Review of the Conflict Minerals Regulation (EU(2017)821)

The European Commission DG TRADE is procuring a desk-based review of the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation (Reg. 2017/821) under call EC-TRADE/2026/OP/0007 to assess functioning, implementation and enforcement and to identify measures to reduce burdens on businesses, notably SMEs. The service contract is estimated at €300,000 for a 12-month delivery and requires a comprehensive review report with policy recommendations aligned with OECD due diligence guidance. Eligible bidders include research institutions, policy consultancies and expert firms with proven experience in due diligence, supply-chain analysis and SME impact assessment; award criteria are quality 70% and price 30%. Tenders must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (eSubmission) by 2 September 2026 at 14:00:59 Brussels time following the tender specifications and annex templates.

What is funded

Scope

A desk-based review study to assess the functioning and effectiveness of the Conflict Minerals Regulation, with emphasis on improving implementation and enforcement in the EU, analysing 3TG supply chains and company uptake of due diligence, the role of due diligence schemes, and identifying measures to reduce burden on businesses and SMEs while keeping alignment with the OECD standard. The study includes stakeholder consultations.

Estimated contract value:€300,000 (estimated overall contract amount) ¹

1. 1Who can apply: economic operators capable of providing policy research/analysis and stakeholder consultation services (consultancies, research organisations, consortia).
2. 2Contracting authority: European Commission, DG TRADE (call EC-TRADE/2026/OP/0007).
3. 3Delivery: services contract, planned duration c. 12 months; tendering and award follow standard EC eSubmission procedures.

Applications must follow the tender specifications and forms published on the Funding & Tenders Portal; selection will be based on quality (70) and price (30) criteria as set out in the procurement documents ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Tender documents and submission portal: Review of the Conflict Minerals Regulation (EC-TRADE/2026/OP/0007) available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Tender details.

Opportunity summary

Objective and scope

The European Commission, Directorate-General for Trade (DG TRADE), has published a procurement tender for a desk-based review of Regulation (EU) 2017/821 (the Conflict Minerals Regulation, CMR). The review is required under Article 17(2) of the Regulation and must assess the functioning and effectiveness of the CMR. The 2027 review will focus primarily on improving implementation and enforcement in the EU, analysing 3TG (tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold) supply chains feeding into the EU market, assessing the uptake of due diligence by EU companies and the role and functioning of due diligence schemes, and identifying concrete potential to ease administrative and operational burdens on businesses under the current Regulation, with particular attention to impacts on SMEs. The review must not change the reporting requirements laid down in the Regulation and must keep alignment with the OECD international standard. The activity is desk-based and includes stakeholder consultations.

The lead contracting authority is the European Commission, DG TRADE - Trade. The procurement is published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal under call identifier EC-TRADE/2026/OP/0007. The estimated total contract value is €300,000 and the planned contract duration is 12 months. The tender is a service contract for studies/research and related consultancy. Submission is electronic via the Funding & Tenders Portal (eSubmission). The tender documentation includes an Invitation to Tender, Tender Specifications, Draft Service Contract and annexes, Financial Offer Form and templates such as Declaration on Honour and contract annexes.

Key dates:Tender publication date: 16 June 2026. Deadline for submissions / Closing date: 2 September 2026, 14:00:59 (Europe/Brussels). Open tender event (possible clarification/virtual opening): 3 September 2026 at 14:00 (CEST). Additional information request period ends 25 August 2026. Consideration/change period for certain documents: until 30 June 2026. Estimated contract start and implementation timing: planned duration 12 months. ¹

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: Any legal entity meeting the tender selection and exclusion criteria set out in the procurement documents. Typical eligible types include private consultancies, research institutes, universities, nonprofit organisations, think-tanks, and consortia combining these profiles. The procurement documentation requests supporting evidence for financial, technical and professional capacity, and excludes entities under the EU exclusion criteria (e.g., conflicts of interest, criminal convictions, bankruptcy). The tender is not marked SME-suitable (smeSuitableIndicator false), but SMEs may apply either alone or as part of a consortium if they meet selection criteria.
2. 2Funding Type: Procurement / service contract (tender). This is a contract for services rather than a grant, loan or equity instrument. The instrument is a paid service contract with an estimated overall contract amount of €300,000.
3. 3Consortium Requirement: The tender does not mandate a consortium; it allows single economic operators and consortia. The tender documentation sets selection criteria and requests information on team composition, subcontracting and partners. Use of a consortium/subcontractors should be justified in the tender and documented in the submission.
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The contracting authority is the European Commission. Eligible tenderers are generally legal entities established in EU Member States and potentially in countries eligible under EU procurement rules; the tender documents and the Funding & Tenders Portal specify exact nationality/establishment requirements and any conditions for third-country entities. The activity concerns EU policy and EU market 3TG supply chains.
5. 5Target Sector: Trade policy and regulatory compliance with a thematic focus on responsible sourcing and due diligence in minerals supply chains. Cross-cutting sectors include transport and import channels, supply-chain transparency, corporate due diligence, SME compliance, and international standards (OECD guidance).
6. 6Project Stage: The contract is for a policy review and analysis (research/analysis and policy evaluation). Expected activities include desk research, stakeholder consultations, analysis of supply chains and due diligence uptake, and formulation of evidence-based recommendations. This corresponds to research, validation and policy recommendation stages rather than technology development or commercialization.
7. 7Funding Amount: The estimated overall contract amount is €300,000. The procurement documents (Financial offer form and Draft Service Contract) provide instructions for pricing and budget breakdown.
8. 8Application Type: Open tender (publication on the Funding & Tenders Portal). Submission method is electronic eSubmission via the Funding & Tenders Portal; tenderers must follow the Invitation to Tender and Tender Specifications and upload required forms and annexes.
9. 9Nature of Support: Monetary remuneration under a service contract: successful tenderer(s) receive contract payments against deliverables and invoice procedures as set out in the Draft Service Contract and Annexes (e-invoicing, VAT arrangements, pre-existing rights declarations). Non-monetary elements include access to policy stakeholders for consultations and Commission-provided guidance materials.
10. 10Application Stages: Single-stage open tender procedure with administrative, exclusion and selection checks followed by award evaluation. The award criteria are split by quality (70%) and price (30%) according to the tendering terms. There are procedural milestones: submission, administrative/compliance check, evaluation, award decision and contract signature. The tender documents set a tender validity period of 6 months.
11. 11Success Rates: Not specified in the procurement notice. As a competitive public procurement with a limited maximum budget (€300,000), success rates depend on the number and quality of bids received. Typical EU public tenders of this type receive a limited number of qualified bids (success rate variable and not provided by the Contracting Authority).
12. 12Co-funding Requirement: No co-funding is required. The tender is a paid service contract; costs are covered by the Commission through the contract value. Tenderers must demonstrate financial capacity to perform the contract and may propose subcontracting and resources as needed.

Application requirements and evaluation

Tenderers must consult and comply with the Invitation to Tender and Tender Specifications, and must submit required forms: the Declaration on Honour (for exclusion/selection), the Financial Offer Form (Annex 6), technical offer responding to the specification, and any supporting documents proving capacity, experience and key staff CVs. The award will be based on criteria detailed in the Tender Specifications; the overall weighting indicated in the lot is quality 70% and price 30%. The Tender Specifications include required deliverables, reporting timelines, invoicing and payment conditions, confidentiality and data protection clauses, and intellectual property allocations. Tender validity is set to 6 months from submission. The submission channel is the Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission (required).

Tender documentation and templates:The procurement package includes: Invitation to Tender (INVITATION TO TENDER - EC-TRADE/2026/OP/0007), Tender Specifications (TENDER SPECIFICATIONS_V1.pdf), Draft Service Contract (DRAFT SERVICE CONTRACT_V1.pdf) and annexes (Annex III VAT, Annex IV pre-existing rights declaration, Annex V e-invoicing), Annex 2 to Technical Specifications - Declaration on Honour (Annex 2 to TS-DECLARATION ON HONOUR_V1.docx), and Annex 6 Financial Offer Form (Annex 6 to TS-FINANCIAL OFFER FORM_V1.xlsx). These templates must be completed and returned as per instructions in the Invitation to Tender and Tender Specifications. The Financial Offer Form provides the required price breakdown structure and currency (EUR).

1. 1Technical offer structure: Tender Specifications require a detailed methodological approach to the desk review, proposed work plan and timeline for the 12-month period, description of team composition and roles, description of prior experience in regulatory reviews, supply-chain analyses and stakeholder consultation processes, risk management and quality assurance measures, and deliverables (interim and final reports, policy briefs).
2. 2Financial offer structure: Use Annex 6 Financial Offer Form (Excel). Provide total price, staff day rates and person-months, travel and subsistence (if applicable), subcontracting costs, overheads and any other cost categories permitted by the Draft Service Contract. Price will be evaluated against quality with weighting 30%.
3. 3Administrative documents: Completed Declaration on Honour, evidence for selection criteria (financial statements or equivalent, references for similar contracts), legal entity form and proof of registration, VAT documentation and any requested certificates or statements in Annex III/IV.
4. 4Consortium agreement/subcontracting: If the tenderer is a consortium, include a clear description of the consortium lead, roles of partners, subcontracting plan and, if relevant, a consortium agreement or letter of intent. The tender must specify which entity will sign the contract and assume contractual responsibility.

Mentioned countries and geographic scope:The call documents do not list specific beneficiary countries beyond the contracting authority being the European Commission. The geographic scope of the review concerns the EU market and 3TG supply chains feeding into the EU. Tender eligibility follows EU procurement rules; tender documentation provides details on nationality/establishment conditions and acceptance of entities from third countries where applicable.

Technical and sector details expected by the Commission:The Commission expects a strong methodological approach for desk-based analysis of the CMR implementation and enforcement, including: mapping of 3TG supply chains into the EU; assessment of uptake of due diligence practices among EU companies; evaluation of how due diligence schemes operate and interact with the Regulation; analysis of burdens on companies, notably SMEs; identification of existing and potential facilitative measures that could ease burdens while preserving reporting obligations and OECD alignment; stakeholder consultation design and execution; synthesis of findings into actionable recommendations and reporting to the Commission, European Parliament and Council. The technical offer should present team expertise in supply-chain analysis, due diligence standards (OECD Guidance), regulatory impact assessment, stakeholder engagement and EU trade/regulatory policy.

Application and evaluation process:Tenderers must register and submit via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Submissions will undergo admissibility and compliance checks, exclusion and selection criteria assessment, and then quality and price evaluation. The contracting authority will award the contract to the economically most advantageous tender according to the award criteria set out in the Tender Specifications. The tendering terms indicate appeal information and the administrative appeals receiver. Tenderers should ensure compliance with all mandatory deliverables and contractual clauses in the Draft Service Contract and annexes.

This is a publicly procured contract for services; it is not a grants call. Organisations bidding should carefully review the Tender Specifications and use the provided templates (annexes, financial form and declaration forms). For reference and submission access use the Funding & Tenders Portal listing for the tender Tender details - Review of the Conflict Minerals Regulation and the tender documents package linked therein Invitation to Tender and Tender Specifications ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Procurement documents published on the Funding & Tenders Portal include: Invitation to Tender (INVITATION TO TENDER - EC-TRADE/2026/OP/0007), Tender Specifications (TENDER SPECIFICATIONS_V1.pdf), Draft Service Contract and annexes, Annex 6 Financial Offer Form (Excel), and Declaration on Honour template. Tenderers must consult these documents for precise eligibility, submission checklists, templates and contractual clauses.

Tender Purpose and Scope

This tender seeks a desk-based review to assess the functioning, effectiveness, and implementation of the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation (CMR), with a focus on improving enforcement and easing the burden on businesses, particularly SMEs, while maintaining alignment with OECD standards ¹.

Key Focus Areas:The review will analyze 3TG (tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold) supply chains entering the EU, the uptake of due diligence by EU companies, the role of recognized due diligence schemes (e.g., RMAP), and concrete measures to reduce administrative burdens without altering reporting requirements ².

Who Should Apply

Applicants should be research institutions, policy consultancies, or expert firms with proven experience in EU trade policy, responsible mineral sourcing, due diligence frameworks, and SME impact analysis ³.

1. 1Demonstrated expertise in EU Regulation 2017/821 and OECD Due Diligence Guidance
2. 2Experience conducting desk-based reviews and stakeholder consultations
3. 3Capacity to analyze supply chain data and assess SME compliance burdens
4. 4Familiarity with recognized due diligence schemes like RMAP

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Selection will be based on quality (70% weight) and price (30% weight), with quality assessed through technical merit, methodology, team expertise, and understanding of CMR implementation challenges ⁴.

Tender Details and Timeline

Methodology and Deliverables

The review will be desk-based, incorporating stakeholder consultations, analysis of 3TG supply chains, assessment of due diligence scheme effectiveness, and identification of facilitative measures for SMEs ⁵.

Expected Deliverables:A comprehensive review report for the Council and European Parliament, including policy recommendations to improve CMR enforcement and reduce SME burdens, aligned with OECD standards and EU trade objectives ⁶.

Application Process and Documents

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the eSubmission method, with all required documents including the financial offer form, declaration on honour, and draft contract annexes ⁷.

1. 1Tender Specifications (PDF)
2. 2Draft Service Contract (PDF)
3. 3Financial Offer Form (Excel)
4. 4Declaration on Honour (Word)
5. 5Annexes on VAT, Pre-existing Rights, and E-invoicing (PDF)

Important Considerations for Applicants

Applicants must ensure their proposal addresses the dual challenge of strengthening CMR enforcement while minimizing administrative burdens on SMEs, without compromising reporting obligations or OECD alignment ⁸.

Key Challenges to Address:The proposal should propose concrete, feasible measures to ease SME burdens—such as simplified reporting templates, capacity-building tools, or equivalence matrices for certifications—while ensuring supply chain transparency and responsible sourcing ⁹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official tender description: EU Funding & Tenders Portal
2. 2First review report published 24 September 2024: DG TRADE – Conflict Minerals Regulation
3. 3OECD Guidance on Responsible Mineral Sourcing: OECD Due Diligence Guidance
4. 4Award criteria weights: quality 70%, price 30% Tender Specifications
5. 5RMAP scheme recognition: EU Commission Implementing Decision 2025/2071
6. 6SME burden analysis: EU Parliament Study on SMEs and Due Diligence
7. 7Submission method: eSubmission via EU Funding & Tenders Portal Portal Submission Guidelines
8. 8SME support under CMR: EC SME Support Programme
9. 9Recommendations for SME simplification: Eurochambres Position Paper