LETTER TO(SANITIZED) FROM ANTHONY J. CALIO

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84M00395R000600240017-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 25, 2007
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: September 7, 1982
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2007/04125
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Washington, D.C. 20230
SEP '~ 1982 , DCIIIC ~;~'~;
epu y irec or
Intelligences Community Staff
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C. 20505
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This is to request your assistance in evaluating responses to the
Commerce Business Daily (CBD) announcement soliciting views on commercializing
all or parts of the civil land and weather satellite remote sensing systems.
This CBD announcement has been sent to the Government Printing Office and is
now scheduled for publication on September 10, 1982. A copy of the final
draft is enclosed. As you will notice, interested parties must respond by
October 22, 1982.
We are establishing a mechanism to review and evaluate responses to the
CBD announcement. This mechanism will include defining criteria to be used in
evaluating commercialization plans or proposals, developing a numerical rating
scheme, testing the criteria and rating scheme, and ultimately evaluating all
plans or proposals received.
Commercialization issues may be complex, and could impact a number of
Federal agencies either as users of satellite data, or as participants in
establishing major national policies. Therefore, we plan to create an ad hoc
interagency working group to assist in the review of responses. The Departments
of Agriculture, Defense, Interior, and State, the Director of Central Intelli-
gence, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Office of
Management and Budget could each contribute significantly to the review process.
I request that you designate someone to work with us in this important
task. This person should be familiar with your organization's program use
of remote sensing data and/or with the policy implications of commercialization
from your organization's perspective. Demands on the person's time will be kept
to a minimum: perhaps a week in late September, and the first or second week
immediately following the closing of the CBD announcement period. Depending on
the number of proposals received, these time requirements could be reduced or
increased a few days. In the event some responses to the announcement require
detailed review by technical, financial, or legal specialists, we could work
through your representative if your organization's interests are affected. If
you are able to designate someone to work with us, please have that person
contact Bill Eskite (763-2582) by September 20, 1982. Thank you.
Anthony~jY. ~a~l io
Deputy Administrator
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TU: U.S. Department of Commerce
Offices of Field Operations
Commerce Business Daily Section
PO Box 5999
Chicago, Illinois 60680
US Department. of Commerce, NOAA/National Earth Satellite Service,
Washington, D.C. 20233
M--CIVIL OPERATIONAL REMOTE SENSING FROM SPACE
The notice published September 10, 1982, is amended to include
the following Preamble:
It i.s the policy of this Adminis~ration to seek commercial-
ization of Governmental activities which are not uniquely
Governmental in nature since private enterprise is the primary
source of our national economic strength.
The United States Government currently operates civil
satellite systems to collect and disseminate remotely sensed
weather and land satellite data. This data is used by numerous
departments and agencies to perform Government services and is
used by the private sector to extract information valuable in
that sector. Civil satellite remote sensing is an activity
which has a potential for substantially greater commercializa-
tion. Private entities have expressed interest in providing
the remotely sensed satellite data that is needed by t:ie
Government and non-Government users on a commercial basis. The
Land Re,note Sensing Advisory Committee is currently soliciting
other expressions of interest from the private sector for
ownership and/or operation.
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While it is the current policy of the Administration to
seek prompt commercialization of land satellite remote sensing
and to retain the civil weather satellites in the Government,
that policy will be reexamined if commercialization of both
systems is shown to produce cost savings to Federal agencies.
A conference for industry will be held at 9:30 a.m. on
September 17 ,. 1982, in Room 4830 of the i~erbert C. Hoover Building
(formerly thE~ Commerce Building), 14th & Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, I).C. Firms planning to attend the conference should
notify Mr. Robert L. Birchfield of their intent and the number of
persons attending.
This request for information is not subject to the normal
clearance functions required in Sec. 3506(c)(5) of P.L. 96-511
(Paperwork Reduction Act).
Ralph P. Conlin
Contracting Officer
Aooroved For Release 200~i04125 :CIA-RDP84M00395R000600240017-2
 ? Approved For Release 2007/04125: CIA-RDP84M00395R000600240017-2
DATE: September 3, 1982
T0: U.S. Department of Commerce
Office of Field Operations
Commerce Business Daily Section
PO Box 5999
Chicago, Illinois 60680
Transmittal No: 1298
US Department of Commerce, NOAA/National Earth Satellite Service,
Washington, D.C. 20233
M--CIVIL OPERATIONAL REMOTE SENSING FROM SPACE
The'Sec:retary of Commerce is examining two issues with regard
to the nation's civil remote sensing satellites:
1. What is the best mechanism to implement the current policy
of transfer of civil land remote sensing systems (LANDSAT)
to the private sector as soon as possible?
2. Should the Administration consider simultaneously private
sector transfer of both civil weather and land remote
sensing systems? (At this time, Administration policy is
that civil weather satellite systems should remain in the
Government.)
To assist in the process, the Secretary is requesting that
the views of: private industry be obtained. These views will be
analyzed by the Administration and its advisory committee. This
committee includes private sector representatives. Based in part
on the results of this process, it is planned that a formal Request
for Proposals will be prepared.
Privates sector representatives are invited to present their
views and expressions of interest on owne--ship and/or operation of
Anoroved For Release 2007/Q4/25 ~ CIA-R DP84M00395R000600240017-2
 Approved For Release 2007/04125: CIA-RDP84M00395R000600240017-2
the land and weather satellites and the likelihood of Government
savings in either mode and the mechanisms for transfer of these
systems to the private sector. All or part of the information
proviced will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by
law. Offerors should clearly mark those pages of their response
that contain proprietary information. The response may include
both, either. , or any part of either system. The desired informa-
tion includes:
1. A :statement of the recommendations and rationale for
transfer of all or any part of these satellite systems.
2. A discussion of the technical and business aspects of any
proposed transfer, with particular emphasis on continuity
of service and the cost savings to the Government.
3. A description of the terms and conditions that are
necessary for a successful transfer.
but not necessarily be limited to:
This should include,
a.
Any desirable or undesirable Government regulation.
b.
c.
Any need for legislation.
Use of Government facilities, ground stations,
and
equ iprrient .
d.
Services to be provided to the Government and public.
e.
Time frame in which transfer is considered feasible.
4. A description of the proposed remote sensing system and
its capabilities (area of coverage, spatial resolution,
sensor frequency bands, interval between repeat coverages
of a ground site, etc.), including plans regarding direct
transr~rission of data to foreign ground stations and distri-
bution of data to international and domestic customers.
Agr~roved Far Release 2007104125: GIA-R DP84M00095ROOOE00240017-2
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.5. Anticipated evolution of new or improved sensing capabil-
ities under the proposed transfer, and recommendations
for a means to assure that evolution in any contractual
or regulatory vehicle.
6. Response to foreign competition and its effects.
7. Potential for commercial international joint ventures in
remote sensing and their implications in the areas of
export control and national security.
8. If transfer is recommended for all or part of the civil
'wea.ther satellite systems, information should be supplied
on:
a. Assumption of command and control by the Department
of Defense in emergencies.
b. Effect of providing selected priority service to
defense needs when required.
c. Feasibility and savings associated with combining
weather and land satellite functions (space and/or
ground segment), and recommendation.
d. Use of existing Government facilities, ground stations,
and equipment inventory.
e. Use of existing industry facilities, ground stations,
and equipment inventory.
f. Proposed criteria for launching replacement satellites
and selection of orbital parameters.
y. Weather satellite service costs under the proposed
transfer to permit comparisons with current costs.
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h. A statement of the pricing and data distribution
practice (domestically and internationally) that would
be employed for weather data.
i. Intended approach to the evolution of sensor systems
still in an R&D stage, such as the VAS on the yeosta-
tionary weather satellites.
j. Approach to be used with foreign-supplied instruments,
such as the ARGOS and SSU on the polar-orbiting
weather satellites.
~k. Approach to respond to the National Weather Service
priorities for severe storm data (National Severe Storms
Forecast Center in Kansas City and National Hurricane
Center in Miami) and for major forecast operations
(National Meteorological Center in Camp Springs,
rlaryland) .
A briefing package on the civil remote sensing satellites has
been prepared and interested parties may obtain it from Mr. Robert L.
B~irchfield, ;Director of Resources and Management Services, National
Earth Satellite Service/NOAA, Washington, D.C. 20233. His telephone
number is (3()1) 763-2690. A conference will be held for industry at
9:30 a.m. on September 17, 1982, in Room 4830 of the Herbert C.
Hoover Building (formerly the Commerce Building), 14th & Constitution
Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. Firms planning to attend the confer-
ence should notify Mr. Robert L. Birchfield of their intent and the
number of persons attending.
Offerors, should submit 25 copies of their response to
Dr. John H. McElroy, Assistant Administrator for Satell ;, National
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Earth Satellite Service/NOAA, Washington, D.C. 20233, no later than
October 22, 1982. Dr. McElroy's phone number is [phone].
This request for information does not commit the Government to pay
any costs incurred for the preparation of a response.
Queries may be addressed to either of the above.
This rE~quest for information is not subject to the normal
clearance functions required in Sec. 3506(c)(5) of P.L. 96-511
(Paperwori: Fteduct ion Act) .
Ralph P. Conlin
Contracting Officer