CGI has won a contract from the Ministry of Defence’s National Armaments Director Group to provide technical and project support for PICASSO, the programme that develops and sustains Britain’s national geospatial intelligence capabilities, according to the company.
The PICASSO Client-Side Support contract was awarded competitively through the department’s Digital and IT Professional Services framework, and covers client-side technical leadership and specialist project support across several sites. The work takes in geospatial intelligence, imagery, meteorological and live operational services.
Neil Timms, senior vice president for space, defence and intelligence in the United Kingdom and Australia at CGI, said: “PICASSO is a strategically important programme for UK Defence, and we are pleased to continue supporting the Ministry of Defence as it evolves these critical geospatial intelligence capabilities. Drawing on well over a decade of experience supporting the programme, together with the expertise of our partner organisations, we will provide the client-side technical leadership and specialist support needed to help deliver its next phase of evolution.”
The company said the contract introduces a flexible delivery model letting the department draw on specialist expertise as requirements change, and listed outcomes including maintaining operational continuity across critical services and supporting the adoption of modern approaches to data, cyber security, artificial intelligence, architecture, agile delivery and service management.
CGI will deliver the work alongside QinetiQ, AtkinsRéalis, i3Works, Warleggan Consulting and 5Eyes Consulting. It has supported PICASSO since 2011 and also works on the Borealis and Nostromo programmes for the department.
Geospatial intelligence covers the collection and analysis of imagery and mapping data to describe and assess physical features and activity on the ground, and underpins targeting, planning and operational awareness across the services.
