Award

Behavioural Barriers and Enablers for SPS (PLUS) Compliance: A COM-B Approach

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

16 Feb 2026 at 13:10

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The public procurement contract titled "Behavioural Barriers and Enablers for SPS (PLUS) Compliance: A COM-B Approach" has been awarded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), with Thinks Insight and Strategy (Britain Thinks) Limited selected as the supplier. This contract, classified under social research services, aims to understand and address behavioural factors affecting SMEs' compliance with the updated SPS (PLUS) Agreement, which facilitates agri-food trade between the UK and EU. The procurement followed a selective call-off from a framework agreement, currently in the award stage, with the contract period set from 16th February 2026 to 1st May 2027. Although the tender period ended on 20th February 2024, the awarded contract notice was published on 16th February 2026, valued at £114,219 GBP.

This contract presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in research and behavioural analysis, particularly those experienced in the agri-food sector and SME engagement, as it seeks to develop tailored interventions to ease regulatory compliance. The involvement of SMEs in this research can foster business growth through improved readiness for SPS (PLUS) compliance, potentially boosting exports and supply chain efficiency. Businesses capable of offering evidence-based insights into behavioural economics or policy implementation would be well-positioned to compete or collaborate under similar frameworks in the future, enhancing their credibility and influence within the trade compliance niche.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Behavioural Barriers and Enablers for SPS (PLUS) Compliance: A COM-B Approach

Notice Description

The updated SPS (PLUS) Agreement introduces new compliance requirements aimed at simplifying agri-food trade between the UK and EU by reducing border checks and administrative burdens while maintaining food safety and biosecurity standards. These changes promise significant benefits, including increased UK exports and improved supply chain efficiency. However, SMEs, key players in food production and trade, face resource constraints and competing priorities, creating behavioural barriers that risk delaying readiness. Currently, there is limited understanding of what SMEs need to comply with SPS (PLUS) and the behavioural factors influencing their ability to adapt. These include attitudes toward regulation, perceived complexity, capacity limitations, and motivational drivers. Without targeted, evidence-based interventions, policy implementation risks being generic and less effective. This research will fill that gap by identifying behavioural barriers and enablers using the COM-B framework (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation). It will map friction points such as paperwork overload and unclear guidance, segment SMEs by readiness level, and design tailored interventions to support compliance. Methods will include evidence review, gap analysis, interviews, workshops, and survey enhancements, culminating in a behavioural map and practical toolkit. The findings will inform Defra's Business Readiness Directorate and Communication teams, enabling them to embed behavioural insights into programme design and communications. By addressing behavioural drivers, this project will ensure SMEs are equipped and motivated to comply efficiently, supporting timely implementation of SPS (PLUS) and maximising its trade benefits.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-b66399b5-690e-49b5-bf08-fd6e6b36eb3e
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/892ae9a2-2c78-4ac0-a8d8-cb7b82bfe2b2
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a framework agreement
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79315000 - Social research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£114,219 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£114,219 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Feb 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
20 Feb 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
11 Feb 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
16 Feb 2026 - 1 May 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

THINKS INSIGHT AND STRATEGY (BRITAIN THINKS

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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