LETTER TO JOHN TOWER FROM WILLIAM J. CASEY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00148R000300760031-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 3, 2007
• Sequence Number: 31
• Publication Date: September 17, 1982
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2007/12/03: CIA-RDP84BOO148R000300760031-7
Central lntellidence Agency
OEXA 82-2160/A
Honorable John Tower, Chairman
Committee on Armed Services
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear John:
EC I COPY
17 SEP 1982
Thank you for your letter of 17 August 1982 concerning
the selection of an architectural firm for our proposed new
CIA building in Langley.
You have expressed an interest in CRS, Inc., one of the
firms considered for the project. We were impressed with
CRS, Inc., and its capabilities to undertake the project.
As I am sure you are aware, 20% of the stock of CRS,
Inc., is owned by a single foreign interest. That interest
represents the largest single ownership of CRS, Inc., stock.
Current Agency regulations prohibit contracting with a firm
which i:-cludes substantial foreign ownership, control or
influence. Specifically, Agency policy provides that
"[c]orporations under foreign ownership, control or influence
will not be considered for (Agency] contracting." Five
percent is the threshold figure and any company whose stock
is owned by a.foreign interest in excess.of that amount is
deemed to be "under foreign ownership" for purposes of the
provision in question.
CS, Inc., did very well in the competition. It could
not, however, meet the foreign ownership standard. While I
have the power under appropriate circumstances to waive this
requirement, it did not appear appropriate in this case
because of the high level of the foreign ownership interest
(20%) which compelled us to. carefully focus on the security
.issues raised by the foreign ownership as a result of the
very sensitive nature of the project being undertaken and
the closeness of the competition with the other recommended
architectural firms-which did not present a foreign' ownership
problem. The building in question is to be a major addition
to the Headquarters Complex and will contain the most sensitive
kinds of-'information that the Agency handles.
At this stage the overall top-rated architectural firm
has-been selected to submit a definitive proposal for per-
forming the architectural and engineering services for the
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 Approved For Release 2007/12/03: CIA-RDP84BOO148R000300760031-7
project. Indeed, the letter to commence this process was
sent on 6 August 1982. Under the circumstances I am not in
a position to reopen the selection process and to enter into
negotiations with CRS, Inc. To do so would interfere with
the integrity of the selection process which we have been so
careful to preserve.
Jahn, you can be assured that the selection process was
carried out in a meticulous fashion to comply with the
appropriate regulations and to ensure complete fairness and
objectivity.
Sincerely,
, -;;i dig(' 7(!, (asE f
William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
Distribution:
Original - Addressee
T - DCI
1 - DDCI
1 - Executive Director
1 - ER
1 - DDB
1 - GC
1 - D/OEXA
1 - DD/OEXA
1 -.OEXA Record
1 - OEXA Chrono
LLD:RJK:Typed by OGC (9 September 1982)
Approved For Release 2007/12/03: CIA-RDP84BOO148R000300760031-7