Интересно услышать ваши мысли по поводу float в предложении: The aim of the pre-financing is to provide the beneficiaries with a float. It remains the property of the EU until the payment of the balance.

Слово встречается единоразово среди всех 140 страниц договора.

Википедия дает такое значение:

Float is money in the banking system that is counted twice, for a brief time, because of delays in processing checks or any transfer of cash

Но мне эта информация пока мало чем помогла, не могу подобрать русского эквивалента.

Заранее благодарю!

float

мелкие суммы (небольшой резерв денежных средств, предназначенный для покрытия разнообразных мелких расходов)

See:

petty cash

Pre-financing is a payment intended to provide the beneficiary with a cash advance, i.e. a float.

Pre-financing is paid, in some procurement contracts and in most grant agreements, before the goods or services are delivered and before the occurrence of eligible costs by beneficiaries.

It may be split into a number of payments over a period defined in the particular pre- financing agreement.

The float or advance is either used for the purpose for which it was provided during the period defined in the agreement or it is repaid – if the beneficiary does not incur eligible expenditures he has the obligation to return the pre-financing advance to the European Communities. Thus pre-financing paid is not a definitive expense until the relevant contractual conditions are met and so is recorded as an asset on the balance sheet when the initial payment is made. Pre-financing constitutes a significant part of the European Communities' assets.

В стандартных «грантовых» pre-financing обычно называют авансом. Учитывая, что размер аванса может доходить до 80% от всей суммы гранта, вряд ли это можно назвать «мелкой суммой». Надо подумать

В тексте float = cash advance. Может, не мудрствуя, так и напивать: Цель предоставления аванса - обеспечить получателя денежными средствами?