LETTER TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL VERNON A. WALTERS, USA FROM (Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79M00467A002400010012-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 43
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 9, 2004
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: January 23, 1976
• Content Type: LETTER

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UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
SIGINT COMMITTEE
OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN
23 January 1976
Lieutenant General Vernon A. Walters, USA
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
7D60, CIA Headquarters
Washington, DC
Dear General Walters:
As the Acting Chairman, USIB on 25 September 1975, you
will recall your approval of the new National SIGINT Requirements
System and that you acknowledged the need for a small full-time
staff to assist the Chairman of the SIGINT Requirements Validation
and Evaluation Subcommittee (SIRVES) in system development and
maintenance. Manning for the staff, however, had not been sought,
pending a decision on the operating location for SIRVES. I can now
report that requisite space has been identified here in the head-
quarters building.
Personnel to fill the three professional billets authorized
by the Board (on a non-reimbursable basis) are being sought from
the Intelligence Community at large. I am now in the process of
soliciting a nomination from each of the Board Principals except
ERDA and the FBI at this time. I have suggested that the nominees
be SIGINT professionals of the civilian grade GS 13/14 or military
equivalent and that they be made available for a one or two year
tour extendable for a longer term with the consent of the individual
and his/her parent organization. In particular cases, I would of
course be pleased to discuss nominations for shorter periods. In
view of the vital CIA role and interest in all SIGINT requirements
matters, it seems to me that it would be to our mutual advantage
to have you nominate a CIA member to fill one of the three staff
vacancies. Those finally selected will have the advantage of direct
personal involvement in the USIB SIGINT requirements process and
will therefore enjoy a unique opportunity to ensure the fullest
understanding of your particular SIGINT needs. Concurrently,
while working in support of the total community requirements and
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evaluation endeavor, the staff members will be.acquiring new and
rewarding experiences that will undoubtedly benefit them and their
organizations both during and after their assignment.
In addition, recognizing the need for the professional staff,
CIA also agreed to provide two persons for clerical support. I
envision that one of these positions will be a secretary/steno at the
GS 06/07 level. The second person should have basic qualifications
in the operation of a computer terminal and printer equipments as
well as being able to assist in meeting routine typing requirements.
This person should be at a GS 07/08 level. Hopefully, these people
can be made available to the staff, on a full-time basis, for a year
or so. We would like them by the fourth week in February.
In view of the imminent availability of space accommodations
for SIRVES and the high community interest in pressing on with the
development of the National SIGINT Requirements System I would
appreciate your response by 23 February 1976.
Kindest regards,
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UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
1A
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J&4e X13
Memorandum for Holders-1
USIB-S-9.4/31
25 September 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR HOLDERS OF USIB-S-9.4/31
SUBJECT
REFERENCE
SIGINT Requirements Mechanism
USIB-S-9.4/31, 3 September 1975,
limited distribution through special
channels
1. In restricted session at the 25 September USIB meeting, the
Acting Chairman invited Chairman of the SIGINT
Committee, to present the subject. reviewed the proposal
before the Board and said that he would welcome any questions the USIB
Principals may have on this matter.
procedures for amplications and requests for information as described in the
paper and suggested that they should alleviate the concerns expressed by
Mr. Morell.
confirmed that the new SIGINT requirements mechanism would not inhibit
the flow of time.critical or crisis requirements from any appropriate
authority directly to the Director of NSA. Mr. Morell said that Treasury
was also concerned with urgent requirements noting that the current
arrangement with NSA worked well. While a specific item might not be
characterized as crisis oriented he said he would like to continue to rely on
the judgment of NSA in responding to the urgent needs of Treasury.
Mr. Carver, D/DCI/NIO, said it was his understanding that the mechanism
would provide for direct forwarding of time-critical requirements andj at
the same time, establish a forum whereby competing requirements could
be adjudicated as required. Mr. Walsh noted that the time-critical require-
ment procedures worked well in the COMIREX arena. General Allen said
that a large body of urgent requirements could be satisfied by existing data
bases without impacting on .collection resources. oted the
2. In response to a question from General Pustay,
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25 September 1975
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3. General Allen observed that the new mechanism was being devised
to replace one which clearly had not been working well. He believed the
new system would be better but cautioned against developing overly rigid
bureaucratic procedures. Commenting that it would take approximately a
year to complete the transition, he suggested that the USIB carefully monitor
the process to make sure it is functioning properly. General Graham said
that in his view the new requirements mechanism does not and should not
impact on the day to day decisions of the operational chain of command.
4. Mr. Walsh suggested that the staffing proposed to implement and
support the requirements mechanism was too modest to accomplish the task
in the time specified. He suggested eight professional and four clerical
positions; the professionals to be assigned on a part-time basis. Only the
Chairman, Executive Secretary and clerical personnel would be full-time.
In addition, he commented on the large task involved in computer support.
He suggested that an action plan be developed and that regular reports be
provided to the USIB on the progress of SIRVES. He proposed that the staffing.
sufficient period of time to judge the personnel impact of the mechanism.
General Allen supported the staffing proposed by the Committee and said that
in addition he would commit resources necessary for the computer support.
be reviewed following the initial twelve-month period.
responded that the task involved would probably require more than the
proposed full-time staff of three professionals and two clericals. It was his
view, however, that there was a need for the three full-time professionals
to orchestrate the effort using additional personnel on an ad hoc basis, such
as task teams for particular aspects of the development. General Graham
commented that he too questioned whether the proposed staff would be
sufficient even after full implementation of the mechanism. As an initial step,
however, he preferred maintaining the three full-time professionals with
ad hoc assistance as necessary. This arrangement should be reviewed after a
5. Mr. Morell said that he believed the proposal for establishing
,SIGIN;T_priori.ties need not be as structured as-in DrIDN-o 1 Z, He suggested
a more simplified approach such as high, intermeaiate or Low priority- - in-
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25 September 1975
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addition, rather than establishing priorities for each line item he suggested
that it would be more practical to prioritize general categories. Mr. Walsh
proposed that this matter be subject to development within the SIGINT
Committee and the SIRVES. General Allen said that there was merit to
Mr. Morell's proposal noting that the IGCP was too detailed (although it did
not contain priorities) and as sucwork. General Allen also commented
that he had some problems with 9 of Attachment I on status of
actions, but that he would take them up with the Committee Chairman.
6. Following additional discussion the Board agreed to the following
actions:
a. Approved the National SIGINT Requirements System as circulated
by the reference document.
b. Approved the Charter for the SIGINT Requirements Validation
and Evaluation Subcommittee as circulated by the reference document.
c. Acknowledged the need for a full-time staff (in support of a
full-time Chairman, SIRVES) to implement the NSRS with:
(1) USIB agencies and departments providing three professional
specialists on a non-reimbursable basis.
(2) CIA providing the two clerical assistants.
(3) DIRNSA furnishing electronic data processing support.
d. In addition, the SIGINT Committee will report quarterly to the
USIB on the progress of the SIGINT Requirements Validation and Evaluation
Subcommittee (SIRVES).
Executive Secretary
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S E C R E T
USIB-S-9. 4/31
3 September 1975
UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCES BOARi
MEMORANDUM FOR THE UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
Subject: SIGINT Requirements Mechanism
1. Pursuant to the DCI's Letter of Instruction, the SIGINT
Committee has prepared the attached SIGINT Requirements
Mechanism for USIB approval. Specific recommendations are
contained in paragraph 6 of emorandum.
Attachment 1 contains the National SIGINT Requirements System
with an appendix for a glossary of terms. Appendix B describes
the elements for the National SIGINT Requirements Data Base.
Attachment 2 is the charter for the SIGINT Requirements
Validation and Evaluation Subcommittee (SIRVES).
2. advises that, in addition to community
endorsement through the SIGINT Committee mechanism, the
proposals have been coordinated with the IC Staff and the NIOs.
3. It is planned to schedule this subject on a USIB agenda for
Board consideration at an early date.
Attachment
a/s
Executive Secretary
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UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
SIGINT COMMITTEE
OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN
3 September 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR THE UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
SUBJECT: Development of a SIGINT Requirements Mechanism
1. The DCI's letter of instruction to the Chairman of the SIGINT
Committee says, "I want you to seek improvement in expressing the
Community's real needs so as to assist the Director, NSA in
executing his responsibilities for the planning and operation of the
U. S. SIGINT system. Such a mechanism should be able to
accommodate the overall intelligence guidance promulgated in my
"Perspectives" and "Objectives" and be responsive to the Key
Intelligence Questions (KIQs) and to current expressions of needs
by the NIOs and consumers of the SIGINT product within and
without the Community. Your focus should be on translating the
overall SIGINT needs of the users into specific SIGINT-oriented
guidance of value to NSA. "
2. In response to that charge, the SIGINT Committee has developed
the conceptual framework for a new National SIGINT Requirements
System (NSRS). In so doing we have been mindful of the Intelligence
Planning implications of the DCI's "Perspectives for Intelligence
1975-1980, " wherein better community definition of intelligence
requirements is seen as a prerequisite to better evaluation and
more efficient use of resources. A similar note is sounded by the
Director, NSA in the National SIGINT Plan. Therefore, while
focusing on SIGINT, we have tried to emphasize principles which
are not peculiar to SIdINT, but which lend themselves to broader
application, anticipating the cross-discipline flexibility required
to ensure the application of available resources to priority needs
and the most effective distribution of intelligence tasks among
components of the Community, " in the words of the "Perspectives.
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3. The proposed new mechanism has two principal features.
It provides for the approval of all SIGINT requirements within the
USIB structure prior to any. levy on the U. S. SIGINT System.
Concomitantly, it also provides for on-going evaluation of SIGINT
responses to requirements. The detailed description of the NSRS is
contained in Attachment 1. Successful implementation will be the product
of community-wide cooperation as was true in the development of
the mechanism itself. In particular, it is suggested that USIB Principals
will need to review and strengthen, as necessary, their internal
procedures for insuring that their stated SIGINT requirements are
fully justified before seeking USIB approval through the USIB mechanism.
Further, in the future, it is anticipated that more extensive involvement
in the ongoing evaluation process will be required by USIB participating
departments and agencies.
4. At Attachment 2 is the proposed charter of a new subcommittee
of the SIGINT Committee, the SIGINT Requirements Validation and
Evaluation Subcommittee (SIRVES), which will replace the Intelligence
Guidance Subcommittee (IGS) and the SIGINT Evaluation Subcommittee (SES)
and become the community focal point for implementing the new National
SIGINT Requirements System. The effort involved in the development
and maintenance of the new National SIGINT Requirements List (NSRL),
and the associated evaluation of responses to requirements, is of such
magnitude that successful performance can only be assured by providing
the SIRVES with a small, full-time staff of three professional specialists,
two clerical assistants, and the necessary electronic data processing
support. The effective performance of SIRVES will benefit the community
at large. For this reason, we solicit USIB support for the assignment
of the three professional personnel (05/04 or civilian equivalent) on a
non-reimbursable basis. If such an arrangement is agreed by the USIB,
the Chairman, SIGINT Committee will negotiate with the participating
agencies and departments to obtain the necessary staff personnel. We
propose also that the two clerical assistants be provided by the CIA and
that the electronic data processing support be furnished by the Director,
NSA.
5. Upon USIB approval of our proposal, the SIGINT Committee will
undertake a total review, restatement, approval and prioritization of
SIGINT requirements, a project we expect can be completed within
9 to 12 months if the proposed staff manning is approved. Thereafter,
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3 September 1975
we plan to conduct an annual review of all SIGINT requirements
in time to be of assistance to the Director, NSA in his annual
preparation of the National SIGINT Plan, i. e., April-May. The
SIGINT Committee does not plan to routinely seek the approval of
the Board on the total NSRL, but will bring to its attention only
those requirements issues which the Committee is unable to resolve.
6. Specifically, it is recommended that USIB:
a. Approve the National SIGINT Requirements System
(Attachment 1 with Appendices).
b. Approve the Charter for the SIGINT Requirements Validation
and Evaluation Subcommittee (Attachment 2).
c. Acknowledge the need for a full-time staff (in support of a
full-time Chairman, SIRVES) to implement the NSRS with.
(1) USIB agencies and departments providing three
professional specialists on a non-reimbursable basis.
(2) CIA providing the two clerical assistants.
(3) DIRNSA furnishing electronic data processing
support.
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THE NATIONAL SIGINT REQUIREMENTS SYSTEM (NSRS)
I. GENERAL
The National SIGINT Requirements System embodies that process
through which statements of requirements flow from point of origin to
their acceptance as USIB approved SIGINT requirements, and ultimately
the evaluation of SIGINT product to determine the degree to which requirements
have been/are being satisfied from SIGINT sources. The approval and
evaluation will normally be accomplished by the SIGINT Requirements
Validation and Evaluation Subcommittee (SIRVES) of the SIGINT Committee.
Only in cases of significant differences in the community will requirements
issues be submitted to the SIGINT Committee for resolution. All USIB
approved requirements will be entered in the National SIGINT Requirements
List (NSRL) which replaces the "Intelligence Guidance for COMINT Programming
(IGCP)" which included TELINT requirements. The new system will include all
COMINT and ELINT reporting requirements as well as those pertaining to
foreign instrumentation signals, and certain non-imagery infra-red and coherent
light signals. The system will function in accordance with the procedures
prescribed in Section III below. (See Appendix A for Glossary of Terms. )
II. CONCEPT
Central to the success of the new National SIGINT Requirements System
is the understanding that the term a "USIB approved SIGINT requirement" is
defined as a consumer requirement approved through the USIB mechanism
and levied on the U.S. SIGINT system. The USIB approval or validation
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process includes analysis of requirement applicability to the SIGINT source,
consideration of feasibility of a SIGINT response and a judgment of the
anticipated impact of a decision to respond to the requirement. With the
exception of time critical requiremer is for which special handling procedures
apply, all SIGINT requirements must be duly processed and approved before
collection and processing action is implemented.
Conceptually, the new system will--
a. Be Definitive:
It will provide for a registry of all USIB approved SIGINT
requirements applicable to the United States SIGINT system.
b. Be Comprehensive:
It will include all SIGINT requirements of USIB agencies and
departments, substantive committees of USIB and the NIOs which have been
validated by them and in turn approved by the SIGINT Requirements Validation
and Evaluation Subcommittee (SIR VES) for inclusion in the National SIGINT
Requirements List.
c. Be Dynamic:
It will be kept current through continuous review, adjusting
promptly to new situations and needs.
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d. Be Realistic:
USIB approval of requirements will take into account available
SIGINT resource capabilities as well as competing SIGINT requirements.
e. Include Community Validation Process:
A new and essential feature of the system will be the initiation
of a community review and approval of all requirements by the SIGINT
Requirements Validation and Evaluation Subcommittee (SIRVES), a new
subcommittee of the SIGINT Committee. The subcommittee will examine the
requirements and supporting documentation submitted by USIB member agencies
and develop such additional data as may be required prior to approving their
entry in the NSRL.
f. Interrelate DCID 1/2 Priorities and the Key Intelligence Questions:
Each requirement in the NSRL will contain a cross reference to
pertinent DCID 1/2 priorities and to specific Key Intelligence Questions where
applicable.
g. Be Prioritized:
A separate SIGINT priority will be assigned to each requirement
line item in the NSRL based upon pertinent DCID 1/2 priorities, relation to the
Key Intelligence Questions and the anticipated intelligence to be gained
from SIGINT.
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h. Include an On-going Evaluation Process:
The SIGINT response to each approved requirement will be
measured as part of the continuing review and updating of the NSRL.
III. SYSTEM DESCRIPTION AND PROCEDURES
From the point of requirements origination through the ultimate evaluation
of the SIGINT response, the National SIGINT Requirements System will
function as follows:
a. Requirements Initiation:
SIGINT requirements regardless of point of origin will be forwarded
with substantiating documentation to the SIGINT requirements validating
authority of the agency or department of origin in accordance with procedures
prescribed by such agencies or departments. Substantive committees of the
USIB and the NIOs are authorized to validate requirements for forwarding
to SIRVES.
b. Requirements Documentation:
Each SIGINT requirement for which approval is to be sought
within the USIB structure will be accompanied by substantiating data which
will be used by the sponsoring agency or department in judging the validity of
the requirement and subsequently by the SIRVES in its approval determination.
As a minimum it should provide answers to the following questions:
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1. Who are the intended users or class of users of the
information being sought?
2. How would the information be used?
3. What is the importance or criticality of acquiring
the information?
4. In what time frame is the information needed and why?
5. Does the desired information supplement SIGINT or
other source data already being provided? If so, to what extent
does the available information satisfy needs? To what extent
is the available SIGINT information deficient?
c. Requirements Forwarding:
When the validation authority of the agency or department of
origin or a substantive committee of USIB or an NIO is satisfied that a
requirement is valid it will be forwarded along with its substantiating data
to the SIGINT Requirements Validation and Evaluation Subcommittee (SIRVES).
d. Time Critical and/or Crisis Requirements:
In time critical situations SIGINT requirements may be
forwarded directly to DIRNSA (or in accordance with SORS TCR procedures)
by a USIB member agency, a U&S Commander or an NIO. Information
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copies of such requirements will be provided to SIRVES and also to
SORS as appropriate. The originator will provide the rationale supporting
the requirement and also recommend the priority. Immediate action
will be taken on the requirement. The originator will be advised of the
action taken and, as appropriate, the impact of that requirement on other
collection efforts. In situations of severe impact on other efforts, the
Chairman, SIGINT Committee will be contacted for guidance.
e. Requirements Approval:
The SIRVES will record and acknowledge to the originating
agency the receipt of each validated SIGINT requirement. SIRVES will review
the requirements documentation to determine its adequacy and if necessary,
may seek additional data prior to rendering its judgment on the requirement.
This review will be completed in the shortest possible time. When a SIGINT
requirement is approved, it will be assigned a priority and entered into the
NSRL. This entry will constitute a levy on the U. S. SIGINT system, and the
sponsor will be so advised. A requirement's entry into the NSRL will
supersede any related entries in the IGCP. When the transitional phase from
the IGCP to the NSRL is completed, the U.S. SIGINT system will respond only
to those requirements in the NSRL except as provided in paragraph III. d. above.
If a SIGINT requirement is not approved by SIRVES, the requirement sponsor
will be so notified. This notification will include the specific reasons why
the requirement was not approved.
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SIR VES will approve a SIGINT requirement when they have
determined that:
1. The stated information need is clearly compatible with
authoritatively documented U.S. intelligence objectives and priorities.
2. The information being sought is essential to the satisfaction
of a well defined need.
3. SIGINT, as compared to other sources, is anticipated to
be the sole contributor or primary contributor or that SIGINT will
contribute essential inputs to the body of needed information acquired
principally from other sources.
4. The cost of levying the requirement against SIGINT sources
is warranted by the probable information gains.
f. The National SIGINT Requirements List (NSRL)?
The NSRL will be maintained by SIR VES as elements of the
National SIGINT Requirements Data Base, NSRDB (see Appendix B). and
will contain all USIB approved and prioritized SIGINT requirements. These
requirements will constitute the official basis for reporting levies on the
U.S. SIGINT system. It will include requirements which may be satisfied
by COMINT, ELINT, Foreign Instrumentation Signals (FIS) and, where
appropriate, non-imagery infra-red and coherent light (laser) emissicns.
Its basic organization will be by country and include, as applicable,
categories dealing with political, military, economic, and science
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and technology requirements. Special sections will be provided for
requirements which are general or world-wide in scope such as international
terrorism, drug traffic, ocean surveillance, operational ELINT, technical
ELINT and EOB. Within each category, individual requirements will be
specific as to scope, detail, and reporting timeliness. Where appropriate,
requirements will be cross referenced to related guidance such as pertinent
Key Intelligence Questions and DCID 1/2. Notation will be made of the
particular SIGINT sources (COMINT, ELINT, FIS, etc.) which might contribute
to the requirement. Notations will also be made of the U. S. SIGINT system's
capability to respond. Those SIGINT requirements, although approved, which
cannot be satisfied within current resource or technical constraints, will be so
annotated in the NSRL. In all cases, the requirement will be assigned a
SIGINT priority.
The NSRL will be maintained as a computer file within the
NSRDB, with updated runs of the list provided to SIRVES or others from time
to time as may be required. Information from this file will be available to
USIB agencies. However, the total file will not be distributed outside the
Washington area.
The NSRL will be reviewed and updated annually in time to be
of assistance to the Director, NSA in his annual preparation of the National
SIGINT Plan, i. e., April-May.
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g. Status of Actions in Response to Requirements:
Upon receipt of a levied requirement, NSA (or other responsible,
activity, as appropriate) will provide SIRVES with a statement of capability
to respond, including identification of the action office and the anticipated reporting
topics identification. If reporting or other response is not be be expected in
the immediate future, SIRVES will be provided with a statement of rationale
or indication of action planned. The statement of capability or response
strategy will be revised as necessary to keep SIRVES and the sponsor of
the requirement informed of the status of action. In addition; in order to
insure effective management of SIGINT requirements and evaluation actions,
NSA will maintain on a current basis as part of the NSRDB, the following
types of information:
(1) Component assigned the requirement.
(2) Resources tasked.
(3) Response by resource
(4) Product report identified to source
h. Requirements Amplifications:
Amplifications of approved requirements will be submitted as
necessary directly to NSA by agencies, departments, substantive committees
of USIB and the NIOs. Such amplifications will be notated to identify the
specific requirement line item in the NSRL to which they apply. Also, requests
for information will be similarly forwarded to NSA directly by SIGINT consumers.
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Neither a requirements amplification nor a request for information is presumed
to i.nvolve more than minimal resource impact. If there is more than minimal
impact, NSA will promptly advise the originator who then has the option of sub-
mitting his request to the SIRVES for consideration in the formal requirements
process. Information copies of all Requirements Amplifications and Requests for
Information will be entered into the National SIGINT Requirements Data Base.
i. Informal Communications:
While the NSRS prescribes certain necessary formalities in
the submission, review and levying of requirements, it provides for and
encourages direct informal person-to-person communication between and
among originators of SIGINT requirements, the National Security Agency,
and SIRVES on any of the matters covered above. Moreover, nothing in these
procedures is intended to preclude free-flowing, interagency and departmental
analyst-to-analyst exchanges.
j. Evaluation of Response:
In conjunction with its cyclic, annual update of the NSRL,
the SIRVES will evaluate the SIGINT response to the requirements in the
NSRL. Additionally, any USIB agency may request a special evaluation
because of changed circumstances affecting resources, the requirement, or
the product. Depending on the results of the evaluation, the requirement may
be adjusted in terms of specificity or priority, the NSA (or other agency as
appropriate) remarks may be updated to explain deficiencies, or the requirement
may be considered for deletion.
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Attachment 1
1. Review the documentation of the requirement to confirm
the context of the anticipated response.
2. With such assistance as may be required from NSA
(or other agency as appropriate), identify and examine: (a) the SIGINT
reports produced or (b) where there is no product, the service
performed, such as DF, search or surveillance, technical continuity, etc.
3. In the case of requirements which cannot currently be
satisfied, consider whether the requirement should be deleted or
amended in light of NSA's or other appropriate agency's estimate of
potential capability to respond.
4. Where end-product is involved, consider its specific
contribution to inf ormation on the general subject, including its use in
finished intelligence, departmental or national; its use in briefing of
end-users, here and in the field; its use for alerting or operational
purposes; and its contribution to the intelligence data base.
5. Based on the above, make a judgment of the value of
the SIGINT response.
6. Investigate the lack of SIGINT response to a requirement
and make appropriate recommendations to the Director, NSA for
consideration in the preparation of the National SIGINT Plan and CCP.
Recommendations will also be provided to other program managers
as appropriate
11
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GLOSSARY OF NSRS TERMS
SIGINT - Comprises COMINT and ELINT, and for purposes of this
system, SIGINT shall include foreign instrumentation signals
(e. g. , telemetry and beaconry) and those non-imagery infra-red
and coherent light signals appropriate for system tasking.
SIGINT Requirement - A consumer statement of information need or
requirement approved through the USIB mechanism and levied
on the United States SIGINT System.
Requirement Sponsor - The SIGINT requirements validating authority in
each USIB agency or department, an NIO or a substantive committee
of USIB.
Requirements Originator - Any element of the U. S. Government authorized
to express SIGINT requirements.
SIRVES - SIGINT Requirements Validation and Evaluation Subcommittee
of the SIGINT Committee.
NSRS - National SIGINT Requirements System
NSRDB - National SIGINT Requirements Data Base includes the National
SIGINT Requirements List (NSRL) and that additional information
required by SIRVES to effectively manage the National SIGINT
Requirements System (NSRS).
NSRL - The National SIGINT Requirements List approved through the
established USIB mechanism.
Validation - Consists of a review of a statement of a requirement to
ensure that the requirement has justification and supporting
documentation. Validation is initially performed by a USIB member
agency or department, a substantive committee of USIB, or an NIO.
Subsequently, USIB validation (approval) is accomplished by the
SIR VES.
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SIGINT Priority - A rating assigned to a USIB SIGINT requirement
reflecting the relative importance of receiving a SIGINT response
to the requirement. The rating will take into account the priorities
expressed in DCID 1/2 and other considerations such as applicable
KIQs, the importance of the requirement to intelligence /operational /policy
objectives, and the capabilities of the U. S. SIGINT System.
Requirements Amplification - A statement by a consumer to NSA which
expresses in greater detail the specifications contained in a SIGINT
requirement. The amplification does not alter materially the scope,
detail or timeliness of information needs stated in the basic require-
ment, nor is the requirements amplification believed to involve
more than a minimal resource impact.
Request for Information (RFI) - A request (in letter or message form) by
a consumer to NSA for SIGINT information already collected or
expected to be available, which involves no more than minimal
resource impact.
Requirements Documentation - Substantiating data developed for a USIB
SIGINT requirement. It consists of information developed by a USIB
member agency or department, a substantive committee of USIB,
or an NIO in the process of validation, as well as data developed by
the SIRVES in the course of the community review and approval of
a requirement for inclusion in the NSRL.
Evaluation - A process to measure the value of the SIGINT response to a
given requirement in the NSRL.
2
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ELEMENTS OF THE
NATIONAL SIGINT REQUIREMENTS DATA BASE (NSRDB)
("Data Elements Comprising the NSRL)
1. General Record Keeping Information
a. Classification
b. Requirement Designator (Country/Intelligence Category/
Requirement Number/Priority)
=4 c. Requirement Status (Active/Terminated)
d. Related KIQs and DCID 1/2 Line Items
e. Sponsor's Serial and Date
" f. Date of Levy
g. Date Requirement Expires (when applicable)
h. Date Last Evaluation
i. Date Next Evaluation
2. Statement of SIGINT Requirement
3. Statement of Required Reporting Timeliness and Medium
4. Requirement Rationale
5. Status of Action in Response to Requirement
6. Office of Primary Action (OPA)
7. Requirement Relationship to KIQ(s)
8. Rationale for Assigned Priority
9. List of TAG or Other Designators Applicable to Requirement
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10. Record of Correspondence Relating to Requirement
(References Only)
11. Requirements Amplifications and Requests for Information
(If Keyed to an NSRL Line Item)
12. SIGINT Response Evaluation
(Note: Additional elements may be included in the future, as necessary)
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UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
SIGINT COMMITTEE
SIGINT Requirements Validation and Evaluation Subcommittee (SIRVES)
PURPOSE
1. The Intelligence Guidance Subcommittee (IGS) of the SIGINT
Committee as established by USIB-SC-9.4/5, 1 March 1966 and the
SIGINT Evaluation Subcommittee of the SIGINT Committee as established
by USIB-SC-15. /71, 19 December 1969, are hereby disestablished. To
further the appropriate objectives and provisions of DCID No. 6./1, 7 April 1975,
a permanent Subcommittee of the SIGINT Committee, to be known as the
SIGINT Requirements Validation and Evaluation Subcommittee (SIRVES),
is hereby established.
MISSION
2. The mission of SIRVES is to assist and generally act for the
SIGINT Committee in discharging the latter's responsibilities for
managing the National SIGINT Requirements System.
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FUNCTIONS
3. In fulfilling its mission, SIRVES will:
Be the recipient of all validated requirements
for COMINT, ELINT, Foreign Instrumentation Signals, and those
signals appropriate for system
tasking.
b. Approve and prioritize SIGINT requirements after determining
that the criteria provided for in the National SIGINT Requirements System
(NSRS) procedures have been met.
c. Enter each approved requirement in the National SIGINT
Requirements List as a levy on the U.S. SIGINT system.
d. Monitor the status of requirements.
e. Conduct a continuing evaluation of the U. S. SIGINT system
response to all levied requirements.
f. Maintain permanent SIGINT requirements documentation
files to include all basic validation data provided by requirements
originators as well as associated SIGINT response evaluation information
Bring to the attention of the SIGINT Committee any
unresolved issues in connection with any SIGINT requirement or evaluation
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ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURES
4. Composition, organization and rules of procedure will be in
accordance with the provisions of DCID No. 1/3, 3 December 1974.
Staff and Secretariat services will be provided by a permanently assigned
personnel complement. The Chairman, SIRVES will assure that the
SIGINT Committee is informed promptly of the Subcommittee's decisions,
recommendations and actions. The SIRVES and SORS will coordinate
in areas of joint or overlapping concern.
3
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USIB-S-9. 4/32
25 September 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR THE UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
Subject: The National SIGINT Requirements System
Reference: USIB-S-9. 4/31. 3 September 1975 and Memoranda
for Holders dated 25 September and 7 October 1975
On 25 September 1975, the Board approved the National
SIGINT Requirements System (NSRS) (reference). Accordingly,
the attached procedures of the NSRS are circulated for
implementation as appropriate.
25X1
Executive Secretary
Attachment
a/s
25
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THE NATIONAL SIGINT REQUIREMENTS SYSTEM (NSRS)
Effective 25 September 1975
I. GENERAL
The National SIGINT Requirements System embodies that
process through which statements of requirements flow from point
of origin to their acceptance as USIB approved SIGINT requirements.
and ultimately the evaluation of SIGINT product to determine the
degree to which requirements have been/are being satisfied from
SIGINT sources. The approval and evaluation will normally be
accomplished by the SIGINT Requirements Validation and Evaluation
Subcommittee (SIRVES) of the SIGINT Committee. Only in cases of
significant differences in the community will requirements issues
be submitted to the SIGINT Committee for resolution. All USIB
approved requirements will be entered in the National SIGINT
Requirements List (NSRL) which replaces the "Intelligence Guidance
for COMINT Programming (IGCP)" which included TELINT
requirements. The new system will include all COMINT and ELINT
reporting requirements as well as those pertaining to foreign
instrumentation signals, and certain non-imagery infra-red and
coherent light signals. The system will function in accordance with
the procedures prescribed in Section III below. (See Appendix A for
Glossary of Terms. )
II. CONCEPT
Central to the success of the new National SIGINT Requirements
System is the understanding that the term a "USIB approved SIGINT
requirement" is defined as a consumer requirement approved through
the USIB mechanism and levied on the U. S. SIGINT system. The
USIB approval or validation process includes analysis of requirement
applicability to the SIGINT source, consideration of feasibility of a
SIGINT response and a judgment of the anticipated impact of a decision
to respond to the requirement. With the exception of time critical
requirements for which special handling procedures apply, all SIGINT
requirements must be duly processed and approved before collection
and processing action is implemented.
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Conceptually. the new system will--
a. Be Definitive:
It will provide for a registry of all USIB approved
SIGINT requirements applicable to the United States SIGINT system.
b. Be Comprehensive:
It will include all SIGINT requirements of USIB
agencies and departments, substantive committees of USIB and the
NIOs which have been validated by them and in turn approved by
the SIGINT Requirements Validation and Evaluation Subcommittee
(SIRVES) for inclusion in the National SIGINT Requirements List.
c. Be Dynamic:
It will be kept current through continuous review.
adjusting promptly to new situations and needs.
d. Be Realistic:
USIB approval of requirements will take into account
available SIGINT resource capabilities as well as competing SIGINT
requirements.
e. Include Community Validation Process:
A new and essential feature of the system will be the
initiation of a community review and approval of all requirements by
the SIGINT Requirements Validation and Evaluation Subcommittee
(SIRVES), a new subcommittee of the SIGINT Committee. The
subcommittee will examine the requirements and supporting
documentation submitted by USIB member agencies and develop such
additional data as may be required prior to approving their entry in
the NSRL.
f. Interrelate DCID 1/2 Priorities and the Key
Intelligence Questions:
Each requirement in the NSRL will contain a cross
reference to pertinent DCID 1/2 priorities and to specific Key
Intelligence Questions where applicable.
g. Be Prioritized:
A separate SIGINT priority will be assigned to each
requirement line item in the NSRL based upon pertinent DCID 1/2
priorities, relation to the Key Intelligence Questions and the
anticipated intelligence to be gained from SIGINT.
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h. Include an On-going Evaluation Process:
The SIGINT response to each approved requirement
will be measured as part of the continuing review and updating of
the NSRL.
III. SYSTEM DESCRIPTION AND PROCEDURES
From the point of requirements origination through the
ultimate evaluation of the SIGINT response, the National SIGINT
Requirements System will function as follows:
a. Requirements Initiation:
SIGINT requirements regardless of point of origin
will be forwarded with substantiating documentation to the SIGINT
requirements validating authority of the agency or department
of origin in accordance with procedures prescribed by such agencies
or departments. Substantive committees of the USIB and the NIOs
are authorized to validate requirements for forwarding to SIRVES.
b. Requirements Documentation:
Each SIGINT requirement for which approval is to
be sought within the USIB structure will be accompanied by
substantiating data which will be used by the sponsoring agency or
department in judging the validity of the requirement and subsequently
by the SIRVES in its approval determination. As a minimum it should
provide answers to the following questions:
1. Who are the intended users or class of users
of the information being sought?
2. How would the information be used?
3. What is the importance or criticality of acquiring
the information?
why?
4. In what time frame is the information needed and
5. Does the desired information supplement SIGINT or
other source data already being provided? If so, to what
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extent does the available information satisfy needs? To
what extent is the available SIGINT information deficient?
c. Requirements Forwarding:
When the validation authority of the agency or
department of origin or a substantive committee of USIB or an NIO
is satisfied that a requirement is valid it will be forwarded along
with its substantiating data to the SIGINT Requirements Validation
and Evaluation Subcommittee (SIRVES),
d. Time Critical and/or Crisis Requirements:
In time critical situations SIGINT requirements may
be forwarded directly to DIRNSA (or in accordance with SORS TCR
procedures) by a USIB member agency. a U&S Commander or an NIO.
Information copies of such requirements will be provided to SIRVES
and also to SORS as appropriate. The originator will provide the
rationale supporting the requirement and also recommend the
priority. Immediate action will be taken on the requirement. The
originator will be advised of the action taken and, as appropriate
the impact of that requirement on other collection efforts. In
situations of severe impact on other efforts, the Chairman, SIGINT
Committee will be contacted for guidance.
e. Requirements Approval
The SIRVES will record and acknowledge to the
originating agency the receipt of each validated SIGINT requirement,
SIRVES will review the requirements documentation to determine
its adequacy and if necessary, may seek additional data prior to
rendering its judgment on the requirement. This review will be
completed in the shortest possible time. When a SIGINT requirement
is approved, it will be assigned a priority and entered into the NSRL.
This entry will constitute a levy on the U. S. SIGINT system, and the
sponsor will be so advised. A requirement's entry into the NSRL will
supersede any related entries in the IGCP. When the transitional
phase from the IGCP to the NSRL is completed, the U. S. SIGINT
system will respond only to those requirements in the NSRL except
as provided in Paragraph III. d. above. If a SIGINT requirement is
not approved by SIRVES, the requirement sponsor will be so notified.
This notification will include the specific reasons why the requirement
was not approved.
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SIRVES will approve a SIGINT requirement when
they have determined that:
1. The stated information need is clearly compatible
with authoritatively documented U. S. intelligence objectives
and priorities.
2. The information being sought is essential to the
satisfaction of a well defined need.
3. SIGINT, as compared to other sources, is anticipated
to be the sole contributor or primary contributor or that
SIGINT will contribute essential inputs to the body of needed
information acquired principally from other sources.
4. The cost of levying the requirement against
SIGINT sources is warranted by the probable information gains.
f. The National SIGINT Requirements List (NSRL):
The NSRL will be maintained by SIRVES as elements of the
National SIGINT Requirements Data Base, NSRDB (see Appendix B),
and will contain all USIB approved and prioritized SIGINT requirements.
These requirements will constitute the official basis for reporting
levies on the U. S. SIGINT system. It will include requirements which
may be satisfied by COMINT, ELINT, Foreign Instrumentation
Signals (FIS) and, where appropriate, non-imagery infra-red and
coherent light (laser) emissions.
Its basic organization will be by country and include. as
applicable, categories dealing with political, military, economic. and
science and technology requirements. Special sections will be
provided for requirements which are general or world-wide in scope
such as international terrorism, drug traffic. ocean surveillance,
operational ELINT, technical ELINT and EOB. Within each category,
individual requirements will be specific as to scope, detail, and
reporting timeliness. Where appropriate, requirements will be cross
referenced to related guidance such as pertinent Key Intelligence
Questions and DCID 1/2. Notation will be made of the particular
SIGINT sources (COMINT, ELINT, FIS, etc.) which might contribute
to the requirement. Notations will also be made of the U. S. SIGINT
system's capability to respond. Those SIGINT requirements, although
approved, which cannot be satisfied within current resource or
5
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technical constraints, will be so annotated in the NSRL. In all cases,
the requirement will be assigned a SIGINT priority.
The NSRL will be maintained as a computer file
within the NSRDB, with updated runs of the list provided to SIRVES
or others from time to time as may be required. Information from
this file will be available to USIB agencies. However, the total
file will not be distributed outside the Washington area.
The NSRL will be reviewed and updated annually in
time to be of assistance to the Director, NSA in his annual preparation
of the National SIGINT Plan, i. e. , April-May.
g. Status of Actions in Response to Requirements:
Upon receipt of a levied requirement, NSA (or other
responsible activity, as appropriate) will provide SIRVES with a
statement of capability to respond, including identification of the
action office and the anticipated reporting topics identification. If
reporting or other response is not to be expected in the immediate
future, SIRVES will be provided with a statement of rationale
or indication of action planned. The statement of capability or
response strategy will be revised as necessary to keep SIRVES and
the sponsor of the requirement informed of the status of action. In
addition, in order to insure effective management of SIGINT requirements
and evaluation actions, NSA will maintain on a current basis as
part of the NSRDB, the following types. of information:
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USIB-S-9. 4/32
(1) Component assigned the requirement.
(2) Resources tasked.
(3) Response by resource
(4) Product report identified to source
h. Requirements Amplifications:
Amplifications of approved requirements will be
submitted as necessary directly to NSA by agencies, departments,
substantive committees of USIB and the NIOs. Such amplifications
will be notated to identify the specific requirement line item in the
NSRL to which they apply. Also, requests for information will be
similarly forwarded to NSA directly by SIGINT consumers. Neither
a requirements amplification nor a request for information is
presumed to involve more than minimal resource impact. If there
is more than minimal impact, NSA will promptly advise the
originator who then has the option of submitting his request to the
SIRVES for consideration in the formal requirements process.
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Information copies of all Requirements Amplifications and Requests
for Information will be entered into the National SIGINT Requirements
Data Base.
i. Informal Communications:
While the NSRS prescribes certain necessary
formalities in the submission, review and levying of requirements,
it provides for and encourages direct informal person-to-person
communication between and among originators of SIGINT
requirements, the National Security Agency, and SIRVES on any of
the matters covered above. Moreover, nothing in these procedures
is intended to preclude free-flowing, interagency and departmental
analyst-to-analyst exchanges.
j. Evaluation of Response:
In conjunction with its cyclic, annual update of the
NSRL, the SIRVES will evaluate the SIGINT response to the
requirements in the NSRL. Additionally, any USIB agency may
request a special evaluation because of changed circumstances
affecting resources, the requirement, or the product. Depending
on the results of the evaluation, the requirement may be adjusted
in terms of specificity or priority, the NSA (or other agency as
appropriate) remarks may be updated to explain deficiencies, or the
requirement may be considered for deletion.
In such evaluations SIRVES will:
1. Review the documentation of the requirement to
confirm the context of the anticipated response.
2. With such assistance as may be required from
NSA (or other agency as appropriate), identify and examine:
(a) the SIGINT reports produced or (b) where there is no
product, the service performed. such as DF, search or
surveillance, technical continuity. etc.
3. In the case of requirements which cannot currently
be satisfied, consider whether the requirement should be
deleted or amended in light of NSA's or other appropriate
agency's estimate of potential capability to respond.
4. Where end-product is involved, consider its
specific contribution to information on the general subject,
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USIB-S-9. 4/32
including its use in finished intelligence, departmental
or national; its use in briefing of end-users, here and
in the field; its use for alerting or operational purposes:
and its contribution to the intelligence data base.
5. Based on the above. make a judgment of the
value of the SIGINT response.
6. Investigate the lack of SIGINT response to a
requirement and make appropriate recommendations
to the Director, NSA for consideration in the preparation
of the National SIGINT Plan and CCP. Recommendations
will also be provided to other program managers as
appropriate.
S E C R E T
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APPENDIX A
USIB-S-9. 4/32
GLOSSARY OF NSRS TERMS
SIGINT - Comprises COMINT and ELINT, and for purposes of this
system, SIGINT shall include foreign instrumentation signals
(e. g. , telemetry and beaconry) and those non-imagery infra-red
and coherent light signals appropriate for system tasking.
SIGINT Requirement - A consumer statement of information need or
requirement approved through the USIB mechanism and levied
on the United States SIGINT System.
Requirement Sponsor - The SIGINT requirements validating authority in
each USIB agency or department, an NIO or a substantive committee
of USIB.
Requirements Originator - Any element of the U. S. Government authorized
to express SIGINT requirements.
SIRVES - SIGINT Requirements Validation and Evaluation Subcommittee
of the SIGINT Committee.
NSRS - National SIGINT Requirements System
NSRDB - National SIGINT Requirements Data Base includes the National
SIGINT Requirements List (NSRL) and that additional information
required by SIRVES to effectively manage the National SIGINT
Requirements System (NSRS).
NSRL - The National SIGINT Requirements List approved through the
established USIB mechanism.
Validation - Consists of a review of a statement of a requirement to
ensure that the requirement has justification and supporting
documentation. Validation is initially performed by a USIB member
agency or department, a substantive committee of USIB, or an NIO.
Subsequently, USIB validation (approval) is accomplished by the
SIR V ES.
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APPENDIX A
USIB-S-9. 4/32
SIGINT Priority - A rating assigned to a USIB SIGINT requirement
reflecting the relative importance of receiving a SIGINT response
to the requirement. The rating will take into account the priorities
expressed in DCID 1/2 and other considerations such as applicable
KIQs, the importance of the requirement to intelligence /operational /policy
objectives, and the capabilities of the U. S. SIGINT System.
Requirements Amplification - A statement by a consumer to NSA which
expresses in greater detail the specifications contained in a SIGINT
requirement. The amplification does not alter materially the scope,
detail or timeliness of information needs stated in the basic require-
ment, nor is the requirements amplification believed to involve
more than a minimal resource impact.
Request for Information (RFI) - A request (in letter or message form) by
a consumer to NSA for SIGINT information already collected or
expected to be available, which involves no more than minimal
resource impact.
Requirements Documentation ?- Substantiating data developed for a USIB
SIGINT requirement. It consists of information developed by a USIB
member agency or department, a substantive committee of USIB,
or an NIO in the process of validation, as well as data developed by
the SIRVES in the course of the community review and approval of
a requirement for inclusion in the NSRL.
Evaluation - A process to measure the value of the SIGINT response to a
given requirement in the NSRL.
2
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APPENDIX B
USIB-S-9. 4/32
ELEMENTS OF THE
NATIONAL SIGINT REQUIREMENTS DATA BASE (NSRDB)
('-Data Elements Comprising the NSRL)
1. General Record Keeping Information
a. Classification
9= b. Requirement Designator (Country/Intelligence Category/
Requirement Number/Priority)
c. Requirement Status (Active/Terminated)
d. Related KIQs and DCID 1/2 Line Items
e. Sponsor's Serial and Date
f. Date of Levy
g. Date Requirement Expires (when applicable)
h. Date Last Evaluation
i. Date Next Evaluation
Statement of SIGINT Requirement
^= 3. Statement of Required Reporting Timeliness and Medium
4. Requirement Rationale
5. Status of Action in Response to Requirement
6. Office of Primary Action (OPA)
7. Requirement Relationship to KIQ(s)
8. Rationale for Assigned Priority
? 9. List of TAG or Other Designators A
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APPENDIX B
USIB- S- 9. 4/ 32
10. Record of Correspondence Relating to Requirement
(References Only)
11. Requirements Amplifications and Requests for Information
(If Keyed to an NSRL Line Item)
12. SIGINT Response Evaluation
(Note: Additional elements may be included in the future, as necessary)
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TO
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NAME AND ADDRESS
DATE
INITIALS
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REMARKS:
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NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NO.
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(Security Classification)
Access to this document will be restricted to
those approved for the following specific activities:
Warning Notice
Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
CIA-RDP7S0467AO02400010012-2
Top Secret
(Security Classification)
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6
DD .
16
Ex/Sec
7
DDO
17
8
D/DCI/IC
18
9 J
D/DCI/NIO
19
110 '
GC
20
proved For Release 2004/10/27: CIA-RDP79M0046?#0U4OQg1-T~1~2~,