Defence and security systems firm QinetiQ has joined forces with the Thales-owned Quintec and 25 other associated partners to form the Haldane-Spearman Consortium.
The firms say they hope to offer the UK MOD and other customers in government, academia and industry value for money access to human sciences practitioners across Europe. It has submitted a bid to the UK MOD for a contract that will underpin human factors research for the UK military.
Stephen Leece, Consortium Director said: "The Haldane-Spearman Consortium offers unmatched knowledge of human sciences. Not only does this consortium represent a considerable proportion of the human factors expertise available in the UK, it is also setting out to use highly collaborative practices and a range of highly innovative working methods. Its insight already enables customers – both in military and civilian communities – to explore the full range of human challenges set within rapidly changing strategic environments."
The Haldane-Spearman Consortium’s first bid is for the MOD’s enabling contract ‘Preparing People for Operations: Human Contributions to Effectiveness’. This contract, due to be announced around April 2005, seeks to identify a ‘preferred supplier’ to MOD of human factors expertise. According to the MOD, this contractor will be able to deliver "the right people with the right skills and use the most appropriate technologies, techniques and products to sustain optimal military performance at individual and group level and in all operational environments".
What they say
Sylvia Horner, Quintec lead, said: "The Haldane-Spearman Consortium is a new model to exploit research, focusing the power of leading Human Science practitioners; scientists, world class academics, engineers and consultants. For the MOD, making the most of its most valuable asset, its people, is absolutely key to success in its military operations and peacekeeping activities. Human science provides the key to enabling people to reach their full potential, through better equipment, better processes and better working environments."
