RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES/INFORMATION HANDLING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04770A002900030026-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 26, 2005
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: October 15, 1965
• Content Type: MF

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IPD/NPIC-256-65
15 October 1965
MORANDUM FOR: Assistant for Plans & Development, NPIC
.
SUBJECT : Research and Development Objectives/Information Handling
PROBLEM
How should NPIC proceed with the "research and development" effort
in the area which P&&S has designated "Information/Material Handling."?
FACTS BEARING ON THE PROBLEM,
n
1. In August 1965 Information Processing Division (IPD) after dis-
cussions with three other companies and reviewing other potential
contractors requested permission to proceed with contract ions
with pro-
Pos , e E-p can er , calls for an analysis of the Center's
substantive data base preliminary to the design of an integrated infor-
mation processing system.
2. On 13 October 1965 Plans & Development Staff (P&DS) released a.
draft of the "Research and Development Objectives" for an "Information/.
Material Handling System." The paper would be sent to a number of
selected potential bidders, and would be followed in November 1965 by a
bidders' conference and subsequent bidding for a contract. The target
date for awarding the contract is 25 February 1966.
DISCUSSION OF THE FACTS
If 3. There are two basic differences between the P&DS approach to the
Information/Material Handling System" and the TPD a roach to th
pp e
"Integrated Information Processing System." The first of these differences
concerns the objectives to be attained by the two approaches.
a.. There appear to be three essential objectives in the P&DS approach:
1) definition of information handling problems; 2) definition of materials
handling requirements; and 3) determination of requirements for a data-link
system. in anticipation of image-transmitting collection systems. These
three objectives have been lumped for administrative convenience; they
need not and, in fact, probably will not result in a single contract,
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SUBJECT: Research and Development Objectives/Information Handling
b. The objective of the IPD approach is the analysis of the current
DPIC substantive data base and of current and projected requirements
against that data base as an essential first step toward implementation
of an integrated information processing system. By virtue of its position
in the Center, IPD is in a unique (if not unfortunate) position to iden-
tify the problems related to information processing, and has determined
that the problem is the urgent need to provide the latest information in
a more timely manner and with a greater degree of flexibility to meet a
wide range of requests. IPD is acutely aware of many of the symptoms of
the problem; undoubtedly, others will be uncovered during the course of
the analysis.
4. The second basic difference might be termed the method of attack.
P&DS proposes to select roughly a dozen potential contractors, send them
a statement of "Research and Development Objectives," and invite them to
a bidders' conference. Ultimately, bids for a contract would be solicited..
Target date for awarding the contract is 25 February 1966. It is, in
IPD's opinion, highly unlikely that this process will produce a contract
any more responsive to NPIC's information processing needs than the
proposal in hand. In contrast, IPD has, over a period of months,
evaluated roughly dozen organizations with a known capabilitjr to con-
duct analysis and design in the information processing area. In the pro-
fessional opinion of IPD, which would have undertaken the analysis task
"in-house" if fully staffed,
is considered the most acceptable of the candidates considered
and fully capable of producing competent results. A contract-can be
awarded as soon as approval to proceed is received and will be completed
within five months aftertkrde clearances are received.
5. There still appears to be considerable confusion concerning the
end-product of the proposed analysis. Essentially, the analysis will
result in the formulation of an integrated information processing system
concept and of the design specifications which the concept embodies.
More specifically, the specifications will set forth: a) a data file
structure, independent of hardware considerations, which will provide the
degree of flexibility determined as desirable during the analysis; and
b) a storage and retrieval algorithm, again independent of hardware con-
siderations, which will provide the level of responsiveness determined
as desirable during the analysis. Equipment specifications and configura-
tion which will satisfy the system concept are design considerations,
not analysis considerations.
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SUBJECT: Research and Development Objectives/Information Handling
6. The P&DS draft paper, ?Research and Development Objectives,
Information/Material Handling System," is fraught with contradictions,
vagueness, misconceptions, poor grammar, and misspellings. To release
the statement in its present form could only prove embarrassing to NPIC,
P&D3 a.nd IPD. If it is necessary to issue objectives covering information
handli , ip will be glad to assist with its rewrite.
CONCLUSIONS
I. IPD csnnot concur in the "Research and Development Objectives"
for an "Information/Material Handling System" as presented in the P&D8
draft of 13 October 1965.
2. Information processing, material handling and data link are
probably not susceptible to a single contractual action.
3. The Executive Director, NPIC must determine whether the unlikely
edventa;e.to be gained by competitive bids outweighs the four months lost
by this process. The study is to be completed within five months.
RECOP h'DATION a
In view of the above considerations, it is recommended that:
1. A contract be negotiated iritht L--Jto conduct the analysis
essential to design: of an integrated information processing system.
2. P&DS use its traditional mechanism to select a contractor or
contractors to define materials handling requirements,
3. P&rDS use its traditional mechanism to select a contractor or
contractors to determine requirements for a data link system.
I
Chief, Information Processing Division,
NPIC
Distribution:
Orig & 1 - Addressee
2- IPD file
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PAG/IPO/M-122-65
18 October 1965
MEMORANDUM FOR:
Assistant for Plans & Development, NPIC
SUBJECT:
Comments Concerning the Information/Material Handling
Systems Program
REFERENCE:
a. Memorandum NPIC/P&DS-370-65 dated 13 October 1965
b. Memorandum PAG/M-1025-65 dated 23 September 1965
1. The Photographic Analysis Group agrees that there exists within
NPIC an urgent requirement for a review and probably revision of its entire
information processing system. The PAG recommendation concerning this
subject is contained in reference-(b), a copy of which is attached. How-
ever, we can not endorse, at this time, a Government sponsored research
and development program in the field of information/material handling as
it relates to imagery exploitation processes as proposed in reference (a).
This position is predicated on several factors as follows:
a. This problem is too important to be coordinated on a crash
basis with a one or two day deadline as proposed in your cover
memorandum (reference a).
b. The proposal presented in reference (a) appears to be in
obvious conflict with an Information Processing Division proposal
on System Analysis. In the opinion of PAG, a Systems Analysis should
be conducted prior to launching a program such as'proposed in
reference (a). Certain important in-house actions are necessary
p:ri r to any system analysis and, again, these actions are outlined
in reference (b). Any program of system analysis and development
must be based upon a Comprehensive System Plan which remains to
be established. The Plan must be designed to provide total support
to the NPIC's national Mission.
It is imperative that this planning be accomplished by experienced
NPIC personnel who are relieved of their normal tasks and responsibilities
and able to devote full time to the design of this Comprehensive System
Plan. A suggested composite planning group is listed in the last para-
graph of reference (b).
Assistant for Photographic Analysis, NPIC
fR~UP i
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dawF;;radln3 and
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SUBJECT: Comments Concerning the Information/Material Handling
Systems Program
Attachments:
1. NPIC/P&DS-370_65
2. PAG/M-1025/65
Distribution:
1 - P&DS/NPIC (with
1 - Exec Dir/NPIC
1 - Dep/Dir/NPIC
1 - Tech Adv/NPIC
1 - Asst/Ops/NPIC
1 - Asst/Admin/NPIC
2 - IPO/PAG/NPIC
2 - PAG/NPIC
1 - Ch/IPD/NPIC
1 - Ch/CSD/NPIC
1 - Ch/TID/NPIC
1 - Ch/PD/NPIC
1 - Ch/PSD/NPIC
1 attach)
SECRET
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