UK MoD extends Niteworks to 2018
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has extended its contract with Niteworks for two years beyond its scheduled end date of March 2016, with the service now set to end at the end of March 2018. Niteworks announced the extension on 27 August.
Niteworks was established in 2003 to provide the MoD with expert advice in support of military operations and capability planning. The partnership comprises more than 150 organisations including the MoD, Dstl, large defence primes, broader suppliers, research establishments and specialists.
The Niteworks approach enables the MoD to rapidly assemble impartial expertise from across the defence community. It brings together knowledge of the problem and possible solutions, allowing for a better understanding of the feasibility of recommendations and enabling them to be rigorously tested and challenged from a range of perspectives.
Simon Jewell, managing director, Niteworks, said: ‘In the face of the evolving security situation, the decision to extend the Niteworks partnership is timely given the need for MoD and industry to work as a whole force to de-risk and accelerate the provision of military capability. Niteworks offers a tried and tested construct through which MoD can mobilise industry and academia to gain impartial advice in support of its business and operational imperatives.’
Mike Quigley, director technical at DE&S said: ‘I am pleased that the Niteworks contract has been extended out to 31 March 2018. This gives MoD a capability to help understand the level of risk in the complex systems we procure and to pull through innovation into service. I am encouraged by the health of the partnership, especially the number of SMEs that have chosen to join.’
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