AGENCY IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING FOR COMMUNITY ON-LINE INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM (COINS)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP69B00596R000100110018-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 1, 2002
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: August 16, 1966
• Content Type: MF

/c7, 7
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DDS&T #3973-66
16 August 1966
v-EMORANDUM FOR: Executive Director -Comptroller
HROUGH : Director of Planning, Programming
and Budgeting
JE ECT : Agency Implementation Planning for
Community On-Line Intelligence
System (COINS)
,EFERENCE : A. Executive Director -Comptroller
memo for Deputy Directors, dtd
18 May 1966, subject: "CIA.
Participation in Community On-
Line Intelligence System (COINS)."
B. COINS Committee, "COINS Imple-
mentation Plan, "Report to CODIB,
dtd 25 May 1966.
1. This memorandum contains a recommendation in
paragraph 8 relating to the Agency's participation in the COINS
activity.
2. Reference A. provides guidance pertaining to the Agency's
:ole in implementing the President's desire for improved real-time
communication of information between components of the Intelligence
Community. This memorandum summarizes the efforts of the CIA
Task Force on COINS to date in planning the implementation of the
first phase of this activity.
3. With your approval, the CIA participation in COINS I
will consist of the following:
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a. Inclusion of five active Agency files (listed and
described in Attachment A). For the most part, these
files are now under machine control and can be made
compatible with the planned COINS programs and
communications specifications.
b. Secure electronic connection of one computer in
NPIC and one computer in OCS to the COINS I switching
computer in DIA. Three user terminals in Headquarters
Building would be connected to the OCS computer and 15
terminals in would be connected to the computer
in NPIC during COINS I (see diagram in Attachment B).
c. Generation of query and real-time control programs
to operate on the OCS computer. NPIC programming require-
ments under COINS I will be limited to adapting NSA programs
or writing new communications programs to operate under the
I I System on NPICis computer.
d. Familiarization and training of Agency personnel in
the use of the system, i. e., CIA/NSA/DIA files available and
methods of access.
25X1A
25X1A
4. Accomplishment of the above implementation tasks is feasible
by January 1967. This schedule and the extent of Agency participation
is in harmony with the recommendations contained in reference B.
5. To a large extent, the implementation tasks are an extension
of independently derived, but related, activities already planned or
underway in the Agency. A general description of these related activi-
ties is given in Attachment C. The costs identified for implementing
COINS I are those over and above existing Agency programs. This is
;imated to be approximately 0 including 0 positions for FY
567. Attachment D contains a breakdown of the costs and responsible
components. These items are not now a part of the FY-67 Budgets of
the Offices concerned.
6. Reference B. recommends that the second phase of COINS
begin in FY 1968. This appears optimistic; the problems involved
hi the shakedown and evaluation of the initial phase and the design of
an effective follow-on system are considerable. The COINS II goals
are:
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a. Remote access computers with automatic
scheduling features installed in each participating
agency.
b. A uniform method of querying all files in
the system, including the use of consistent entries
for data elements and a single query exchange
language.
c. A data store and forward switch, installed
in CIA, to service messages securely at high speeds
between the computers in the system.
inates of the Agency resources needed to achieve these goals
vazy widely, depending on the particular design yet to be chosen
aa_aa the experience gained in Phase I. For example, programming
manpower needed to implement the query exchange language will
depend on whether the language chosen is similar to any then avail-
able to CIA computers. Similarly, a wide range of methods could
be used in implementing the store and forward switch requirement.
With the following assumptions:
a. COINS I will continue to operate at least through
December 1967.
b. Manpower will continue to be required at least at
the COINS I level indefinitely.
c. Other terminals connected to NPIC and OCS
computers will have access to COINS files.
d. Several CIA files will be added to the system in
Phase II.
e. The concept of a central store and forward
switch as described in reference B. is valid.
25X1A the costs in FY 1968 could be as high as including nine
positions and, in FY 1969, Q including seven positions. Be-
25X1A cause of difficulties which could be encountered in Phase I, the
large expenditure in FY 1968 could easily slip to FY 1969.
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7. It should be noted that the climate within the Agency is
one of caution rather than enthusiasm. Consequently, the effort
proposed for COINS I could be characterized as minimal. The
experimental nature of this activity needs to be emphasized; while
.le, payoff could ultimately be great, overselling the COINS concept
and overcommitting ourselves now should be avoided.
8. It is recommended that the Agency commit itself to the
degree of COINS I participation summarized in paragraph 3 above,
and that 0 inclii r1,nn r-----l ---.s_?
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i;o carry out this portion o# the program. ty~ uc d1loca>;ea in FY 1967
UHARLES A. BRIGGS
Acting Chairman
CIA Task Force on COINS
1 tachments (41N
3. CIA COINS FILES
B. COINS I SCHEMATIC
C. AGENCY PROGRAMS RELATED TO COINS I
D. COINS I COST AND MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS
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