Akkodis, a division of The Adecco Group, was awarded a C$136 million (US$103.4 million) software systems engineering contract by the Canadian Department of National Defence. Akkodis received the award as part of a joint venture with Thales Canada and Kwesst Micro Systems.

The contract will support the department’s Directorate Land Command Systems Program Management Software Engineering Facility, which was created to provide in-house software engineering and management capability to the army.

“We will enable the [Department of National Defence] to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology and accelerate in their digitalization journey,” Tao Qiu, country president for Akkodis in Canada, said in a press release.

Contract terms call for the deal to run five years through April 2028 in an initial term with five additional one-year extension options.

The three partner companies will collaborate to develop and support specialized command, control, communications, computer intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance software.

Work is expected to commence before the end of this year and be primarily based in the National Capital Region with support provided across Canada at various Department of National Defence locations.