The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has opened the tender process for bids to secure a contract relating to the assessment of Ireland's draft Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan.

It is seeking professional services for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and Appropriate Assessment (AA) process of Ireland’s draft CAP Strategic Plan 2028-2034.

In July 2025 the European Commission published a set of draft Regulations regarding the future European Budget and EU-funded programmes for the next multiannual financial framework (MFF).

This includes the regulations which set out the requirements for CAP post-2027, when the current CAP Strategic Plan is scheduled to end.

The regulations set out the framework for the new CAP, which represents a major departure from the previous programme period.

All EU funds are subject to consolidation into a new National and Regional Partnership Plan (NRPP).

The main objectives of the CAP for the period post-2027 are set out in the NRP Regulation to further improve the sustainable development of farming, food, and rural areas and to contribute to achieving the stated objectives.

The successful tenderer/consortia will be required to compile:

An appropriately scaled SEA of the draft CAP Chapter of the NRPP for the period 2028-2034, which fully complies with the principles and requirements of EU legislation on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment;
A screening for AA of the draft CAP Chapter of the NRPP for the period 2028-2034 which complies with the Habitats Directive and other EU legislation;
Subject to the results of the AA screening process, an AA of the draft CAP Chapter of the NRPP for the period 2028-2034, which complies with the Habitats Directive and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011.

The contract, which is supported by EU funding, is valued at €372,000 (excluding VAT) and the deadline for receipt of tenders is April 10, 2026 at 12 noon.