandatory scored case studies (study visit organisation and SPS legal analysis). Selection and award are based on exclusion checks, minimum selection criteria (financial and technical capacity), and evaluation by quality (70%) and price (30%). Successful applicants must be prepared to deliver both operational event management and rigorous market access analyses, to comply with security and data-protection requirements, and to accept that deliverables and rights to results will be managed according to the draft framework contract. Full tender documentation and submission instructions are on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page for this call ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Tender notice, invitation letter, tender specifications, draft framework contract, Annexes (2 to 6, V and VI), Appendix 1 security requirements and Template task service request are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page for EC-TRADE/2026/OP/0027. See the official call page for downloads and the eSubmission Quick Guide.

This is an EU procurement tender launched by the European Commission, DG TRADE, for a single framework contract to support study visits and SPS market access analysis that aim to improve market access conditions for the EU agro food sector in selected third countries.[1]

Opportunity overview

What the contract is about

The contract is designed to help the European Union improve mutual understanding of sanitary and phytosanitary measures between the EU and selected third country trading partners, with the practical goal of reducing unjustified SPS related barriers and improving access for EU agro food exports.[1]

• Organisation of SPS study visits for officials and policy makers from third countries to the EU, including programme design, logistics, expert participation, travel arrangements and reporting.[1]
• SPS market access analysis work, including desk research, stakeholder consultation, assessment of import conditions and procedures, and preparation of practical reports for the Commission and stakeholders.[1]
• On demand translation of relevant third country legal or administrative documents when explicitly approved in the specific contract, with costs reimbursed as actual costs.[1]

Study visits are intended to present EU SPS practice and may include meetings, presentations and field visits in one or more Member States, while market access analysis should explain SPS approval procedures, import requirements, certificates, legislation and barriers in a practical way for EU exporters and authorities.[1]

Who can apply

The tender is open to economic operators that can meet the exclusion and selection criteria set out in the procurement documents, including sole tenderers and joint tenders, provided they have a valid PIC and comply with the declaration on honour requirements, conflict of interest rules, debt checks and EU restrictive measures rules.[1]

• Joint tenders are allowed and require a group leader and a power of attorney arrangement.[1]
• Subcontracting is permitted, but identified subcontractors and their share of the contract must be declared where required.[1]
• Capacity relying arrangements are allowed, subject to commitment letters and the tender specifications.[1]
• Tenderers must not be in exclusion situations such as insolvency, serious professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, conflict with EU restrictive measures, or an established debt to the Union.[1]

Key delivery conditions

Submission and timeline

Tenderers must submit electronically, and the invitation letter indicates that tenderers must use the eSubmission system, register with a PIC, and submit all required documents on time because late submissions are rejected.[1]

What applicants should know before bidding

• This is a framework contract, so the Commission is not obliged to place specific tasks even if the framework is signed.[1]
• Tenderers should price all requested items in the financial offer form and should not add unauthorised items.[1]
• Variants are not allowed, so bids should follow the tender specifications closely.[1]
• The contract documents require attention to confidentiality, checks and audits, invoicing and delivery obligations.[1]
• The market access analysis must build on existing public sources such as Access2Markets and avoid duplicating content already available there.[1]
• For study visits, the contractor is expected to manage logistics, experts, participant communications, travel and subsistence arrangements, and evaluation reporting.[1]
• For study visits, travel and subsistence are reimbursed under the contractual rules, with travel costs supported by evidence and per diem or flat rate elements defined in the framework contract annexes.[1]
• The portal indicates no public Q and A items at the time captured, so applicants should monitor the portal for updates until the submission deadline.[1]

Overall, the opportunity suits organisations with strong SPS policy knowledge, international event and mission logistics capability, market access and regulatory research skills, and the ability to manage multilingual, multi stakeholder assignments under EU procurement rules.[1]