Imagine you're heading up a tank company rolling through a blistering desert somewhere, with the possibility of unfriendly fire at any moment. Suddenly tank number two breaks down and tank five starts making some awfully weird noises like it's going to go kaput at any moment.

What's the quickest way to get replacement parts to the battalion? And how do you prepare for future breakdowns?

The Santa Fe Complex, a group of challenge-solving junkies who specialize in wickedly complex problems, is going to help the Department of Defense figure out these battlefield replacement-part questions.

Fred Seibel, who was selected this week as the new executive director of the complex, said the project is for the U.S. Army Logistics Innovation Agency, a Department of Defense division. "They're looking for ways to optimize distribution of materials to units in the field," Seibel said.

Spare parts are usually kept to the rear of battlefield action until they're needed, Seibel said. Another system keeps the spare parts coming from manufacturers and suppliers. "The issues are how those parts get steered to the right place at the right time," Seibel said. "You're operating under a lot of uncertainty. You're not sure when things will fall apart."

But there's no doubt they will at some point, usually at the worst moment, according to one of Murphy's laws.

Santa Fe Complex has yet to sign the final contract for the work with the Logistics Innovation Agency, so Seibel was reluctant to say how much it is worth. "We're a little bit down in the food chain relative to the agency itself," Seibel said. "But it is our science and technology needed in this contract."

The contract signals the potential for more paying contracts to support the complex. Thus far, the group consists of a paid office manager and executive director in a rented building on Agua Fría Street in Santa Fe, with a bunch of consultants who are paid on contract. The group's board and problem solvers include scientists, artists and technology geeks. Their rent and a little more has been covered since the group formed in 2008 by the city of Santa Fe's Economic Development Department.

Santa Fe Complex scientists, artists and technology consultants have helped model escape routes for Santa Fe County residents in case of wildlife and helped the San Francisco Department of Public Health track troubled youth within the city's social services network.

The contract with the Department of Defense would be its first with the agency. "We're moving toward more revenue-generating projects," Seibel said.

Contact Staci Matlock at 986-3055 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.