Knock, bloody Knock.
"How long before the MOD start a massive recruitment drive/bidding war for contract IT services??"
Would they know a star of contract IT services, even if they presented their wares/introduced themselves to the MOD? The Virtual Technology Capabilities of those pushing the envelope would most probably baffle them and sounds madly incredulous and anyone who would have an inkling is probably squirrelled away in some bunker somewhere.
And I cannot see any Sense in expecting to get relevant Defence Information from Budding Contractors, with a massive recruitment drive/bidding war, as the Information they really need, needs to be protected from prying eyes. Reading between the lines is what they will have to Excel at in order to XXXXtrapolate Advanced Intelligent Information.... however with most of them still painting by numbers the chances of them joining up Dots in AIMatrix with Semantic Analysis of Key Codes is slim. Fortunately, Hope Springs Eternal in Excellence Circles and one can always go straight to the top and Register IT and send it to HMGCC...... Ye Olde Worlde Boffin Territory.
Then a little trickle feed to XXXXpand upon the Lode will do no Harm but flogging a dead horse is never going to breathe Life into a Dead Parrot. .... although there is always the Light Fantastic, Goon Secret Weapon. That could Summon up some Treasury Reserves for Special Relationship Ops.
But Chinese Whispers and Russian Dolls Really are as valid for NeuReal Technological XXXXChange nowadays and they have just as much to Offer in NEUKlearer Fields as a Colonel Blimp/Flying a Desk type, if he is not up to the Job.
Crikey, I've Exhausted Exasperation there. I'm off for a Refill. Hold the Fort, there's a good chap.