SPECIAL REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-06365A001000050008-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 23, 2000
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: February 6, 1967
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2000/09/08 : CIA-RDP78-06365A001000055000008-9
6 February 1967
-ecial Report
STATINTL
STATINTL
I visited three firma in CalJornia on February 1 and 2, 1967
which had indicated an interest in submitting proposals to design
and develop three units of a programmed course In Vietnamese?
One showed serious interest, one, mild interest, and the third, no
interest.
both of whom have good reputations as Programmers. They are not
equipped to undertake the "monumental" projects and prefer the
"smaller" tasks. My "not over $25., 000. 00" figure did not cause
him to laugh me out of court, as happened later ! He read our
Request for Proposal through twice, asked intelligent questions
and made convincing comments. He will mail us a proposal on or
abcnt 10 February., I recommend favorable consider at-'! on,
o,A an OTR contract, His firm has designed,
developed and published a number of well known Programs. The
firm is medium sized but self-contained--art shop, duplicating of
audio and visual materials, complete photo? lab., and equipment,
etc?
1 E? r to''
o
All went well until, at his request, I said, "not over $25, 000:, 00,. ?t
This prod'.iced a polite chuckle, an embarrassing pause, and his
statement,
STATINTL I couldn't begin to set up shop for that
figure. , ni. a one would cost me well over 25 grand.
The plus or minus 120 hours of programmed instruction.
in Vietnamese would cost in the neighborhood o~
He d5dn't slam the door, we parted friends., But I doubt that
we'll get a serious proposal,.
Approved For Release 2000/09/08 : CIA-RDP78-06365A001000050008-9
 ~TATINTL
$TATINTL
Approved For Releasez2090/09/08 : CIA-RDP78-06365A00100 05 008-9
I personally know the CIA. I have done
work for them; they have done work for me; I respect them,
I believe I still have the 'clearances.,' What we'd like to do
for you is the whole program; not gust three units of the 26;,
It would cost almost as much to organize for and develop
the three as it would for the whole. would
have to direct this himself. No one else is capable. May
I ask in round numbers what you've budgeted for this effort?
This time my "not over $25, 000. 00" produced an ill-disguised
guffaw in which I somewhat nervously joined.. On the defensive at
this point, I mentioned that the CIA also had budget problems, that
we weren't yet completely sold on P1, that we proposed to use the
three units as PAI and that other agencies of the Government would
benefit, etc,
again took over,
"If this is important to the Government:, if you foresee
a need for the civilian agencies of the Government to be in
South Vietnam after the military have departed, why In hell
don't you fellows in Washington get together and do the job
as it should be done? Why don't you go to the Bureau of the
Budget and *;ay that this is important and that we want in
dollars the equivalent of a light helicopter, or the electronic
equipment in one U2 or twelve mortars? To do the job right
will cost more than ten times your figure.
we don't want to bid on this oroposale
But I'll tell you what we would consider. If you can't
find anyone to do it, we'd rather, as a patriotic gesture,
do it for nothing, that accept your $25, 000, It's been
refreshing to talk with you., "
The above took over 1 1/2 hours, was followed by hearty hand-
shaking all around, and I got back in nay Hertz with my tail somewhere
in the vicinity of my legs and was glad to head for the air-port.
Approved For Release 2000/09/08: CIA-RDP78-06365A 8?66U 8(8-9
Instructional Systems Study