FRAMEWORK CONTRACT ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT TO THE NITRATES DIRECTIVE, AGRICULTURE, SOIL AND FOREST POLICIES

The European Commission DG Environment (Unit ENV.D1) is procuring a Framework Contract for technical assistance and scientific support across three lots covering Lot 1: agriculture and the Nitrates Directive, Lot 2: implementation of the EU Soil Monitoring Law, and Lot 3: forests and integrated wildfire risk management. The estimated total procedure value is €6,200,000 with indicative lot budgets of €1.2M (Lot 1), €3.2M (Lot 2) and €1.8M (Lot 3) and planned durations of 48 months per lot; this is a public procurement service contract to be awarded on quality and price. The tender is a negotiated middle-value call requiring electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, tenders must follow the published Tender specifications and be submitted in English, and the official submission deadline is 15 September 2026 at 16:00:59 Brussels time.

What it funds

Scope

Framework contract to provide technical assistance and scientific advice to DG Environment (unit ENV.D1) on: agricultural policy and the environmental dimension of the Common Agricultural Policy; implementation and evaluation of the Nitrates Directive; implementation of the EU Soil Monitoring Law; and implementation and follow-up of the EU Forest Strategy including integrated wildfire risk management. Areas are organised in three lots.

Who can apply:Economic operators and consortia able to deliver services in the relevant technical fields; tenderers must submit via the Commission eSubmission system and be registered in the Participant Register (PIC). The procedure is a negotiated middle-value call for tender (see procurement documents) ¹.

1. 1Lot 1: Nitrates and agricultural EU policies (technical and scientific advice)
2. 2Lot 2: EU Soil Monitoring Law (implementation support)
3. 3Lot 3: Forests and integrated wildfire risk management (implementation and follow-up)

Key deadlines:call publication 13 July 2026; tender submission deadline 15 September 2026 (16:00:59 Brussels time). Tenders must be submitted electronically; consult the tender specifications and draft contracts on the F&T Portal for selection and award criteria.

Footnotes

1. 1Full procurement documents, invitation letter and submission portal: F&T Portal opportunity page.

Opportunity summary

Type:Tender (Framework contract, service contract). Lead contracting authority: European Commission, DG ENV - Environment. Call identifier: EC-ENV/2026/OP/0025. Publication date: 13 July 2026. Procedure: negotiated middle-value call for tender with eSubmission via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Deadlines: two dates are shown in metadata (01/01/2026 14:00:59Z and 15/09/2026 16:00:59 Europe/Brussels). Official closing/submission deadline: 15 September 2026 at 16:00:59 (Europe/Brussels). Estimated total procedure value: €6,200,000. The framework contract has three separate lots covering different policy areas.

Reference documents:Tender specifications, Invitation letter, and Draft Contract documents for Lot 1, Lot 2 and Lot 3 are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal and attached to the call¹.

Scope and tasks (what the Commission requests)

DG ENV (unit ENV.D1) seeks technical assistance and scientific advice to support development, implementation, follow-up and evaluation of EU environmental policies in four related domains. The framework contract is structured in three lots as follows:

1. 1Lot 1: Nitrates and agricultural EU policies. Provide technical assistance and scientific advice on aspects related to the implementation and evaluation of the Nitrates Directive (Directive 91/676/EEC) and on agricultural-related EU policies and initiatives, including the environmental dimension of agriculture and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Estimated lot budget: €1,200,000. Planned duration: 48 months.
2. 2Lot 2: EU Soil Monitoring Law (SML). Provide technical support to the Commission and Member States in the implementation of the Soil Monitoring Law. Estimated lot budget: €3,200,000. Planned duration: 48 months.
3. 3Lot 3: Forests and integrated wildfire risk management. Provide technical assistance and scientific advice on implementation and follow-up of the EU Forest Strategy and forest-related aspects of environmental policy and actions on integrated wildfire risk management. Estimated lot budget: €1,800,000. Planned duration: 48 months.

Eligible applicant types

Eligibility follows standard European Commission public procurement rules for negotiated low/middle-value calls. Economic operators may submit tenders either individually or in groups (consortia). Typical eligible applicant types: private companies (SMEs and large enterprises), consultancies, research organisations, universities, specialised not-for-profit organisations, think tanks, technical hubs, and consortia or joint ventures combining those entities. Natural persons/individuals are generally not the contracting parties for this type of service contract; participation is by legal entities registered in the Participant Register (PIC). The Tender specifications and Invitation letter define the precise selection and exclusion rules and any mandatory documentary evidence.

Funding type and contract nature

This is a procurement opportunity:the Commission will award service contracts as a framework contract. The financial mechanism is public procurement (service contract), not a grant, loan, or equity instrument. Suppliers will be paid against delivery of services under contract terms.

Consortium requirement

Consortia are permitted and common. The procurement text explicitly recognises joint tenders (each member of the group in a joint tender must register in the Participant Register and obtain a PIC). A single tenderer may also apply. The tendering documents specify selection criteria that apply to each legal entity in a group where relevant.

Beneficiary geographic scope

This is an EU-level contract delivered to the European Commission and intended to support EU policy and Member States. Eligible bidders are economic operators able to contract with the Commission; in practice this targets organisations established in the EU and potentially other countries able to contract with the EU (subject to the procurement rules and any restrictions set out in the tender documents). The texts repeatedly reference Member States and European (EU) policy implementation.

Target sectors and topics

The call targets the following sectors and thematic areas:environment policy, agriculture and agri-environmental impacts, nitrates and nutrient management, soil monitoring and soil policy implementation, forestry policy and EU Forest Strategy, integrated wildfire risk management, policy evaluation and implementation support, scientific and technical advice, monitoring and data analysis.

Mentioned countries / region

Explicit geographic references:European Union and Member States (the contract supports Commission work and implementation by Member States). No specific third countries are named in the published metadata.

Expected project maturity and activities

Required maturity:operational/policy implementation and applied scientific support. Activities concern implementation, monitoring, evaluation, development of technical guidance, data analysis, capacity building for Member States, and scientific advice. This is not exploratory basic research: it is applied support to policy implementation, follow-up and evaluation; expected project stages include analysis, methodological development, monitoring support, and delivery of reports and tools for policy uptake (development/validation/demonstration and ongoing implementation support).

Funding amounts and duration

Estimated overall contract amount:€6,200,000 (total for all lots). Estimated amounts per lot published in procurement project metadata: Lot 1 estimated overall contract amount €1,200,000; Lot 2 estimated overall contract amount €3,200,000; Lot 3 estimated overall contract amount €1,800,000. Planned duration for each lot: 48 months.

Application and submission method

Submission method:electronic submission (eSubmission) through the European Commission Funding & Tenders Portal. Tenders submitted by any other means (email, postal) will be disregarded. Registration in the Participant Register and possession of a PIC (Participant Identification Code) is required for each legal entity taking part in a tender or each member of a consortium. The procurement is described as a negotiated middle-value call for tender; ex-ante publicity and expressions of interest were published and the Commission will invite interested economic operators to participate according to the negotiated procedure rules.

Key procedural dates and events:Invitation / Contract Notice published 13 July 2026. Deadline for receipt of tenders: 15 September 2026 at 16:00:59 (Europe/Brussels). Open tender event / clarification / opening occurrence: 16 September 2026 10:30 CET (open tender event noted in metadata). Additional information request period ends 07 September 2026. Ex-ante expression of interest deadlines for related negotiated procedures were earlier in June/July 2026 for those pre-selection steps.

Nature of support to beneficiaries

Successful bidders will receive monetary remuneration under a public service contract:payments for delivered services according to the framework contract terms. The support provided by contractors is technical and scientific services, i.e., non-monetary service deliveries funded by the Commission.

Application stages and process

Process elements visible in the documentation:(1) Ex-ante publicity / expression of interest (for negotiated low/middle-value procedures); (2) Invitation to tender and publication of tender specifications, draft contract and supporting documents; (3) Electronic submission of tenders via eSubmission; (4) Award stage (evaluation of offers on quality (70) and price (30) weighting as indicated in metadata) and contract signature. From a bidder perspective this translates to two main selection stages: expression of interest (where relevant) and full tender submission with evaluation. The procurement documents state awarding criteria with quality 70% and price 30% weights; full details are in the tender specifications.

Success rates

No explicit success rate is published. The opportunity is competitive; a small number of framework contracts / lots will be awarded. Success probability depends on market competition and completeness of the tender (technical and financial offers). Historically, EU DG ENV framework contracts attract multiple bids; precise success rates cannot be provided from the published metadata.

Co-funding requirement

No co-funding from bidders is required or expected. This is a fee-for-service procurement by the Commission: contractors are remunerated under contract. There is no matching funding requirement indicated in the procurement metadata.

Selection, exclusion and award criteria (overview)

The procurement metadata indicates awarding criteria split into quality (70) and price (30). Specific selection and exclusion requirements are set out in the Tender specifications and Invitation letter. Bidders must supply evidence on financial and technical capacity, relevant experience, key experts' CVs, and compliance with exclusion (e.g., criminal, fiscal, social security) and selection criteria. The Tender specifications contain detailed requirements; bidders should consult them and follow stated templates and document lists.

Templates and application structure (what bidders should prepare)

The call publishes the following documents relevant to preparing a tender:Invitation letter, Tender specifications (including annexes), Draft contract, and annexes to tender specifications in Word format. Typical required documents and structure (as indicated by the Portal and common DG ENV procurement practice) include:

1. 1Cover / administrative form: identification of the tenderer (legal name, legal status, VAT registration, PIC), declaration of honour on exclusion grounds, and confirmation of acceptance of contract terms.
2. 2Selection documentation: evidence of legal status, financial capacity (audited accounts or financial statements for last 2-3 years), professional risk insurance, and evidence of technical and professional capacity (references for similar contracts).
3. 3Technical offer: methodology and workplan, understanding of tasks, proposed activities per lot, organisation of work, description of deliverables, timing and project management approach, quality assurance procedures.
4. 4Key experts and CVs: detailed CVs demonstrating relevant experience, roles and responsibilities, availability. The Tender specifications will state minimum qualifications and required key experts.
5. 5Consortium documents (if applicable): consortium agreement or letter of intent, description of each member's role, and commitment letters.
6. 6Financial offer: priced tender form / budget breakdown as requested in the contract notice and draft contract; clear rates, estimated days, travel and other costs where allowed under contract rules.
7. 7Declarations and certificates: declarations on conflicts of interest, data protection compliance, and any certificates required by the Tender specifications.
8. 8Any requested templates: bidders must use the forms and templates provided in the Tender specifications and Invitation letter where specified.

Bidders must carefully follow the Tender specifications for exact form names, document identifiers, page/format limits, the eSubmission packaging rules, and any mandatory template attachments. Failure to follow templates or to include requested documentary evidence may result in exclusion of the tender.

Practical notes and compliance

Submission is electronic via the Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission tool. Each legal entity must have a PIC from the Participant Register. The procurement documents state that tenders submitted by any other means will be disregarded. Timely submission before the stated deadline (15 September 2026 16:00:59 Europe/Brussels) is mandatory. The Tender specifications include the award criteria, minimum quality thresholds, the contract template, and payment modalities.

Evaluation weighting:Awarding criteria weighting indicated in metadata: quality 70, price 30. Tenderers must consult the tender specifications for the breakdown of quality sub-criteria and any minimum thresholds.

Success factors for bidders

• Clear demonstration of relevant technical expertise and sectoral experience (nitrates/nutrient management, soil monitoring, forestry and wildfire management, CAP/environmental integration).
• Strong project management and delivery capacity for multi-year pan-European contracts.
• Qualified key experts with CVs matching required profiles and availability.
• Concrete methodology and workplan that addresses deliverables, quality control and stakeholder engagement with Member States where relevant.
• Accurate, transparent financial offer aligned with the draft contract pricing rules and EU procurement expectations.
• Complete administrative and selection documentation uploaded in the correct eSubmission fields and using the provided templates.

Legal and administrative references

The contract notice was published in the Official Journal as OJ S 132/2026 - 481923-2026 (13/07/2026). The procurement follows EU procurement rules for negotiated low or middle-value calls; bidders should consult the Invitation letter and Tender specifications for precise legal clauses, award procedures, and contract conditions. The main CPV codes associated with the contract include 90700000 (research and development services and related consultancy services) and additional codes 73000000, 77000000, 90000000.

Where to download documents and submit a tender:All call documents, templates and the eSubmission portal link are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal at the call page¹.

Summary and explanation

This procurement is a DG ENV framework contract to secure technical and scientific services to support implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EU policies in three interconnected environmental areas: nitrates and agricultural policy (including CAP environmental integration), soil monitoring and soil law implementation, and forest policy including integrated wildfire risk management. The Commission plans to award multiple framework contracts across three lots for a combined estimated value of €6.2 million over 48 months. The call is a negotiated middle-value procurement with electronic tendering via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Eligible bidders are economic operators registered in the Participant Register (companies, research organisations, consultancies, NGOs and consortia). Tenders will be evaluated on quality (70) and price (30). Bidders must carefully follow the Tender specifications and use the provided templates and documents (Invitation letter, Draft Contract, Tender specifications) when preparing administrative, technical and financial offers. The work is applied, policy-facing, and requires demonstrated technical capacity in environmental science, agriculture/soil/forestry policy issues and experience working with EU policy actors and Member States.

Footnotes

1. 1Call documents and submission portal: Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page FRAMEWORK CONTRACT ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT.

Opportunity Overview

This is a **Framework Contract (FWC)** for technical assistance and scientific support issued by the European Commission's **DG Environment, Unit ENV.D1**, to advise on the Nitrates Directive, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Soil Monitoring Law (SML), and EU Forest Strategy [[Primary URL]]. The contract is structured into **three distinct lots** covering specific policy areas: Lot 1 (Agriculture & Nitrates), Lot 2 (Soil Monitoring), and Lot 3 (Forests & Wildfires) [[Primary URL]].

Contract Type:Framework Contract for Services (Technical Assistance & Scientific Support).

Contracting Authority:European Commission, DG Environment, Unit ENV.D1 [[Primary URL]].

Lot Structure and Scope

Applicants must select the specific lot(s) relevant to their expertise, as the contract covers three distinct policy domains with separate technical scopes.

Lot 1: Agriculture and Nitrates

Lot 1 focuses on the **environmental dimension of agriculture** and the **Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)**, alongside the **implementation and evaluation follow-up of the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC)** [[Primary URL]]. Key tasks include advising on codes of good agricultural practices, **Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs)**, and Action Programmes required to prevent water pollution from agricultural nitrates [[2]][[7]].

Key Regulatory Context:The Nitrates Directive mandates a limit of **170 kg of nitrogen per hectare** from livestock manure annually, with Member States required to report progress every four years [[4]][[11]].

Lot 2: Soil Monitoring Law

Lot 2 covers the implementation of the **Soil Monitoring Law (Directive 2025/2360)**, which entered into force on **16 December 2025** and aims for **healthy soils across the EU by 2050** [[25]][[12]]. Support will be needed for establishing **harmonised soil monitoring frameworks**, defining soil health descriptors (physical, chemical, biological), and creating public registers for **potentially contaminated sites** [[25]][[14]].

Implementation Timeline:Member States must transpose the law by **2028–2029**, establish contaminated site registers by **2030**, and conduct first soil health assessments by **2031** [[33]].

Lot 3: Forests and Wildfire

Lot 3 addresses the **EU Forest Strategy**, forest-related environmental policy, and **integrated wildfire risk management** [[Primary URL]]. This aligns with broader EU pledges such as the commitment to **three billion additional trees by 2030** and strategies for sustainable forest management [[16]].

Eligibility and Applicant Profile

Eligible applicants are typically **specialized environmental consultancies, research institutions, or scientific bodies** with proven expertise in EU environmental law, agricultural policy, soil science, or forestry [[29]][[27]].

Required Expertise:Applicants must demonstrate experience in **Nitrates Directive implementation**, **soil health monitoring methodologies**, or **wildfire risk management**, often requiring advanced degrees in Environmental Science, Agriculture, or Water Management [[27]][[29]].

Submission Deadlines

The tender has two specific submission deadlines for requests to participate or tenders, reflecting the framework nature of the contract.

Application Process and Key Requirements

Applications must be submitted electronically via the **EU Funding & Tenders Portal** using the specific tender reference provided in the opportunity URL [[Primary URL]][[26]].

Submission Language:Tenders must be submitted in **English** [[26]].

Key Documents to Prepare:

1. 1Draft methodology and workplan demonstrating technical approach
2. 2Proof of relevant experience in EU environmental policy implementation
3. 3Team qualifications (advanced degrees, proven research/harmonization experience)
4. 4Letter of availability for key experts

Given the framework nature, the contract will likely be awarded based on **technical merit and price**, with specific tasks (mini-tenders) potentially called down later during the contract period [[30]].

Footnotes

1. 1Official Tender Details: FRAMEWORK CONTRACT ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
2. 2Soil Monitoring Law Entry into Force: First EU law on soil set to enter into force