Technical proposal for agriculture & agri-food public contracts
Agricultural and agri-food public contracts are undergoing major transformation with the EGAlim 2 law requiring public canteens to source 50% sustainable products including 20% organic. For farmers, cooperatives and agri-food SMEs, responding to these tenders represents a major opportunity requiring a solid technical proposal demonstrating product quality, traceability and environmental commitment.
The market in figures
French public procurement open data, 12 rolling months as of 2026-08-28. Amounts and durations are medians.
- 3,664
- contracts awarded
- 1,200
- winning companies
- 900
- active public buyers
- 160,000 EUR
- median amount
- 48 months
- median duration
What these figures tell you
With 1,200 winning companies for 3,664 contracts, a company wins on average 3.1 contract(s) per year in this segment.
The median amount of 160,000 EUR indicates the size of consultation to target first.
The median duration of 48 months shows how often these contracts return to tender.
The median is used rather than the average: a handful of very large contracts is enough to distort an average.
Regulatory framework: CAP, EGAlim and food safety
The technical proposal for agri-food contracts must address a dense regulatory framework combining agricultural policy, food safety requirements and environmental objectives.
EGAlim 2: mandatory thresholds for collective catering
Since January 2022, public collective catering must source at least 50% sustainable and quality products (Label Rouge, PDO, PGI, HVE, fair trade, short supply chains) including at least 20% organic. The proposal must demonstrate how your offer contributes to meeting these thresholds with a detailed breakdown by product family.
CAP conditionality and eco-schemes
If your farm receives CAP payments, conditionality (GAEC + SMR) determines your direct aid. The 9 GAEC standards and SMR requirements are prerequisites. CAP compliance signals responsible farm management in public procurement proposals. Eco-schemes (organic, HVE3, environmental certifications) are strong signals.
Food safety: HACCP and sanitary control plan
Every food supplier must have a sanitary control plan based on HACCP principles. The proposal must present: hazard analysis (biological, chemical, physical), CCPs, monitoring procedures, corrective actions, and traceability system. For animal-origin products, EU sanitary approval is usually required.
Structuring the proposal: quality, traceability, logistics
The agri-food technical proposal is distinguished by the importance of product quality and supply chain management.
Product presentation and labels
For each product family: geographical origin, production method (conventional, HVE, organic), labels and certifications with certificate numbers, technical data sheets (composition, nutrition, allergens), and proposed packaging formats.
Farm-to-fork traceability
Traceability is a pass/fail criterion. Describe your system: plot identification, batch numbers at each stage, up-to-date phytosanitary register, and tested recall capability. Traceability software and response times during alerts are differentiating factors.
Logistics and cold chain
Last-mile logistics are critical for collective catering contracts. Detail: delivery vehicles (refrigerated, approved), delivery windows, reception control procedures, stock-out replacement plans, and non-conformity management.
Short supply chains and local sourcing
Short circuits (direct sales or maximum one intermediary) and local sourcing are highly valued. Document: distance between farm and delivery point, number of intermediaries, local partnerships, and transport carbon impact.
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