LETTER TO(Sanitized) FROM PAUL V. WALSH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R000700030018-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 16, 2005
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: July 9, 1975
• Content Type: LETTER

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9 July 1.975
Your letter to Mr. Colby concerning the rate schedule
for the Joint Publications Research Service (JPRS) contractor
translators has been referred to me for reply.
In looking into the questions you raise
1 feel that
,
etter of 20 March 1975 responds fully to your
queries on the establishment of JPRS rates and the guidelines
for granting rate increases. He has also provided you a copy
of the rate schedule.
JPRS strives to obtain the best possible translations
at rates of payment which give fair value to the translator and
the taxpayer alike. Contracts between JPRS and the translator
are openly and freely entered into by both parties. Payment
is made in accordance with a variable scale which establishes
rates for the number of words translated and which also makes
allowance for special knowledge and skills, As the Chief, JPR
has explained to you, once a translator has demonstrated his
professionalism in presentation and his ability to respond. qu.-kJ:r
and reliably, he is paid commensurately. Earnincs >.re thus
related to the talents and industry of the individual coo.trae or,
as well as to the supply of work submitted to JPRS o ns-
lati on.
The breakdown of JPRS rates presented by The Guild of
Professional Translators is not a representative guide to ~TPL S
payments because it is based only on the rates of the translators
STAT
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who authorized the release of their contracts to t to Guild.
The majority of JPRS contractors did not authorize release
and among them are a number of Slavic-language translators
whose rates exceed $16. 00 per 1000 words.
I do not share your view that JPRS is "taking advantage"
of its translators. Nor is this view apparently shared by the
many highly skilled and professional translators who have
worked for JPRS for as long as 15 years. As you know, con-
tracts with JPRS do not preclude translators from accepting
work from translation services which may offer more
favorable rates. Also translators are free to terminate their
contracts by giving a 15-day written notice should they be di. -
satisfied with their arrangements with JPRS.
Please be assured that we will continue our efforts to
establish fair and reasonable rates for our contract translators.
Sincerely,
ILLEGIB
Paul V. Walsh
Associate Deputy Director
for Intelligence
Distribution:
Original - Addressee
-- DDI File
- ADDI Chrono
1 - Director/I{'BIS
1 - Prod Group
1 - C/JPRS
FBIS/Prod Gp: 10 Jun 75
Rewritten: AD I VWalsh/tb (9 July 75)
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MEMORANDUM FOR: D/FBIS
Will you please have someone draft a re-
sponse for Paul Walsh's signature. May we have
the draft by about 10 June?
2 June 75
(DATE)
FORM NO IQl WHICH RELACES FORM 10-01
I AUG 5
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 Approved For Release.1,fftTP80B01495R00070003001
22 May 1975
Mr William E. Colby, Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Dear Mr Colby:
I am writing about the contract rate schedule for the Joint
Publications Research Service contractors. This problem
apparently cannot be resolved at the JPRS Chief level.
Accordingly, I would appreciate if you can look into the
matter.
Enclosed is a JPRS SCHEDULE OF RATES of July 1974 and a
summary of 137 contract rates recently released by JPRS
to the Guild of Professional Translators. From these docu-
ments it is apparent that although a rate of $25 per 1000
words is authorized by the CIA for Slavic languages $16
per 1000 words is the highest rate JPRS admits paying.
The Guild of Professional Translators recommends a. minimum
rate of $30 per 1000 words. AD-EX Translations International
(3220 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, Ca 94025) pays $25 per
1000 words quite routinely. JPRS Chief, does
not appear to have any idea Z is e me o by which he sets
rates. It seems that he gets away with what he can.
I believe that you can convince yourself that at these low
rates JPRS is taking advantage of its translators. These
rates are pathetically low and have the tendency of making
a translator hurry through the job and cut every corner
possible. I wonder if you really believe that such a situation
is advantageous to your agency. Moreover, the JPRS editors
who have no technical background frequently attempt to
"correct" perfectly proper engineering terminology and
thereby introduce serious errors in the translator's work.
I have capability to translate highly technical matterial
but I very seldom get anything that is even related to
technical literature in the professional and scientific
sense.
This undesirable and short sighted policy has now resulted
in an inquiry from the Guild of Professional Translators and
attendant sensational publicity. It may well be that the
writers of the newspaper article (The Sunday Bulletin, 27
April 1975) would be arguing that the government does not
pay attention to foreign press and publications if the CIA
25X1
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Mr William E. Colby, Director
Central Intelligence Agency
page two
did not have a continued effort for translating published
information which is available abroad to everyone. In any
case I cannot see why would someone object to keeping the
government informed of what is going on elsewhere in the
world or why should such an activity be kept secret -- in
fact it is not since NTIS publications can be purchased by
anyone and appropriate conclusions drawn from the areas
that are emphasized.
It appears that your agency is well funded and that it has
in fact budgeted rates up to $25 per 1000 words. I doubt
that once you had surveyed the prevailing rates for like
work in commercial operations and, indeed, in other ope-
rations of the government you would still want to insist
on the pathetically low rates paid by the JPRS. I urge you
to have this matter looked into and resolved in an equitable
manner.
Very truly yours,
P.S.: We also offer translations from Slovenian and Serbo-
Croatian in the high-technology fields and evaluation
of technical projects by direct arrangement in case
that you have a requirement in this area.
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July 1974
JPRS SCHEDULE OF RATES
1. Effective upon receipt, the JPRS Schedule of Rates dated
March 1971 is rescinded and the following services and rates shall
apply to new and amended contracts.
2. These services and rates are intended for independent
contracts. The precise terminology employed here for services,
and only these services, shall be used in contracts. Additional
services that you feel should be a part of this schedule must be
approved by the Chairman, JPRC.
unless absolutely necessary, do
translation
d
,
s
3. As regar
not contract for "general," "technical" and "scientific." Contract
at one rate only for all services.
4. The minimum rates. are merely suggested; the maximum rates,
however, shall not be exceeded. Exceptions to the maximum rates
listed here must be approved in advance by the Chairman, JPRC.
1. LANGUAGE SERVICES
A. Translation per 1,000 original-language words, into English
or into any of the languages listed below):
(Enter name(s) of languages, not "Romance," "Slavic," etc.)
Romance: $11.00 to $20.00 Germanic: $11.00 to $20.00
French Danish
Italian Dutch
Portuguese German
Romanian Norwegian
Spanish Swedish
Slavic: $11.00 to $25.00
Belorussian Russian
Bulgarian Serbo-Croatian
Czech Slovak
Polish Slovenian
Ukrainian
For languages not listed above: $11.00 to $30.00
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FORM NO. REPLACES FORM 10-101
1 AUG 54 101 WHICH MAY BE USED.
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