RELEASE OF SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION (SCI) TO CONTRACTORS AND CONSULTANTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82M00591R000300130005-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 11, 2004
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: July 25, 1977
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For ReleaMe 2004/08/23: CIA-RDP82M00591 R006900130005-1
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
FORT BELVOIR, VIRGINIA 22060
REPLY TO
ATTN OF: INS, Wash DC 20330
2 5 JUL 1977
SUBJECT: Release of Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) to
Contractors and Consultants
TO: Chairman
DCI Security Committee
1. The attachment to the current edition of DCID 1/7 basically
provides that SCI shall not be released to contractors unless
special permission has been obtained from the originator.
"Release" is further defined as the visual, oral, or physical
disclosure of classified intelligence material.
2. We are experiencing substantial difficulty in obtaining
timely originator release or denial for release of NSA, CIA,
and DIA products needed by Air Force contractors. This
problem is particularly acute with respect to contractors
sponsored by the Air Force Systems Command (AFSC). A backlog
of several hundred requests has now accumulated, some of which
were originally submitted in December 1976 and January 1977.
3. This backlog is attributed, in part, to recent efforts by
HQ USAF and HQ AFSC to adhere scrupulously to the DCID 1/7
rules by submitting requests for "originator release" for each
and every SCI product believed needed by our contractors.
This action has literally "swamped" NSA and DIA, in particular,
with a significant backlog of USAF requests. The inordinate
delays in obtaining timely originator decision on the release
of their SCI products has resulted in a significant loss in
the effectiveness of Air Force relations with industry. If
no relief is obtained, the impact will result in higher cost,
fewer and less complete products, curtailment of new system
initiatives, and a significant reduction in the use of all
source data by engineers and Air Force planning activities.
4. We have made unilateral efforts with NSA and DIA to
accelerate the release process. While these efforts may alle-
viate the problem to a degree, we believe the scope of the
problem warrants SECOM review of the existing rules to
determine whether changes are warranted. Areas of consideration
could include:
USAF review(s) completed.
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 Approved For Releaw2004/08/23: CIA-RDP82M00591 ROOO 0130005-1
a. Adopting rules currently in effect for dissemination
of collateral intelligence products. Collateral product
dissemination rules have worked well in past years and
involved many items as sensitive as: most routine SCI products.
Unrestricted flow of SCI products to contractors is still
prevented, but at the senior intelligence officer/contract
monitor level versus the originator. Contract relevancy,
strict need-to-know, etc, would still be mandatory consider-
ations prior to actual release.
b. Requiring SCI product originators to make a more
detailed and realistic review of their products at the time
of origination. SCI products positively determined to be
not releasable to contractors would be annotated with the
DCID 1/7 NO:CONTRACT or PROPIN control markings. Others
would be automatically considered releasable to US contractors
subject only to the remaining precautions prescribed in
DCID 1/7. As an estimated 900 of requests for contractor
release are now approved by the originators, making a more
realistic decision at the time of origination of the product
would greatly alleviate the administrative process now
necessary to obtain an after-the-dissemination decision from
the SCI product originator.
5. Request this matter be scheduled for early SECOM review
and discussion.
ELL T. NEWMAN, Colonel, USAF Cy to: AFSC/IN
Dir, Security P Comm Management
USAF Security Committee Representative
Approved For Release 2004/08/23 : CIA-RDP82M00591 R000300130005-1