ACQUISITION OF COMMUNICATIONS COMPUTER FOR OCS (Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04723A000100060041-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 23, 2002
• Sequence Number: 41
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2002/06/2$ a'CIA-RDP78-0473A0001000 0041s0r
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Executive Director-Comptroller
: Acquisition of Communications Computer
REFERENCE OCS request for approval, same subject,
dated. 6 April 1970 (attached)
1 m Proposal: In the attached paper, OCS requests your approval
to acquire a communications computer to handle the
communications switching, buffering, data checking, and related tasks
associated with the growing number of remote terminals attached to
OCS computers.
2. Need: The present system of handling the communications
aspects of these remote terminals is relatively inflexible, is expensive,
and places the burden of communications control and housekeeping onto
the OCS computer, thereby reducing the output efficiency of the OCS
computer. Eventually, some new system for handling this remote
terminal communications workload will become essential. The need
is already apparent with the 50 remote devices now tied to OCS
computers, The .need will be even more critical if anything like the
200 remote devices requested, in our recent survey for installation
within the next two years become a reality,
3. Staff work: OCS has done a careful job of staffing out this
problem. They have found that several outside computer facilities
with comparable problems are installing 0 (or similar)
systems at the front end of their computer systems. OCS analyzed
equipment marketed by seven different companies before selecting
In response t:_ IP Board guidance, O`;S has coordinated
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this proposal in detail with the Office of Communications. Further,
the Office of Security, the Project ASPIN Staff, and the IP Board.
have been briefEda
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-l. Risk: Some risk exists, of course, that the proposed
equipment will not perform in the OCS operational environment as
exoccted, in order to minimize such risk, OCS proposes to acquire
25X1A fi1e0 equipment during FY 1970 or, a contingency basis, The
equipment will be run in operational test until 1 November 1970;
purchase will then be finalized if the system performs satisfactorily.
25X1A ti. Se.condOSyst:em anticipated.: OCS anticipates that
25X1A :a second O system may be required sometime in the future.
final decision on such action will be based on experience with the
25X1A initial0 system and. upon the kind of data communication
system which develops in the future within the Headquarters Building.
b. Alternative: The alternative to
procuring such
gear now
appears to be delay; that is, procure suc
view of the workload and. the desirability
capability incrementally, delay is not de
h gear at a later
of implementing
emed desirable.
c.:. e. In
this
Cost: Purchase cost of this
7
system i
s
22 X A
.
25X1 Maintenance costs will be about
funds in its FY 1970 budget sufficient to
per year. OCS
cover this acqui
has equipment
sition,
8. Cost Offsets: Acquisition of th
e. syst
em will, OCS
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believes, permit subsequent release of s
ome rented. IBM
equipment
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- a
n appreciable of
fset to the
cost of acquisition. Further, OCS estim
obviate the need, to procure additional IB
ates the0
M devices over
system will
the next three
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years having a purchase value of about
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9. Recommendation: It is recom
menced you appr
ove acquisition
25X1A of the
Q
system for
s
proposed by OC
S.
Chairman, information Processing Board
Attachment:
As stated
Dis?:-ribution:
Orig. - ExDir (ret. DD/PPB)
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