LETTER TO HONORABLE HUGH E. WITT FROM LAWTON CHILES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78M02660R000800030035-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 19, 2005
• Sequence Number: 35
• Publication Date: April 4, 1976
• Content Type: LETTER

XORAW.M R;OICOFF. CONN.. CHAIRMAN SUBCOMMITTEEt
JOHN L. k4C CLELLAH. ARK. CHARLES H. PERCY, ILL LAWTON CHILES. FLA.. CHAIRMAN -
HF.NR:~ M. JACKSON, WASH. JACOB K. JAVITS, N.V. SAM IAUNN. CA. LOWELL P. WEICKER. JR., CONN.
? L#EE STCALFU MOHTMAINE Ap i JR se 2005/02/10: CIA-RDP78 E.. A . 0300350M V. RAN. JR.. DEL
AM E9 EN. A. SILL BROGC TENN.
LAWTONCHILES, FLA.
SAM MF(N, GA
JOHN GLENN, OHIO
LESTER A. FETDD
CHIEF COUNSEL AND STAFF DIRECTOR
RICHARD A. STWEGMAN AFF D Cmxf e - ~~ fz . ex~cxf e
CHIEF COUNSEL SEL AND STAFF DIRECTOR
COMMITTEE ON
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
SUBCOMMITTEE ON FEDERAL SPENDING PRACTICES.
EFFICIENCY, AND OPEN GOVERNMENT
[phone]
(PURSUANT' TO SEC. 7. S. RES. 0. NTH CONGRESS)
.WASHINGTON. D.C. 20510
April 4, 1976
Honorable Hugh E. Witt
Administrator
Office of Federal Procurement Policy
Office of Management and Budget
Executive Office of the President
Washington, D. C. 20503
Dear Mr. Witt:
This is in response to your March 5 submittal of the new
Major Systems Policy Circular to the Committee on Government
Operations, pursuant to Section 8(b) of Public Law 93-400.
As you know, remaining issues over the language of the
Circular itself were resolved prior to submittal to the
Congress. It is with considerable satisfaction, therefore,
that I congratulate you and your office for accomplishing
such an important milestone in what has been over a three-
year reform effort.
The provisions of the Circular embody the reform precepts
put forward by the Commission on Government Procurement report
on Major Systems Acquisition, calling for earlier and more
substained competition; front-end decisions based on mission
needs and corollary flexibility passed down to competitors;
a clear assignment of roles and responsibilities; and other
reforms which we can all agree hold promise of vast
improvements in the system acquisition efforts of all agencies.
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April 4, 1976
in this regard, I would suggest that the Commission's
report, as well as the public hearings before the Subcommittee,
be used as the authoritative interpretive guides for the
Circular. It is our understanding that Office of Federal
Procurement Policy plans to develop a companion narrative
document to spell out interpretations'and we would like to
request that the Committee participate in the development of
this material.
As you are aware, we'plan to place heavy emphasis on
implementation of the Circular which, by itself, means little
unless fully complied with. We anticipate conducting
oversight hearings to this end, as well as to monitor the
plans and progress made toward putting the policies and
procedures into effect. In this regard, the following critical
areas would appear to be of most concern and warrant special
attention:
? Section 4(b), coverage within the full intent.
a Section 6(a), agency decision documentation written
in mission' terms.
Section 8(a), designation of an effectively located
and empowered acquisition executive.
a Section 8(f), in-house organizations focused on the
listed activities.
e Section 9, a clear decision structure and documentation
for the four key decisions, particularly the agency
head decision called for in section 9(a).
a Section 10(b), clear agency head assignment of role
to components.
o Section 11(b), qualified firms to include newer and
smaller businesses who should be encouraged to
participate.
o Section 11(e), strict compliance of all Requests For
Proposal with these provisions.
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April 4, 1976
? Section 11(f), broad and balanced source selection
officials.
? Section 11(g), conformance with incremental funding
arrangements.
? Section 11(j), clear agency,head authorizations for
subsystem exceptions.
? Sections 12(c) and 15(b), clear agency head rejection
of competitive system demonstrations and congressional
notification.
? Sections 13(b) and (c), mission operational test
and evaluation before full-scale development and
production commitment.
? Section 14, strict compliance with budget provisions.
It is our intention to work closely with OFPP during the
next six month planning stage and wish to offer the Committee's
full support and cooperation.
Again, my personal compliments to you and the OFPP people
responsible for taking this important step.
With best regards,
/ ,y / l n
I,AWTON CHILES
Chairman
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EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT /)
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ACTION INFO
DATE INITIAL
1
DCI
2
DDCI
3
S/MC
4
DDS&T
5
DDI
6
DDA
7
DDO
8
D/DCI/IC
9
D/DCI/NI
10
GC
1
LC
2
IG
13
Compt
14
D/Pers
15
D/S
16
DTR
17
Asst/ DCI
18
AO/ DCI
19
20
21
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