TRADE/2026/A2/A04 - Strategic Foresight Seminar

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Trade (DG TRADE) is planning a procurement opportunity titled TRADE/2026/A2/A04, focusing on strategic foresight services related to EU trade and economic security policy. This opportunity is structured as a middle/low value service contract, under the procedure identifier EC-TRADE/2026/LVP/0002-EXA. It aims to provide DG TRADE leadership with long-term strategic insights through high-level expert papers and a one-day seminar fostering dialogue among experts and DG TRADE's senior management.

Eligible applicants include consulting firms, research institutions, and specialized service providers capable of delivering complex strategic consulting services, as there is a preference for established organizations with expertise in EU trade policy. The tender is focused on procurement for services, meaning there are no direct grants or subsidies involved. The successful contractor will be responsible for the commissioning of 4 to 6 expert papers, each 4 to 6 pages, as well as organizing the seminar where discussions will be held under Chatham House rules.

While specific funding amounts are not disclosed, this contract is likely to fall below the EU threshold of €143,000. The procurement process will have a two-stage application: first, expressing interest by February 13, 2026, followed by invitation to submit formal tenders starting February 18, 2026. There is no requirement for consortium participation, but subcontracting is permitted.

The geographic eligibility typically includes entities from EU member states, the EEA, and potential candidate countries. The project duration is anticipated to be a maximum of four months, with the main focus illustrated by CPV codes indicating economic research services.

Overall, this pre-announcement signals the upcoming procurement process for those interested in contributing to the strategic foresight efforts of the European Commission in trade policy. Interested parties are encouraged to register their expression of interest electronically by the specified deadline.

The European Commission, DG TRADE - Trade, is planning to launch a negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract with procedure identifier EC-TRADE/2026/LVP/0002-EXA. This is not a call for tenders but a publication announcing the contracting authority’s intention to publish a future negotiated procedure. The project, titled TRADE/2026/A2/A04 - Strategic Foresight Seminar, aims to equip DG TRADE leadership with long-term insights to navigate the future of EU trade by generating policy-relevant strategic foresight, which will directly inform and strengthen the steering of trade and economic security policy.

The project will be delivered through two primary outputs: a series of concise, high-level papers (4-6 pages each) written by leading external experts on a range of specified topics, and a one-day strategic foresight seminar held in person, providing a platform for genuine debate between the expert authors and DG Trade senior management, under Chatham House rules. The successful contractor will be responsible for the end-to-end management and organisation of both the commissioning of papers and the execution of the seminar.

The main classification (CPV) is 79311400 - Economic research services. The nature of the contract is for services, with a maximum contract duration of 4 months. There is no framework agreement associated with this procedure.

The start date for expression of interest is 2026-01-30 Europe/Brussels. The deadline for expression of interest is 14/02/2026 05:59 Europe/Brussels. The indicative date of launch of the negotiated procedure is 2026-02-18 Europe/Brussels.

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given. The method of expression of interest is electronic, and the address for expression of interest is "Express interest".

A question and answer section is available, where users can log in to create questions, access public Q&A, FAQs, and manage their questions. One FAQ is already available: References that feature an ‘ExA’ are not calls for tenders but a publication announcing the contracting authority’s intent to launch in the future a low or middle negotiated procedure. This was published on 03/10/2024 16:32.

In summary, this is a pre-announcement for a future negotiated contract by DG TRADE focusing on strategic foresight for EU trade policy. The project involves commissioning expert papers and organizing a seminar to facilitate discussions on the future of EU trade. Interested parties can express their interest electronically, and the contracting authority will then proceed with a negotiated procedure to select a contractor. The project aims to provide DG TRADE leadership with the insights needed to navigate the evolving landscape of international trade and economic security.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is a planned negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract, suggesting that eligible applicants are likely to be service providers, consulting firms, or other entities capable of providing economic research services and event management. The successful contractor will be responsible for end-to-end management and organization, indicating a need for experience in these areas.

Funding Type: The funding type is a service contract, as the contracting authority (European Commission, DG TRADE) seeks to procure services related to economic research and event organization.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is preferred. However, the description focuses on the "successful contractor" being responsible for the entire project, which may imply a preference for a single entity capable of managing all aspects.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but given that it is a European Commission DG TRADE initiative, it is highly likely that the opportunity is open to entities within the EU, and possibly the EEA or EU candidate countries. Further details would be needed to confirm eligibility for entities outside of these regions.

Target Sector: The target sector is primarily economic research services, specifically related to the future of EU trade and economic security policy. It also involves event management, as the contractor will be responsible for organizing a strategic foresight seminar. The CPV code 79311400 confirms the focus on economic research services.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The focus is on EU trade, suggesting a European scope.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on development and implementation, specifically generating policy-relevant strategic foresight through expert papers and a seminar. It is not basic research but rather applied research and knowledge dissemination to inform policy.

Funding Amount: The opportunity is described as a "middle/low value contract," but the estimated total value is not specified. This suggests the funding range is likely under €200k, but further information is required to determine the exact range.

Application Type: The application type is a planned negotiated procedure. This means that after the expression of interest, the contracting authority will likely invite a select number of candidates to submit a full proposal.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered. The contract is for the provision of economic research services and event management, so the support is financial compensation for delivering these services.

Application Stages: The application process appears to involve at least two stages: an expression of interest, followed by a negotiated procedure where selected candidates will be invited to submit a full proposal.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned. As a negotiated procedure, the success rate after the expression of interest stage is likely to be higher than an open call, as the contracting authority will pre-select candidates.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not mention any co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This opportunity is a planned negotiated procedure for a middle/low value service contract managed by the European Commission's DG TRADE. The project aims to equip DG TRADE leadership with strategic foresight to navigate the future of EU trade and economic security policy. The selected contractor will be responsible for commissioning high-level papers from external experts and organizing a one-day strategic foresight seminar. The procedure involves an expression of interest, followed by a negotiated procedure with selected candidates. The contract duration is a maximum of 4 months. The start date for expression of interest is 2026-01-30, and the deadline is 2026-02-14. The indicative date for the launch of the negotiated procedure is 2026-02-18. This is not a call for tenders but an announcement of a future negotiated procedure. The main classification is economic research services.