DISCUSSION OF THE PROTOTYPE (Sanitized) 1540 LIGHT TABLE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B05703A000200010024-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 26, 2004
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: August 18, 1970
• Content Type: MFR

CENTER ROUTIN(- SLIP
TSG 19 August 1970
TO INITIALS DATE REMARKS
DIRECTOR
I have sent copies of the
DEP DIRECTOR
2
tQ
attached to
EXEC/DIRECTOR
1
'6
Legislative Counsel and
s you in-
SPECIAL ASST
structed.
ASST TO DIR
3
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NA
HISTORIAN
.01001
I
CH /PPBS
DEP CH; PPBS
EXO!PPBS
CH/SS
DEP CH/SS
SC & P
RECORDS MGT
PERSONNEL
LOGISTICS
TRAINING
SECURITY
FINANCE
CH/IEG
DEP CH,IEG
EXOzIEG
CH PSG
DEP CH PSG
EXO PSG
CH/TSG
DECLASS REVIEW by NGA
DEP CH, TSG
EXO/TSG
DIR;IAS/DDI
CH/ DIAXX-4
CH/ DIAAP-9
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SUBJECT: Discussion of the Prototype
15110 Light Table
1. On 18 August 1970, a meeting was held in
the evaluation of the prototype
attendance were:
NPIC -
15110 Model II Light Table. In
opened the meeting by stating that the
had requested the meeting. He asked if
questions they wished to have answered.
he had questions on the short comings of their equipment:
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to discuss 25X1
had specific 25X1
a. In what ways were the systems and subsystems of the
Table deficient? How were they relative to the Otable?
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b. In the evaluation of the tables, was past performance of the
companies rated? Did managerial, technical, or any other factors
influence the evaluation?
c. He had questions on the equality of the evaluation. He
stated he heard rumors about the evaluation.
d. Is the Q Table build to the same specifications as the
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-SUBJECT: Discussion of the Prototype
1540 Light Table
e. Was =allowed to make more corrections to their table
during the evaluation period?
table over engineered and if so, was this
brought out at the critique.
pointed out that his organization carried out a
quantitative evaluation and not a subjective one.
that it might answer most of the questions if
evaluation of the"fixes" made to the
same briefing he gave the Executive Director, NPIC, on 4 August. He
stated that the deficiencies had been corrected with the exception of:
a. Excessive temperature at the film plane after 4.5 hours
operation with 2.0 density film.
b. Rate control of the carriage movement was still too high.
c. Dirt still got under the glass.
I
to improve the equipment and make it competitive.
suggested 25X1
gave the
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stated 25X1
that we would be glad to discuss the short comings and corrections to the
. of the
table but would not give a comparison of systems and subsystems
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during the evaluation period and the Center made an engineering judgement
of which table came closest to meeting specifications and the PI needs.
He stated that both tables did not totally meet specs and that the short
comings were reviewed with T&E and IEG and the decision had to be made on
said they would like to know what must be done
tables. He explained that a time problem existed
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SUBJECT: Discussion of the Prototype
these "fixes" it could have influenced our decision.
asked when the decision was made to go with
many decision points in our procurement cycle. This varies from the
operational request to the executive sign off. He thought it might have
stated that they had demonstrated
some fixes in April and some in mid-June. He asked if the decision had
been made prior to mid-June.
procurement cycle, the decision had to be made prior to the end of June
and technical and cost considerations both entered the picture. He said
he would not hazard a guess if present
would have won the competition.
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tests on both tables in March and April. The PIs felt they could
immediately go to work on the table but they desired further features. 25X1
The PIs felt they could not do this with theI
6.
for repairs.
1540 Light Table 25X1
had initially contained all 25X1
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table and different price 25X1
said they ran operational
[table. 25X1
was allowed in more frequently
iald he could not state how many times each
company was in for repairs. He stated that the ground rules were that a
contractor would be allowed in for repairs only if the malfunction would
stated that 8 series 25X1
of PIs were used in the operational tests. There was very little down
time for either table. Cost information was withheld and only the
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SUBJECT: Discussion of the Prototype
15L10 Light Table
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operation of the table was used in the evaluation.
asked what items prevented the
table being used immediately.
stated that the film drives, the heat problem, and the film
tracking prevented its immediate use.
7.1 stated that the over temperature of the drive
systems was caused by a failure of a component that was allowed to remain
uncorrected during the evaluation period. He thought this might have
seriously affected the evaluation.
stated that the 70 mm tracking was a very serious problem
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stated this was not the 25X1
case. A list was made of all the faults and a description made of the
seriousness of the fault. In all cases, faults had detailed rationales
as to their seriousness. Heat in PI space did not alone reject the table.
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during the operational evaluation. stated this did not 25X1
occur initially at the
plant. The first
was when the table was returned to
after the critique. Mr.
stated that we have to assume that the table is in proper working
order and ready for evaluation when it is delivered to us.
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was asked in more often during
stated that they were not asked in more as far as
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stated that had one recuring problem and 25X1
two problem areas.
did not know the dates and number 25X1
of visits. He said Q worked on the carriage drives several times when
it stopped the tests but that =was not allowed to make other fixes
during these visits.
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SUBJECT: Discussion of the Prototype
9.
I]_5)10 Light Table
asked if any other groups had been involved
for the Community through our TOC and operational people.
table that is not MI
satisfactory or is less satisfactory than the =table. He said
needed to learn what you are not happy with and what makes the
table "less good".
covered by
said he is still at a loss to get a hold on
stated that this had been pretty well
telling what was wrong and by
explaining the time frame.
beyond the specs.
asked what does the Center prefer in a table
explained that no one table could please
every PI but that the PI could not possibly live with the
as it was during the operational evaluation.
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table 25X1
stated that if they could have looked at the 25X1
table prior to 4 May, certain fixes might have been made.
stated that they were provided a critique once the T&E had been completed
but that there had been some procrastination on
to fixes to the problems highlighted at the critique.
part in respondin25X1
13. I Istated that the tracking problem was not clear at
. e 1111 aww j f1~f i'td .
the critiquerd that it was the number one item addressed on the
List of Fixes, dated 24+ May.
discussed at the critique.
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also stated that it was 25X1
stated that the tracking and
hunting problem had not been corrected in late June.
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thoroughly evaluated the tables. Can you compare the major areas of
knows where to improve their table.
stated that we have given you an evaluation of the short comings of your
table, and that a comparison of the tables is not needed.
stated that the green oil and the leaks could not have come
at a worse time but that we had accepted
had too many frills.
151+0 Light Table
explanation. Mr.
table had been over engineered and
sJbQd. he saw a picture of the
had a more polished job.
that the added items may have given the I
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asked what-weight was given to past performance.
table added points in
stated that the overall outward appearance
table was better.
stated they are trying to answer for them-
selves the great difference in cost for the tables. Did frills con-
tribute to these costs.
stated that there were many in-
tangible differences between the tables.
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said intangibles 25X1
only entered the PI evaluation not the T&E. Both tables basically met
specs but that the evaluation had to be time oriented.
asked why the purchase was all one buy if tables
were required by a certain date.
stated that this had been 25X1
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SUBJECT: Discussion of the Prototype
25X1 aired and discussed. If
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l5-l0 Light Table
could not have met the production schedule
there might have been a split order. He further stated that the T&E
report will be distributed throughout the Community and it will state
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the information free. The competitor is rumored to have received 2 to 3
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times as much money for the development. I Istated this was 25X1
eal~
not true-that the amount spent onnContractorX for total development was
He further stated that we were not buying competition.
contracting.
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stated that one point has not been covered.
would have to answer any questions on
said the only question he raises is evaluating
the table without correcting the temperature problem. Mr.
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built a prototype at a great loss and a competitor was provided
stated that people realized the table does not ordinarily operate
this hot.
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mat ion.
thanked the group for their time and infor-
reiterated that the T&E report on the tables and
the'corrections will go out to the entire community.
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t ~ r? s-. ,- r r~ r
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