COINS AND THE DDI

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R000100110002-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 2, 2005
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: October 12, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Rele4pe 2005/0 12 CIA-l1DP80B01495R0 0( ' 00110002-0
12 October 1970
TO : Jack
FROM : Ed
SUBJECT: COINS and the DDI
1. We have two entities involved in COINS--NPIC and CRS.
NPIC has the Blip File of imagery-derived information which was
available to COINS for a short while until it was realized that
COINS could not handle TKH information. CRS has constructed
three special files for COINS; these have not been used extensively
by the Community. CRS is now in the process of giving COINS
access to its AEGIS file of finished intelligence publications.
(This might be the most useful file CIA has put into the system. )
2. Our analysts have not found any use for the access
COINS presumably gives them to data in the files of NSA and DIA.
3. has reached the conclusion that CIA has to take
a more constructive role in COINS in order not to perpetuate the
uncooperative reputation we have acquired. He sees two options--
give the job either to CRS or OCS. Logic would put the task in
CRS' because it is the Agency's major general information file-
builder, but CRS does not now have the specially trained computer
personnel required to run the system. OCS has the kind of
personnel necessary.
4. If CRS is given the job:
-- it would have to acquire more skilled personnel.
-- it would have to acquire an additional computer.
- - it would have to undertake the construction of
special files for COINS, with little if any use
to CIA production components.
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it would have to divert to COINS about 1, 400
square feet of floor space in this building.
it would need extensive support from OCS.
preliminary cost estimates are as follows :
one-time costs for systems study and site
preparation over $100, 000.
annual operating costs of about $270, 000
to $500, 000 (depending on the computer)
including the salaries of ten additional
people in CRS.
5. After years of pressure, we have finally got CRS to
focus on the needs of the Agency and to carry out only those
Community activities with which it is charged (mainly, biographics).
CRS has been turning down requests for file searches from the
outside that involve significant expenditures of time. If CRS were
to be given the COINS task, it would be a reversal of the policy
direction we have taken. Most of the COINS product would be
for outsiders with no substantive benefit to the Agency.
6. Should OCS or CRS get the COINS job? Many in CRS
see COINS as a logical extension of its CIA responsibilities (and
will increase the size and prestige of CRS in this field). Harry
feels that doing a good job on COINS would increase CRS manpower
and money and would increasingly divert CRS efforts from its
Agency job to something having very little substantive benefits to
the Agency. I recommend that OCS get the COINS job.
-2-
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 ApprovecPUWeFeaQMO0b'/ 2DPOAfRDP80BO1495RO
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Ed
Item for Deputies Meeting
14 October 1970 -- C_OS
REMARKS:
Attached is a chronology on COINS to
be used as background for the Deputies
Meeting. will talk on the subject.
The purpose of the meeting is to formulate
the Agency's position on the matter.
I
will probably make these points:
- CIA has found no uses for COINS
and would prefer that it go away. (See
attached paragraphs from ASPIN Study. )
- CIA will have to participate.
- Rather than link a variety of computers
in the Community, it would be better to set
up one computer with remote terminals in
various agencies. (But, such actions would
be counter to the "experiment" and will be
rejected.)
- CIA should have a separate computer
to handle. its participation in COINS in order
to meet security standards and provide enough
time.
- This dedicated c
OCS *pp' WM.d lease ~i12 I F P 4B01
handle the problem ~s not in a position to
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l~..r~ie ..d 4iir.:. _.."A
ASPIN Study Views on C 0 I N S
l1.. COINS has bee.r1 of almost no Use to the
production arla].y;st although it represents something.
of an achieverllent in concert of coarurl'unit:y action on a
collective data processing experiment. We believe
that the procedures used to support and j)erpetuate
COINS will seriously delay rather than hasten the
advent of an inter.-agency system. The emphasis on
the development of automated files and their process-
ing in a large--computer network ?as a goal in itself
is a higIlly questionable procedure. rout it is exceeded
by the notion that this process should continue until
it is successful. Certain of the premises of COINS
with respect to the technic-al achievement of time-
sharing system; and of the identity and duplication
of inte'.i_li.gence community files appear to have ~~een
"ori olml i, in The COINS effort seems to hr. ve
~p'.Iku'l at od '1 1_1.1o t.d. A. j.?: ow 11. 1A. his of 111 i:i.l.l
..cxpen ive effort for the Agency, and it proallisses.
t
-become even more expensive should the Agency have to
dedicate an entire computer system to it as additional
evidence of good faith.
,We recommend that the Agency neck to secure
an evaZzsation of the present Co.rN
earZie:;,t epe:r.~imcrat at the
por;,~ ib 5 Moment in an ef"~ ./port to
f1 G Er'r;Y.'Y.'t?:Y? guidance for 2d'l. ~ ~ 2"O'i,7 2? de
f ure Agenc?t/ pZannincr for pczrt ici--
P ct t. i o n. i; ra .l'n t o T. Z r 7, n 0
e Comm u n r. l- ?( /17~.f.: ca cs '(: i; rr r: t: r', r r; .
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