---
title: "Behavioural Barriers and Enablers for SPS (PLUS) Compliance: A COM-B Approach"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-b66399b5-690e-49b5-bf08-fd6e6b36eb3e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-b66399b5-690e-49b5-bf08-fd6e6b36eb3e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-b66399b5-690e-49b5-bf08-fd6e6b36eb3e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-b66399b5-690e-49b5-bf08-fd6e6b36eb3e.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS"
published: "2026-02-16"
---

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

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-b66399b5-690e-49b5-bf08-fd6e6b36eb3e

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## Summary

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.

## Notice

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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/892ae9a2-2c78-4ac0-a8d8-cb7b82bfe2b2 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 20 Feb 2024 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 11 Feb 2026 |
| Contract period | 16 Feb 2026 - 1 May 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £114,219 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £114,219 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 4DF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | THINKS INSIGHT AND STRATEGY (BRITAIN THINKS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 79315000 - Social research services

## Release History

- 16 Feb 2026 at 13:10 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/892ae9a2-2c78-4ac0-a8d8-cb7b82bfe2b2

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/892ae9a2-2c78-4ac0-a8d8-cb7b82bfe2b2
  16th February 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

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