MICROFILMING COSTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-00433A000100060042-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 6, 2002
• Sequence Number: 42
• Publication Date: June 12, 1967
• Content Type: SUMMARY

Approved For ase 2002/06/05 : CIA-RDP78-00433'd100060042-0
Tnc RZI ~ IL4la CL ?COSTS
The most practical way to microfilm voluminous inactive records
having physical characteristics of the bulk of those in the Records
Center would be to use 16am rotary cameras at a reduction ratio of
24 to 1. The rotary camera would be hand fed for those files made
up of mixed sizes, colors and weights of papers. Files of uniform
papers would be automatically fed by using a motorized feeding
mechanism attached to the rotary camera.
Mind feeding would produce 10,000 filmed pages per day per camera.
Automatic feeding would average close to 30,000 pages per day. I
would guess that a combination of the two modes of feeding would
produce an average of 15,000 pages per camera day. Although this
is not a wild guess, a more precise estimate would require a
reexamination of the records on my part.
Basing the average filming speed at 15,000 pages per camera day,
the following costs would result;
- 50,000 cu. ft. 0 2,000 pages per = 100,000,000 pages
- 1 reel (100 ft.) 16mm film at 21.,x 3,000 pages
- 100,000,000 pages A 3,000 33,333 reels
-100,000,000 pages a~ 15,000 6,666 camera days
- 6,666 camera days - 6,666 operator clays
- 33,333 reels 0 1%.21 per incl. developing - '140,330
- 6,666 camera days 0 ';'V+ rental ~per26,665 11134,I~00
per
- 6,666 operator days (GO 4.3) 0.16
(For each operator day 1/3 day would be required to condition
papers for filrm.ing, i.e. remove fasteners and prepare I{.Luargets'
to replace identifying data carried on file dividers, folder
tabs, box labels, etc. Thus 2,222 man days for conditioning
would be required.)
- 2,222 conditioning days 0 ;;20.16 per - , p1.4, 800
(For each camera day 1/10 day would be required to inspect
film, splice retakes and label cartons. This would total 667
ran days.)
-- 667 inspecting days n `,'-20.16 - 6;.13,1140
0 :
)1.50 `1,000
- 667 film reader equipment days rental
Total all costs this sheet ........ ~M 360,635
Approved For Release 2002/06/05 : CIA-RDP78-00433A000100060042-0
 Approved For Rel
se 2002/06/05 : CIA-RDP78-00433A100060042-0
V 4._
In order to forecast additional costs more accurately it must be
determined how long the microfilming of 100,000,000 pages should
take in terms of months or years. I would think that a time period
o?j 2 to 3 years would be most satisfactory. Less time would require,
larger numbers of people and equipment items and therefore more
working space. A longer period would not keep fax enough ahead of
now deposits and no doubt would cost much more due to the inexorable
rising of costs.
For the sake of costing let's decide on 30 months to complete the
filming of 50,000 ct. ft. of records.
-- 30 months : 600 working days (realistic)
- 6,666. camera days = 600 = 11 cameras
- 1.1 cameras 11 operators
- B. cameras 4 conditioners
- 11 cameras 1 inspector
For the above force-of people there should be:
- 1 Supr.-in-charge...GS12.3 for 30 months ;;29,210
I Asst. supervisor...GS9.3 for 30 months = 520,545
- l Camera supervisor...GS7.3 for 30 mos. - !1M.193
- 1 Conditioning supr...GS7.3 for 30 mos. = P17,193
- 1 Laboror.. reCiu].\1'. G332.3 for 30 mos. _ 11?;`111,392
Total salary suer. & labor
Total from preceding sheet
GRJ ID TOTAL COSTS
$95,533
'936o.635
1> 456,1688
Space requirements would average out at the same per person
allowance as for clericals, i.e. 40 sq, ft, x 21 ;840 sq. ft.
GRALID TOTAL SPACE .540 SQ. FT.
Does not include hiring costs, training costs, fringe benefits,
space costs, secretarial assistance, management overhead, etc.
Approved For Release 2002/06/05 : CIA-RDP78-00433A000100060042-0
 Approved For Rel_Vse 2002/06/05 : CIA-RDP78-00433A00Q100060042-0
P'
NOO
The cost figures shown do not include certain overhead costs
and they are based on near optimimi conditions.' A 10ci,' ad-
just7:ent for unforseon slippage added to the overhead costs
would up the total costs to as much as 6525;000, Slippage
could result from operator ineptness or machine malfunction-
ing.
From past costing experiences with private contractors, I do not
feel that the Agency could obtain a bid from an acceptable
contractor for less than ";12.50 per thousand pages or $'1,250,000
for the contemplated quantity of 100,000,000 pages. Because
of the scarcity of good help, I further feel that a contractor
would require at least 18 months to complete this job. It
would be particularly difficult for a contractor to recruit
people that could meet both aptitude and security requirements
and yet be willing to work for a comparatively modest wage.
The kind or mode of inicrofi7.ming I have recomnended is by far
the least expensive. The film is wound in 100 ft. lengths
on plain reels that would be threaded onto reading devices.
The reader could or could not have hard copy printing capability.
Records Center personnel could, if desired, service requests
for material so filmed at a rate of 5 to 10 minutes per request
depending on the need for photo copying or hand abstracting.
Obviously, reference costs would be a lot less if the less
active files were selected for microfilming.
The same microfilm described above could be placed into film
cartridges that would facilitate mounting on the film reader
and would improve search efficiency. These cartridges cost
about 1 each and accomodate 100 ft. lengths of film.
Any form of microfilming in which a flat bed camera is used
:would increase overall costs by at, least 100% and is therefore
not recommended for seldom used record storage.
Approved For Release 2002/06/05 :. CIA-RDP78-00433A000100060042-0
 Approved For Rele se 2002/06/05 CIA RDP78 00433 00 00060042-0
_y4 (,I t 4; WILL C 11E K tL LASSS 8Cri 4 fO144 AND GOTTOM ~~?
STATINTL
CENTRAL INTELUGEN E AGENCY
OFFICIAL ROUTING SLIP
TO
NAME AND ADDRESS
DATA:.
INITIAL,'
I
2
3
4
5
G
A0 ION DIRECT REPLY
__ ~~ ----
PREPARE REPLY
APPROVAL
DISPATCH
RECOMMENDATION
~__..~...._
RE'CEIRN
CLdNCURRENCEINFORMATION
SIGNATURE
Reltnarks:
Attached is a brief acalycis of the $525',000-
coat on a 1b.7:oject to film 50,,0 00 cubic feet of
records if the Agency rune the Project or
5$l%25Og,000 for a contractor.
Thews es Girzstec are for a most economical
but `, e I:Ia micr o1'im because the subject matter
In iraeAve z eco.rrds of lim
ited reference activity
F
Hai xer , 1.3..?..l:Lty re is ~~~ri x,~ will increase the
cost
.,,ew.