Study on the application and impact of Regulation (EU) 2021/1230 on cross-border payments in the Union (CBPR2)

The European Commission, specifically the Directorate General for Financial Stability, Financial Services, and Capital Markets Union, has issued an invitation to tender for the study of the application and impact of Regulation (EU) 2021/1230 concerning cross-border payments, referred to as CBPR2. This procurement contract, identified as EC-FISMA-2025-OP-0001, is an open procedure with an electronic submission requirement. The estimated value of this contract is €250,000, with a maximum duration of nine months. The award will be made based on the best price-quality ratio. Eligible applicants are not explicitly defined but are expected to include organizations that can provide research and development services related to financial services, specifically those with expertise in cross-border payment systems. This encompasses large enterprises, universities, research institutes, nonprofits, government entities, public-private partnerships, and non-governmental organizations. The scope of eligible applicants excludes SMEs as indicated by the SME suitability indicator being false. The geographic eligibility for participation is primarily focused on the European Union, given that the project is aimed at assessing cross-border payment regulations within EU member states. There are no specific countries listed in the tender documentation, but the context implies a significant connection to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). The main target sector outlined for this grant is finance, with an emphasis on enhancing efficiency in cross-border payment processes. The study aims to provide both qualitative and quantitative data to support regulatory reviews of the CBPR2. Submission must be made electronically by a deadline of July 4, 2025, at 16:00 Brussels time. Questions submitted after June 26, 2025, will not be addressed, emphasizing the importance of adhering to set timelines. The submission process includes demonstrating professional suitability, economic and financial standing, as well as technical and professional capability. Successful applicants will receive funding in exchange for the delivery of research and consultancy services, following a single-stage application process. Co-funding is not required for this procurement, and there is no mention of success rates in the documentation. Potential bidders should consult the detailed procurement documents for further specifications, including a draft contract, technical specifications, and necessary forms, such as declarations and financial offers. To participate, a Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory, ensuring proper identification and compliance within the EU tendering framework.

The European Commission, DG FISMA Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union has published an invitation to tender EC-FISMA-2025-OP-0001 for a study on the application and impact of Regulation (EU) 2021/1230 on cross-border payments in the Union (CBPR2). This is an open procedure with electronic submission. The TED reference is 95/2025 319489-2025.

The aim of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) is to ensure that making electronic payments is as easy as paying in cash across the euro area and that no additional fees are charged when making electronic payments in euro in another Member State. Cross-border payments are crucial for the integration of retail financial services and the EU economy. They play an important role in bringing people and businesses across Member States together. Restrictions and excessive costs for cross-border payments prevent the completion of the Single Market. The general objective of the study is to provide qualitative and quantitative evidence on the application and impact of the CBPR2, with a view to informing the Commission’s review of this Regulation.

The estimated total value of the tender is €250,000. The contract is for services, with a maximum duration of 9 months. The award method is best price-quality ratio. There is no framework agreement.

The TED publication date is 19/05/2025. The date and time of the public opening is 07/07/2025 at 10:00 Europe/Brussels. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 04/07/2025 at 16:00 Europe/Brussels. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 26/06/2025 at 05:00 Europe/Brussels.

Selection criteria include:Suitability to pursue the professional activity, Economic and financial standing, and Technical and professional ability. Consult the procurement documents for details.

The following documents are available for download:

Invitation to tender EC-FISMA-2025-OP-0001 (request for offer), Tender specifications (Technical specifications), Direct contract template (Draft contract), Annex 2 Declaration of honour (tender), Annex 3 Power of Attorney (Draft contract annex), Annex 4 List of identified subcontractors (Draft contract annex), Annex 5.1 Commitment letter by an identified subcontractor (Draft contract annex), Annex 5.2 Commitment letter by an entity with relied on capacity (Draft contract annex), Annex 6 Financial offer form, Annex 7 Statement of annual turnover (Draft contract annex).

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given below, using the electronic submission method.

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In summary, this is a call for tenders by the European Commission, DG FISMA, for a study to evaluate the application and impact of the CBPR2 regulation on cross-border payments within the EU. The goal is to gather evidence to inform the Commission's review of the regulation. The tender is open to any organization that can demonstrate the required professional, economic, and technical capabilities. The selection will be based on the best price-quality ratio. The winning bidder will conduct a study, providing both qualitative and quantitative data, within a 9-month timeframe. The estimated budget for this project is €250,000. All submissions must be electronic, and potential bidders should pay close attention to the deadlines for submitting questions and the final tender. A Participant Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation. The eSubmission system supports various file types and encrypts uploaded documents for security.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include organizations capable of providing research and development services and related consultancy services. This could include research institutes, consulting firms, universities, and other entities with the necessary expertise and professional capabilities. The selection criteria mention "Suitability to pursue the professional activity," "Economic and financial standing," and "Technical and professional ability," suggesting a broad range of organizations could be eligible if they meet these criteria.

Funding Type:The funding type is procurement, specifically a service contract. The call is an "Invitation to tender (request for offer)" for "Research and development services and related consultancy services." The "Nature of the contract" is explicitly stated as "services."

Consortium Requirement:The need for a consortium is not explicitly stated. However, the presence of "Annex 4 - List of identified subcontractors," "Annex 5.1 - Commitment letter by an identified subcontractor," and "Annex 5.2 - Commitment letter by an entity with relied on capacity" suggests that applicants may involve subcontractors or rely on the capacity of other entities, implying that consortia are possible, but not necessarily required. The PIC (Personal Identification Code) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but given that the tender relates to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and cross-border payments within the Union, it can be inferred that the primary geographic focus is the European Union. The call aims to assess the impact of Regulation (EU) 2021/1230, implying that entities operating within the EU are the target beneficiaries.

Target Sector:The target sector is finance, specifically related to cross-border payments, retail financial services, and the impact of regulations on the financial sector. The call focuses on the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and the application and impact of Regulation (EU) 2021/1230 on cross-border payments in the Union (CBPR2). The main classification (CPV) code is 73000000, which corresponds to "Research and development services and related consultancy services."

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries are mentioned, but the focus is on the European Union and the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA).

Project Stage:The project stage is research and analysis. The call is for a study to provide qualitative and quantitative evidence on the application and impact of the CBPR2, with a view to informing the Commission’s review of this Regulation. This suggests the project is in the research phase, aiming to gather data and insights.

Funding Amount:The estimated total value of the contract is €250,000.

Application Type:The application type is an open call for tenders. The "Procedure type" is explicitly stated as "Open procedure," and the "Submission method" is "Electronic."

Nature of Support:The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services. The contract is for "Research and development services and related consultancy services," indicating that the selected tenderer will be paid for delivering these services.

Application Stages:The number of application stages is not explicitly stated, but it can be inferred that there are multiple stages, including submission of the tender, evaluation of the tender based on selection criteria (Suitability to pursue the professional activity, Economic and financial standing, Technical and professional ability), and contract award.

Success Rates:The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement:The co-funding requirement is not mentioned in the provided text.

Summary:

This is an invitation to tender (EC-FISMA-2025-OP-0001) issued by the European Commission, DG FISMA, for a study on the application and impact of Regulation (EU) 2021/1230 on cross-border payments in the Union (CBPR2). The tender is open to organizations capable of providing research and development services and related consultancy services. The aim of the study is to provide qualitative and quantitative evidence on the application and impact of the CBPR2, with a view to informing the Commission’s review of this Regulation. The estimated total value of the contract is €250,000, and the maximum contract duration is 9 months. Submissions must be sent electronically, and the deadline for receipt of tenders is 04/07/2025. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. Applicants must demonstrate their suitability to pursue the professional activity, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability. The project focuses on the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and aims to ensure that making electronic payments is as easy as paying in cash across the euro area. The selected tenderer will be responsible for conducting research and providing consultancy services to assess the impact of the CBPR2. The tender documents include the invitation to tender, technical specifications, a draft contract, and several annexes related to declarations, powers of attorney, subcontractors, financial offers, and annual turnover statements. The eSubmission system supports multiple file types, with attachments limited to 50 MB in size and a maximum of 200 files per submission. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation.