LETTER TO THE HONORABLE ROY L. ASH, DIRECTOR FROM W. E. COLBY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R001200140019-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 3, 2005
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: October 1, 1974
• Content Type: LETTER

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The Honorable Roy L. Ash, Director
Office of Management and Budget
Washington, D. C. 20503
Dear Roy:
In my letter of 21 October 1974 which accompanied the CIA budget
request for the Transition Quarter and its projections for 1977-1980, I
noted the importance to me of a project known as SAFE. This project
is in direct response to the need for significant initiatives in the analytical-,.
area and envisions a new and nearly symbioticThrelation between the analyst,
his data and the computer. I have just completed a review of the SAFE
pilot project in which analysts participated and gave their reactions to it.
Their enthusiasm and the experience gained in the last year encourage me
to move ahead as rapidly as possible, beginning full-time efforts on SAFE
a full year in advance of original projections. To do this will require an
increase of $7 million in the original CIA Fiscal Year 1976 budget request.
The estimates for SAFE in 1977 and onward will be reduced accordingly.
My main reason for requesting this amendment is my determination
to improve intelligence production as directed in the Presidential letters of
5 November 1971 and 9 October 1974. SAFE represents a most important
means not only of improving the intelligence product but of keeping abreast
of the complexities of the years ahead. I believe it is directly responsive
to your letter of 22 July 1974 asking that $10 million be included in our
Fiscal Year 1976 budget for improvements in our analytical work.
In addition, the General Services Administration has advised us that
the Standard Level Users Charge (P . L . 92-313) for the space we occupy
will be $20.2 million in Fiscal Year 1976, $5.3 million more than we
included in our budget request. This increase is based on an adjustment
in the price for space and is not caused by any significant change in the 25X1
amount of space we require. I have no alternative, therefore, but to
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SECRET
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request a further increase of $5.3 million in m on '
budget re uest making the total now required year
X1
as originally estimated. instead of f
We would be pleased to provide whatever additional information you
may desire and, of course, will present a detailed account of present
status and future expectations to the OMB examiner who is at this moment
reviewing our Fiscal Year 1976 budget submission.
Sincerely,
'ISAAA
W W. E. Colby
Director
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