LETTER TO THE HONORABLE ALBERT C. HALL FROM (Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00514R000100060015-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 28, 2002
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: November 6, 1972
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2002/06/24: CIA-RDP
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6 November 1972,
The Honorable Albert C. Hall
Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Intelligence)
. Roomn 3E 282
The Pentagon
I gather from discussion with our representative to the first meeting
of the COINS Review Group which you established under Mike Malkin that
there seemed to be some effort toward expanding the deliberations of the
group beyond looking at the COINS problem, in favor of an over-ali review
of information exchange systems, with particular reference to those of
primary interest to DOD. Obviously you will want to look into the intra-
departmental problems but, as we understood the purpose of this group, it
was to look at the community COINS system. with particular reference to
user requirements. This seems to be. the overriding community problem
that needs attention just now. as outlined in your letter of September 12th
and Dick Helms' reply of September 22nd.
I am attaching a suggested set of terms of reference as a basis for
guiding the deliberations of this group, which I would hope would be discussed
at its next meeting. These are certainly not perfect but it seems to me they
are more in line with what we all intended to achieve in establishing this
group. These terms of reference particularly emphasize the user needs.
I am aura you will agree that we should get on with this task as quickly
as possible. If it seems reasonable to you, a target date of no later than
February I at would seem to be in order. This date would make it possible
to take into account the findings of the group in considering allocations of
Fl 1973 funds. in the planned use of funds already contained in the various
departmental budgets for Fl 1974 which must be addressed with the Con ross
next spring, and in the follow-on requirements, if any, we will be considering
in the Fl 1975 program development in the coming months.
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General Taylor or I are ready to meet with you or your representative
at any time for further discussion, if you wish.
Sincerely,
Acting D DCI IC
Attachment
Terms of Reference
IC:TAP:dm
Distribution:
Original - Addressee
1 - Dr. Steininger, ADDS&T/
1 - Mr. Briggs, D/PPB
1 - Gen. Taylor, C/IHC
I -
1 -
1 - AD/DCI/IC chrono
25X1A
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2
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GENERAL TERMS OF REFERENCE
This review will focus on the COINS information exchange
system, including likely Washington-area user requirements for
the system for the next three to five years. Given below are the
general guidelines that should be employed by the Review Group in
its evaluation of the COINS system.
1. Viewing COINS as a prototype automated data
exchange system, consider the adequacy and the limitati,_bns
of the present COINS system to fulfill intelligence community
needs in the Washington area. Evaluate COINS utilization
and effectiveness in support of the needs of a wide range of
users at different processing stages and with different
functions, with particular attention to the problems posed by
the needs of all-source users.
2. Identify presently available files that would be of
value in a multi-agency exchange system, including files that
are now in COINS, and those that are not.
3. Identify new files that might be of value to have in
such a. system. Identify the needs for and the appropriate
methods of accomplishing exchange.
4. The Review Group should consider the efficacy of
the COINS system as an instrument for improving the intelli-
gence product and associated analytic processes. Throughout
all phases of this review, draw where possible on studies
previously completed or under way which provide information
or help illuminate the issues involved.
5. Those resources, both manpower and hardware, in
each agency which are currently committed to COINS should
be identified.
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