Defence Online

The MOD, via the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s (Dstl’s) Defence and Security Analysis Division is seeking to appoint a contractor to lead, manage and deliver human social and behavioural sciences research for up to seven years.

The framework, known as the Human and Social Sciences Research Capability (HSSRC) will deliver agile and robust human social and behavioural sciences research by building and maintaining a supplier network with an emphasis on scientific excellence, innovation and collaboration to exploit skills and capabilities. This research will be used to shape current and future Defence and Security strategy, policy and capability.

The HSSRC framework covers six main technical areas:

• human performance (physical and psychological)
• humans in systems
• training and education
• personnel
• understanding and influencing human behaviour and
• health, well-being and enhancing medical capabilities and systems.

A Market Interest Day for suppliers to find out more about the HSSRC requirement was held on Tuesday 4 April 2017.

The main objectives for the day were to:

• provide an overview of the requirements for HSSRC and associated timescales
• discuss the requirement with potential contractors and sub-contractors
• offer an opportunity for Q&A
• provide a networking opportunity

View the HSSRC Market Interest Day presentation slides.

The event brought together over 150 delegates from academia, industry and Dstl to discuss the requirements for the new framework.

Lucy Evans, the Capability Lead for Human and Social Sciences at Dstl said: “We are delighted to be able to discuss our requirement for a multi-million pound research framework for Human, Social and Behavioural Sciences in support of UK defence and security. The framework will enable us to collaborate with suppliers to provide cutting edge and world leading research to address some of Defence’s highest priority people-related issues. At the Market Interest Day we gained huge value from talking to a broad range of suppliers, from large defence organisations, academia, SMEs and micro-organisations. The feedback we received will help us shape the requirement for the framework going forward.”

For further information and to get involved contact dstlHSSRC@dstl.gov.uk.