QinetiQ said its acquisition of Commerce Decisions will boost its consulting offering.

Global aerospace and defence group QinetiQ has bought tender assessment and management software company Commerce Decisions for £9.85 million.

The acquisition of the Oxford, UK-based company is expected to strengthen QinetiQ’s consulting offering, as well as boosting its capability definition and acquisition support portfolio.

Through the deal, QinetiQ now owns the licence for AWARD – software which supports the tender assessment and management process for buyers and suppliers.

The system is popular with the UK Ministry of Defence, where it is the chief tender evaluation software used.

The acquisition is expected to further boost sales of AWARD through QinetiQ’s existing sales channels in EMEA and North America, the company said.

Commenting on the acquisition, Clive Richardson, COO of QinetiQ EMEA said: “Commerce Decisions’ expertise in complex assessment strengthens QinetiQ’s consulting offering and complements our portfolio in capability definition and acquisition support.

“I am delighted to welcome their management team and employees to QinetiQ and am confident they will make a significant contribution to the continued growth of our advisory business.”

Commerce Decisions currently employs 38 staff who join QinetiQ’s worldwide dossier of over 8,000 employees in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Australasia) and more than 5,500 in North America.

It works primarily with UK central government departments, the National Health Service and local authorities.

For more information, visit: www.cd.qinetiq.com

By Natasha Piscitelli