UNITED AIRCRAFT PROPOSAL FOR 'AN ADVANCED INFORMATION HANDLING SYSTEM'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04770A002900030014-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 27, 2006
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: October 15, 1965
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Releasg8!
0737: CIA-RDP78BO477OA002900030014-4
15 October 1965
MEMORANDUM FOR: Assistant for Plans and Development
THROUGH: Chief, Development Branch
Proposal for "An Advanced Information
Handling System"
1. The proposal for "An Advanced Information Handling System" sub-
mitted byl has been evaluated by
the P&DS staff from the following aspects: 1 The planned P&DS FY-66-67
Information/Materials Handling Program, (2) the IPD Staff Study (IPD/NPIC
212-65) dated 9 September 1965, and (3) P&DS's past experience in eval-
uating proposals. With the above considerations in mind, the following
comments are considered to be applicable:
a. Although we understand that two proposals were received,
only one was submitted to P&DS for comment. It is the experience
of this staff and the Procurement Division that solicitation and
evaluation of sole source proposals is an extremely dangerous
procedure in programs of this magnitude. It is understood that
other companies were investigated, but past experience indicates
that the Government has often been put into indefensible, com-
promising situations when competitive proposals are not obtained.
Frequently companies will put completely different personnel on
a proposal effort than those which may be contacted on a verbal
basis. The proposal is the standard legal work statement that
must be accepted from the contractor and not the verbal discussions
that may have occurred with their "front" personnel. We understand
that a "snow job" can occur in a proposal as well as in a verbal
conversation; however, only the proposal becomes a legal
committment.
b. The objectives, if any, against which the proposal was
written have not been made available to this staff. It is
therefore impossible to determine if the proposal does cover the
desired objectives. Thel proposal is definitely
incomplete in meeting the objectives as they are conceived by
P&DS. On the other hand, the proposal appears to be much broader
than indicated in IPD's staff study.
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c. The program as presented, particularly in Phase I, Analysis,
would result in a "crash" program, since much of the proposed five
months allocated for analysis would be devoted to education of
theQanalysis team. This would mean at best a superfical study
in the time proposed; however, the future of the entire Center's
information handling capability could rest on the study.
d. The context of the proposal and the experience background
in the personnel resumes indicate an excellent capability in the
general field of information processing. However, there is a
corresponding lack of knowledge and capability in reconnaissance,
photo interpretation and intelligence procedures. We believe
that the invitation of competitive proposals will reveal companies
which have experience in the applications of advanced information
handling techniques to reconnaissance, photo interpretation and
intelligence systems.
e. The proposal indicates advanced technical knowledge
of information flow analysis and processing techniques. Their
approach and ability to perform simulation work, is of extreme
interest to this staff. It is difficult, however, to determine
the full capability of I (without further consultation.
2. It is recommended that thel be given
serious consideration as one of the prospective bidders for the Information/
Materials Handling Program. One possible approach to solving the program
objectives is to use M as an associate contractor, utilizing their
strength in computer simulation and general computer background, and
contracting other organizations for correlated knowledge of reconnaissance
exploitation procedures and developments of advanced systems for materials
handling and exploitation of real-time pictorial and textural intelligence
acquired and transmitted through data link systems.
Chief, Support Systems Section, DB
SECRET