Investigation and surveillance equipment and methods

EUAF-2026-TA-01 is a call under the Union Anti-Fraud Programme Technical Assistance strand to co-finance the purchase and maintenance of investigation and surveillance equipment and methods for national or regional public authorities and international organisations protecting EU financial interests. Projects must include mandatory specialised training linked to procured equipment, have a duration of 12–24 months, and a minimum total budget of €100,000. The call budget for the 2026 Technical Assistance strand is €10,800,000, individual grant requests may be up to €1,620,000 (15% of the call) and the standard funding rate is 80% (90% for defined priority actions). Applications are submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal with a single-stage deadline of 7 May 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.

Investigation and surveillance equipment and methods (EUAF-2026-TA-01)

What it funds

Purchase and maintenance of investigation and surveillance equipment and operational methods to prevent and combat irregularities, fraud and corruption affecting the EU financial interests. May include adapted transport, IT hardware and software, audio-visual equipment and related specialised training. Training to operate purchased equipment is mandatory.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants for the Technical Assistance call are legal entities such as national or regional public authorities and international organisations whose task is to protect the EU financial interests. For related training topics under the parallel Training call eligible applicants also include research and educational institutes and non-profit entities established and operating for at least one year. All applicants and any affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register (PIC) and be validated.

Funding envelope and typical award sizes:The Technical Assistance call budget for 2026 is €10,800,000. Projects should normally budget between €100,000 minimum and up to a maximum grant request equal to 15% of the call budget (max approx. €1,620,000). The general funding rate is 80% (90% in defined priority cases).¹

1. 1Action type: EUAF Project Grants (EUAF-PJG), single-stage submission
2. 2Mandatory: procurement price quotes for equipment and training component proportionate to equipment costs
3. 3Single applicant (mono-beneficiary) allowed; affiliated entities and subcontractors possible

How applications are submitted: electronic submission only via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the EUAF application forms and templates. Proposals must respect page and format limits, include detailed budget table (Excel) and supplier quotations tying to the budget. Admissibility, eligibility and financial/operational capacity checks apply; evaluation uses published award criteria and thresholds.

Contact and documentation:Call documentation, application templates and the Model Grant Agreement are on the Funding & Tenders Portal. For call-specific enquiries contact OLAF at olaf-fmb-hercule-ta@ec.europa.eu. Full call details and the call document are available in the portal call fiche and annexes ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Call document and annexes, EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page and call fiche: ec.europa.eu and ec.europa.eu

Investigation and surveillance equipment and methods — EUAF-2026-TA-01

This is a single-topic call for proposals under the Union Anti-Fraud Programme (EUAF), Technical Assistance strand, managed by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). It finances the purchase and maintenance of investigation and surveillance equipment and methods, together with specialised training to operate the procured tools, to strengthen operational capacity to prevent and combat irregularities, fraud and corruption detrimental to the financial interests of the EU. ¹

Core Facts

Expected Outcome and Scope

Expected Outcome: Strengthened investigative and operational capacity of beneficiary authorities, evidenced by successful operations supported by procured equipment and methods, including increases in arrests, convictions, seizures, confiscations, recoveries, prevented losses to EU and national budgets, and uncovered fraud schemes.

Scope: Co-financing for the purchase and maintenance of investigation and surveillance equipment and methods used to prevent and fight against irregularities, fraud and corruption affecting the EU’s financial interests. Adapted transport equipment, IT hardware and software, and audio-visual equipment may be included where directly justified for anti-fraud objectives. A specialised training component for staff to operate the purchased tools is mandatory and must be proportionate to the equipment scope.

Who Can Apply

Eligible Applicant Types:National or regional public authorities whose task is to protect the EU financial interests; international organisations with a remit to protect the EU’s financial interests. For this Technical Assistance call, other entities such as universities, research institutes, SMEs or nonprofits are not eligible as beneficiaries unless they qualify as affiliated entities to an eligible beneficiary under the rules.

Consortium Requirement:Single applicant projects only. Affiliated entities, associated partners, subcontractors and third parties giving in-kind contributions may participate as allowed. The single applicant (beneficiary) bears overall responsibility.

Geographic Eligibility:Applicants must be established in EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories) or listed EEA/associated countries to EUAF, or countries in ongoing association negotiations where the agreement enters into force before grant signature. International organisations are eligible irrespective of country rules.

Funding, Budget and Financial Rules

• Total call budget for EUAF Technical Assistance 2026: €10,800,000 (shared across EUAF-2026-TA-01 to TA-04).
• Minimum total project budget (TA): €100,000.
• Maximum grant request per project (TA): up to 15% of available call budget, i.e. up to €1,620,000.
• Funding rate: 80% of eligible costs. Up to 90% for priority actions meeting specific conditions (e.g., proposals reflecting findings in annual Article 325 TFEU reports on combating fraud or ECA Special Report 19/2017 on import procedures).
• Form of grant: Budget-based mixed actual cost grant, with unit costs for travel/subsistence where applicable.
• Indirect costs: 0% for Technical Assistance (no indirects).
• Eligible cost highlights for TA: Equipment purchase and maintenance at full cost; delivery and installation costs may be included. Training costs linked to the purchased equipment under Other goods, works and services (C.3). Travel and subsistence declared as unit costs per Commission Decision C(2021)35 where applicable.
• Non-eligible for TA: Personnel costs; VAT; infrastructure and land purchase; financial support to third parties; separate project website creation costs (communication via beneficiary channels allowed).
• Co-funding requirement: Yes. Beneficiaries must cover the non-funded share (10% or 20% depending on funding rate) and any ineligible costs such as VAT.
• Prefinancing: Normally 50% of the maximum grant amount; no interim payments; balance at final payment.
• Project duration: typically 12–24 months (extensions possible by amendment).

Activities and Technologies Funded

• Investigation and surveillance equipment and methods directly supporting anti-fraud and anti-corruption operations protecting the EU budget.
• Adapted transport equipment and platforms enabling surveillance or investigative deployment, where justified for anti-fraud use cases.
• IT hardware and software used to operate, integrate, or analyse surveillance/investigation outputs; audio-visual equipment for lawful evidence capture and operational monitoring.
• Mandatory specialised training for staff to operate all procured tools, proportionate to the scope and value of equipment, budgeted under C.3 Other goods, works and services.
• Maintenance contracts and updates necessary to ensure operational continuity of procured systems and tools.

Evaluation and Award

Single-stage submission and one-step evaluation. Proposals must pass individual criterion thresholds and overall threshold to be considered for funding. Priority ordering applies in case of ex aequo scores, including coverage of uncovered themes and higher scores on Added value, then Conformity, then Quality.

Indicative timetable:Evaluation: May–October 2026; information on evaluation results: November 2026; grant agreement signature: November–December 2026.

Administrative and Legal Set-up

• Model Grant Agreement: EUAF MGA (budget-based mixed actual cost), with specific TA rules including 0% indirect costs and full-cost equipment eligibility.
• Reporting: Continuous reporting for deliverables; final periodic report with financial statements; mandatory ex post implementation questionnaire due one year after action end (TA).
• Payments: Initial prefinancing (typically 50%); final balance at project end; no interim payments; prefinancing guarantees only if required in the GA.
• Record-keeping: Keep all technical and financial records for audit up to the standard time-limits (typically 3–5 years after final payment).
• No-profit rule: Applies; for-profit beneficiaries must declare revenues and profit will be deducted from the final grant amount.
• Complementarity: Equipment overlapping with the Customs Control Equipment Instrument (CCEI) is excluded unless beneficiaries are different authorities than those targeted by CCEI; interoperability and complementarity with other EU-funded tools are evaluated.

Eligibility, Geographic Scope, and Target Sectors

Eligible Applicant Types:Government public authorities (national or regional) with mandates to protect the EU financial interests; international organisations with an anti-fraud remit. Other roles allowed: affiliated entities, associated partners (unfunded), subcontractors, third parties giving in-kind contributions.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States including OCTs; listed EEA/associated countries and countries finalising association before GA signature. International organisations eligible regardless of country list limitations.

Target Sector:Anti-fraud operations and law enforcement; customs and financial protection of the EU budget; security and surveillance technologies; ICT hardware/software supporting investigation and evidence capture; operational transport platforms adapted for surveillance.

Mentioned Countries/Regions:Region: EU, EEA, and countries associated to EUAF. No specific countries singled out by name in the topic text.

Project Stage:Deployment and operationalisation. Focus on procurement, installation, and immediate operational use with compulsory training; not a research, development, or demonstration call.

Application Process and Templates

1. 1Submission is electronic only via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Topic page EUAF-2026-TA-01. Create EU Login; register the organisation to obtain a PIC; complete Part A online; download, complete and upload Part B and annexes; upload the Detailed Budget Table in Excel.
2. 2Deadline discipline: 07 May 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Late submissions are not accepted.
3. 3Admissibility: Part B page limit 70 pages; all mandatory annexes must be present; budgets in Part A and the Detailed Budget Table must correspond.
4. 4Mandatory components: Part A administrative data and summary budget; Part B technical narrative; Detailed Budget Table (EUAF TA, Excel); list of previous projects (last 3 years); price quotations/supplier brochures supporting equipment price estimates clearly tied to the Detailed Budget Table; for TA, training plans embedded in the work plan and budget.
5. 5Costing rules in the Detailed Budget Table: Equipment under C.2 with one line per item, fully detailed and linked to supplier quotes; training linked to equipment under C.3; travel and subsistence using unit costs per Commission Decision C(2021)35/Annex 2a where applicable; no consumables under C.3 for TA; VAT is ineligible; personnel costs are ineligible for TA.
6. 6Work plan guidance: For simple procurement projects, a single work package can be used; otherwise use WP1 for management and WP2+ for technical acquisition, installation, training, and deployment; list deliverables and due months; milestones are not applicable for EUAF.
7. 7Declarations and integrity: Ensure correct declaration of double funding (must confirm no double funding); apply for higher funding rate only if justified under the call conditions; ensure eligibility status aligns with TA requirements.
8. 8Language: Any official EU language allowed, but English strongly recommended; abstract/summary in English is required.

What Will Be Assessed

• Needs analysis and relevance to EUAF anti-fraud objectives; proof that equipment directly supports protection of the EU financial interests.
• Technical quality and feasibility, including procurement approach, installation, integration, risk management, training design and delivery, and monitoring indicators.
• Value for money: robust price documentation, clear equipment-to-outcome link, proportionate training budget, and sound long-term operational plan.
• Added value: EU-level impact, contribution to interoperability and complementarity with other EU-funded tools, dissemination of operational results as allowed, and sustainability after EU funding ends.

Deliverables and Indicators

• Mandatory TA deliverable: Ex post implementation questionnaire one year after action end.
• Operational indicators to track: number of successful operations using the procured tools; arrests and convictions; seizures and confiscations; recoveries; prevented losses to EU and national budgets; fraud schemes uncovered.
• For training: document agendas, attendance lists, evaluation forms and post-event feedback (templates via Portal reference documents).

Risk, Compliance and Audit

• Financial and operational capacity checks apply unless exempted (e.g., public bodies).
• Exclusion criteria under the EU Financial Regulation apply; entities under EU restrictive measures are ineligible in any role.
• Record-keeping and audit: maintain original or legally valid digital records to enable reconciliation of declared costs with accounts; OLAF, EPPO, ECA and the granting authority may conduct checks, reviews, audits and investigations.

Contact and Support

• Call helpdesk for TA: olaf-fmb-hercule-ta@ec.europa.eu
• IT helpdesk via the Funding & Tenders Portal for submission and access issues
• Guidance: Online Manual; EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement; EUAF Regulation 2021/785; EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509; EUAF Annual Work Programme; Model Grant Agreement and templates are available via Portal Reference Documents.

Categorisation Answers

Eligible Applicant Types:Government (national or regional public authorities responsible for protecting EU financial interests), international organisation. Affiliated entities may participate linked to an eligible beneficiary. Other roles like subcontractors or associated partners are possible but are not grant beneficiaries.

Funding Type:Grant (EUAF Project Grant, budget-based mixed actual cost grant with unit cost elements for travel/subsistence and 0% indirects for TA).

Consortium Requirement:Single. Only applications by single beneficiaries are allowed. Affiliated entities and other participants may be included as permitted.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States including OCTs; EEA/associated countries to EUAF; countries concluding association agreements before GA signature. International organisations are eligible irrespective of country list rules.

Target Sector:Anti-fraud and law enforcement operations; customs protection of revenue; surveillance and investigation technologies; ICT hardware/software supporting evidence capture and analytical workflows; adapted transport platforms for operational deployment.

Mentioned Countries:Region referenced: EU, EEA and associated countries to EUAF. No individual countries named in the topic description.

Project Stage:Implementation and deployment (procurement, installation, commissioning and operational use) with compulsory staff training; not research or early-stage development.

Funding Amount:Typical award size guided by call limits: minimum project budget €100,000; maximum grant request up to €1,620,000 per project; total TA call budget €10,800,000 across four topics.

Application Type:Open call via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; single-stage submission before the deadline.

Nature of Support:Money (co-financing grant). Includes a mandatory non-financial training component designed and delivered by or for the beneficiary.

Application Stages:1 stage (single-stage submission and one-step evaluation).

Success Rates:Not disclosed in the call documentation.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. Standard funding rate 80% (beneficiary co-funding 20%); up to 90% for priority actions (beneficiary co-funding 10%). VAT is ineligible and must be covered by the beneficiary.

Templates: Application Format and Contents:Part A (online): administrative data, participants, summarised budget, declarations, ethics and security questionnaires. Part B (uploaded PDF, 70 pages max): structured narrative covering conformity with EUAF objectives (background, needs analysis with measurable indicators, relevance and EU added value), quality (concept and methodology, management and monitoring, project team and roles, risk management), value for money (cost effectiveness), added value for protection of EU financial interests (impact, communication and visibility, sustainability), and work plan (WPs, tasks, deliverables, timetable). Annexes: Detailed Budget Table (Excel; mandatory), list of previous projects (last 3 years), equipment price quotations/supplier brochures tied to the Detailed Budget Table. For TA: training must be included, budgeted under C.3; equipment listed item-by-item under C.2 and linked to quotes; no personnel costs; no consumables under C.3; travel/subsistence as unit costs per Decision C(2021)35 and Annex 2a of the GA. Ensure numerical consistency between Part A and the Detailed Budget Table; page overflows in Part B are disregarded by evaluators.

Key Dates and Links

• Topic page and submission: EUAF-2026-TA-01 — Investigation and surveillance equipment and methods EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic
• Call document and annexes: Call fiche and templates via Portal; consolidated call document version 1.0 dated 12 March 2026 EUAF Call Document (TA and TRAI) PDF
• Model Grant Agreement (EUAF MGA) EUAF MGA
• Reference programme information: Union Anti-Fraud Programme — Hercule component overview OLAF EUAF overview

Long Summary

EUAF-2026-TA-01 finances the rapid deployment of investigation and surveillance capabilities by competent national or regional public authorities and international organisations protecting the EU budget. It is purpose-built for operational procurement: beneficiaries acquire and maintain equipment and methods directly used to prevent and combat fraud and corruption affecting the EU’s financial interests. Projects must include proportionate, specialised training to ensure staff can competently operate the procured tools. The grant covers full equipment costs and related installation and maintenance, but no personnel or VAT, and carries a 0% indirect cost rate to concentrate resources on the operational assets. With a standard 80% funding rate, or 90% for qualifying priority actions, applicants must co-finance the remainder and submit a precise, well-documented budget tying every equipment line to supplier quotations. The scope welcomes adapted transport, audio-visual, and IT hardware/software where their anti-fraud utility is clearly demonstrated. Proposals are evaluated on relevance to EUAF objectives, quality and feasibility, value for money, and EU added value, including interoperability with other EU-financed tools. The call is single-stage, with submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 7 May 2026 and expected grant agreements by end-2026. This is an implementation-focused opportunity for authorities to upscale frontline tools that directly translate into more successful operations, seizures, recoveries and prevented losses for both EU and national budgets.

Footnotes

1. 1Primary sources: EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page EUAF-2026-TA-01 and EUAF-2026-TA/TRAI Call Document (Version 1.0, 12 March 2026). See topic details EU Funding & Tenders Topic and call fiche Call Document PDF.

EUAF-2026-TA-01: Investigation and Surveillance Equipment and Methods

This call for proposals under the Union Anti-Fraud Programme (EUAF) Technical Assistance strand supports national or regional public authorities and international organisations in purchasing and maintaining specialised equipment to enhance investigative capacities against fraud, corruption and irregularities affecting EU financial interests.

Programme Overview

The EUAF programme aims to protect EU financial interests by preventing and combating fraud, corruption and other illegal activities. This specific topic EUAF-2026-TA-01 falls under the 2026 Technical Assistance call (EUAF-2026-TA), with a total call budget of €10,800,000 shared across four topics. Grants are awarded as EUAF Action Grants (budget-based), managed by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

Primary Source:Full details available at EU Funding & Tenders Portal and Call Fiche Call Document.

Objectives and Expected Impact

Objectives: Reinforce investigative capability and capacity of national authorities, including digitalisation, to step up the fight against fraud affecting EU revenues and expenditures. All projects must include a compulsory specialised training component proportionate to equipment costs, linked directly to purchased items. Proposals for events or workshops are discouraged here and redirected to EUAF-2026-TRAI.

Expected outcomes: Measurable improvements in operational capacity, such as increased successful operations, arrests, convictions, seizures, confiscations, recoveries, prevented losses and uncovered fraud schemes.

Scope and Eligible Activities

Funding covers purchase and maintenance of investigation and surveillance equipment/methods to combat irregularities, fraud and corruption detrimental to EU financial interests. Adapted transport equipment, IT hardware/software and audio-visual equipment are eligible if clearly demonstrated to aid fraud prevention/combating. Specialised staff training to operate tools is mandatory.

Equipment must avoid overlap with Customs Control Equipment Instrument (CCEI); complementarity with other EU programmes is evaluated positively.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Applicants

• National or regional public authorities tasked with protecting EU financial interests.
• International organisations with equivalent tasks.
• Single applicants only (mono-beneficiary; affiliated entities allowed if needed).
• Established in EU Member States (including OCTs), EEA countries or countries associated to EUAF (or negotiating association before grant signature).

Eligible Activities and Budget

• Project duration: 12-24 months.
• Minimum project budget: €100,000.
• Maximum grant per project: Up to 15% of call budget (€1,620,000).
• Funding rate: 80% of eligible costs (90% for priority actions reflecting Article 325 TFEU reports or ECA Special Report 19/2017).

Ineligible Elements

• Personnel costs.
• Infrastructure/land purchase costs.
• Financial support to third parties.
• VAT.
• Consumables under C.3.

Application and Evaluation Process

Key Dates:Opening: 17 March 2026. Deadline: 7 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage submission). Evaluation: May-October 2026. Grant signature: November-December 2026.

Submit electronically via Funding & Tenders Portal. Required documents: Part A (online), Part B (max 70 pages), detailed budget table (EUAF TA template), list of previous projects (last 3 years), price quotations/brochures for equipment (tied to budget table). Project acronym format: Year-Country-Acronym (e.g., 2026-BE-REI).

Award Criteria (100 points total; pass: 60 overall + individual thresholds)

Priority for ex aequo: uncovered themes, scores on added value/conformity/quality, geographical/thematic balance.

Financial and Operational Capacity

• Stable/sufficient resources; financial check (exempt: public bodies/IOs, grants <= €60K).
• Know-how/qualifications/resources; assessed via award criteria (exempt: public bodies/MS orgs/IOs).
• Exclusion: Bankruptcy, tax/social security breaches, grave professional misconduct, fraud, etc.

Payments and Reporting

• Prefinancing: 50% of max grant (guarantee if needed). No interim payments.
• Final payment: 90 days after final periodic report.
• Deliverables: Ex post questionnaire (1 year post-action).
• No-profit rule applies.

Key Considerations for Applicants

• Demonstrate clear link between equipment/training and EU fraud protection; include price quotes.
• Ensure no CCEI overlap; highlight interoperability/complementarity.
• Training must be specialised, proportionate, equipment-linked.
• Contact: olaf-fmb-hercule-ta@ec.europa.eu for queries.
• Read Online Manual, EU Grants AGA, EUAF AWP 2026.

Applicants should consult full call document for detailed conditions, templates and avoid common errors (e.g., budget inconsistencies, scanned documents). ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Detailed budget table must use official Excel template; equipment lines from row 3; training under C.3. See Call Fiche Annex on errors to avoid.