NRO APPOVED FOR 

M RE4 ASE 1 NLY 2015 

• 

r.-.717, i 4 4+. 

• r12,Q.:1h14. F,.1:) OR DR. 2..141,A . 

SU=OT: MOL Priorities 

The following is LI response to your request for 

additional back-up data for the MOL Brick-bat .01/DX 

priorities nomination. 

MOL CONTRACTS 

MOL Engineering Development Phase contracts with

Douglas, McDonnell, and General Electric were negotiated 

on the basis of DX industrial priority. In the existing circumstances, the Government cannot execute 

those contracts as negotiated. In order to avoid any 

further delay in definitizing: the program, the contractual instruments now being processed will be amended to 

include the following special clause: 

It is understood that the terms and conditions 

of this contract have been negotiated on the 

basis that a DX rating A-2 certified under DMS 

regulation No. 1 would be assigned to this 

program. In the event such rating is not so 

assigned by March 15, 1967 and the terms and 

conditions are adversely affected by the lack 

of such rating, the contractor shall be entitled 

to an equitable adjustment pursuant to the 

''changes, article;' 

_ . 

It is clear that?theterms and conditions of 

the contracts will be' adversely affedted by lack of 

the DX retina", and that:the,:cOntractors will insist 

upon an appropriate adjustMent. It should be under- • 

stood that the negotiation of an."equitable adjustment": 

in the present circumstances :will be difficult and 

tedious, and may wellivoid:a substantial part of the 

Contract Definition Phase :effort that has recently 

been completed. I believe that we must recognize 

that, without DX rating authority, we'may'not be able 

to hold the line with Douglas and McDonnell on fixedprice incentive contracts,: and that we may be forced. 

into a cost-reimbursable type of contracting across 

the board. 

DOWGRADED ET 3 YEAR.INTERVALS;i 

DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS, 

DOD DID. 5200.10 
System • 

(7- -,,r r- .1 • 4 I 

vi 

j )rif 

T 

Central Pyrotecroil 

Technology Device0: 

NRO APPROVED FOR 

FWLEASE 1 J.1.1LY 2015 

roL LAUNCH FACILITIES 

Appended as Tab A is a recent letter frem theSSD Director of Civil Enginecrin which rciterat-,:s 

proviously-exprosset] concern that the nriorisj 

iseiitly assined to MOL will not assure 

sale completion of the XOL launch comDlex. The 

conLtruction agency, the Los Angelea District Co; rs 

cf En:Uneers, cites steel) copper, porcelain end 

piywood as major critical Procurement items, the 

load timos.for which jeopardize present project 

scnedules. In the case of copper and porcelain, 

normal DO-rated procurement lead time approaches 

2z', months; the facility. is scheduled to be completo . 

in 17 months. The civil-.onP:incers umently rocomn.d 

that DX priority be made 'available for MOL construction. 

KOL SUECONTRACTORS AND 'VENDORS 

MOL contractors bava'been queried concerning the 

impact of a change fromDX to DO priority as a basis 

for procurement of Wib.5. ystaZi3 and Components. The 

response received fromjicDonnell seems particularly 

significant, in that .Cemlni B hardware and suppliers 

are clearly defined, and MAC has had previous experience 

with most of the suppliers through the NASA omini 

program. A summary of the MAC study follow's: 

Impact of ChanuLfrpm DX to DO 

.Vondor Itei Schedule 

Iocketdyne Reentry Control - months 

System :; 

4 

1 

A 

/2 months 

Price 

Substantial 

impact; figure 

not quoted . 

r14' 200 „ 000.00 

Substantial 

impact; figure 

.not quoted 

Not quoted 

Airesearch 

Honeywell 

Environmental 

Control,System: 

Attitude Control 

/16 weeks 

/5 months 
Powev 

T.Jvnths 

Data TI-laon- • 

missiell 

Syztem 

1C4:, 

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Heneziwell Inertial 

Mcasurin 

Unit 

Unable to. 

quote 

Not quote::: 

No Effect 

Not ouoa.ed 

Not quoted 

Communications 

• Equipment 

C-Band /5 weeks 

Transponder 

McDonnell emphasizes that any•oest and schedule 

impact oa B hard4fare deliveries resultinL: from 

ohane from DX Co DO prOCurement will be compounded 

in that: . (1) Major and 6oltly. revision to detailed 

MAC planaino and schedul4.4£Oelopcd. durinG Contract 

Definition will be necesott.ry;: and (2) The interrelationships betWeon MAC- sche*Alle4 thoce.of other MOL 

associatos will be seriOusffected. - 

T 

The eeoo:Ice or the MOL prlOrlticc problem .13 the 

matter of procurement lead time for meterialz sand 

ve:::aor parte. Our experience iz that lead times for 

DO-rated prooureme%t of these critical itGMS are, in 

lare part, either: (1) Uncertain to a de2reo inconsistent with detailed prosram nlanninz, or (2) so lonp: 

to be incompatible With 12:nown prorcram need Cates. • 

• 

Lea-0 Siegler 

Electrofilm, 

Do Uaviiland 

Collins 

Motorola 

Dioelays and 

Iadicatora 

RCS Heaters 

E.F. Antenna 

Unable to 

• quote 

No Effect 

wecks 

1 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

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Attached as Tab B is a recent Douglas report which 

iLlu-trates the nature and scepo of the problem a:.d„ 

demonstrates the depth to which the hOL 

been scheduled. 

Doulas identifies in this recort over 2,;,2;:, 

critical procurement items for wnich need dates hJ.-ve 

1:03n These it3f1Z; are, for the most ;.:art, 

s,.wh sImple but necessary thiL,gs as valves, cebl, 

solenoids, connectors,' meters, etc. Of these 2, LOVE'

items, over 700 now show negative slack in auteelted 

zoned-ale printouts; those items for which no slaek 

ei,ry is en own (in eoiLna 73-7f)) ara so shown 'either 

b.-•,_cause drawing release dates have not been scheuiad, 

or because procurement lead time (column 53-54) is 

uncertain, or both. 

The sirmificance of this report, in my juCalTric:Iti 

lies in the large number of individual reschedulingand 

special procurement actions which must be successfully 

accomplished in order to eliminate negative slack. 

Some of these problexffs can be resolved, and have Leon 

resolved, by contractor work-grounds, substitution of 

parts and materials, earlier engineering releases, etc. 

The special assistance nroviSions of the Defense Materials 

System will be useful in resolving other individual 

shartar.:e problems. However, the basic problem throughout the MOL Program is co broad in scope, and the individual 

lead-time problems so numerous, that without DX industrial 

priority, contractor worl,:-arounds and/or special assistance 

actions under the Defense Materials System do not offer 

any real hope for relief, It seems clear that assignment 

of DX rating to at least a portion of MOL procurements 

is essential if the program is to proceed along an 

orderly and predictable course. 

DOLLAR-LIMITED DX RATING AUTHORITY 

At your suggestion* we have explored the feasibility of conducting the program with limited DX ratin 

authority, where DX industrial priority would be applied 

only to a relatively small fraction of total program 

dollars. I believe that:thl&approach offers a satisfactory solution to Most. oaf the priorities Problems 

that have been identifted to date. There are no 

statutory or mechanicalHobstacles to proceeding along 

this line, nor are the methods used to police compliance 

with DX dollar restrictlo4s4ikely to cause any serious 

complications. 

17 • • z r.= 

--• • • 

1 
•HARRY L. EVANS 

Major General, USAF -

Vice Director, MOL Program 

-2 Atch 

a/s 

Copy to: 

SAF-SL - Chron- File 

SAF-SBP - Read File 

SCO - Read File. 

Lt Col May/SAF-SLP/15Feb67/53889/1d 

77, r-77`.3ri n, 

• 

FY 68 

46.3 0.4.• 

16.0 10.0 

7.4 0.8 

32.2 35.6 

6.2 0.0 

Dow:las 

General Electric 

McDonnell 

Titan 

•Mil Construction 

FY 67 

17.7 

0 

o 

9.9 

NRO AP.PROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1,JULY 2015 

Inasmuch as the MOL priorities problem is basically 

a prcblem in assuring tiMely delivery of raw materials 

and 7,urchased parts, we have asked the major associate 

contractors to provide estimates of the dollar value 

of tnis part of their individual prertrems. Specifically, 

the:;ca cats...__ es include -crime co::Itractor raw moterials; 

major subcoritractor raw materials throush second-tier 

subcontractors-where identifiable; and purchased parts, 

instruments, special eouipment and components. The 

result's of this survey are tabulated below:. 

11 Materials and Purchased' Parts 

Total 67.1 

Authority to issue DX-rated procurements in the 

above amounts would materially improve the . confidence 

With-which the MOL Program can, be planned and scheduled. 

110.1 54.8 
NRO AP ROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

AF UNIT POST OFFICE, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90045 

HEADQUARTERS SPACE SYSTEMS DIVISION (AFSC) 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

SSI\T FEB 1967 

SUBJECT t Priority 1.ating, for Titan LIM, Launch Complex Construction, Vandenberg 

APB 

"1 (Col Dietrich} 

i. The award of our, twenty million. dollar construction contract on 

25 January 1967 for the Titan LIM Launch Complex at Vandenberg 

presents a problem in the procuretneat of rnate.rials with the present 

construction :schedule and to meet a July 1968 corapletion date, with 

ir.terrnediate beneficial occupancy dates (BODO for major elements of 

the project. This 17 months' construction time is extremely tight; 

and its attainment will require the maximum possible assistance of 

all concerneci to assure that construction prPgresa 13 not impeded. 

This headquarters and the Loo :Angeles District Z.agiaa4...r organization 

are well aware of the importance of Meeting this construction schedule; 

and will strive to assure that the work.is accomplished on-time, 

compatible with MOL program objectives. 

Z. The best efforts of SSD management and thoeo of the Corps of 

Engineers and the construction contractor may, however, be thwarted 

by conditions beyond our control. Vie are highly concerned about the 

impact on construction progress of actual materials shortages caused 

by the SEA activities and other factors, when we examine the. contractorls 

inability to obtain critical construction materials with the priority 

rating now assigned to this program. These are some examples of 

materials shortagea which we believe may very likely delay construction progress without high priority rating assistance: 

a. Steel. The Titan Launch Complex project contains a gross • 

amount of 10, 000 tone of steel, both structural shapes and concrete 

reinforcement, which will be extremely critical to rneeting.scheduled 

BoLs for such items as the launch pad, the umbilical tower, the mobilo 

service tower, the launch control canter, and the solid rocket Motor • 

buildings. Some of the steel in the mobile service tower is not normally 

or regularly rolled such as our .jumbo beams - e% 730# and 14"W.; heavy 

i..;.ates.and exceptionally heavy overhear.: cranes. Recent developments . 

in the steel industry are causing a serious backlog of steel orders, both 

in the mills and the fabricating shops, and unless we are in a position to 

REPLY TO 

ATTN OFt 
Nipto A4)ROVED FOR 

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obtain these shapes when they are rolled serious consequences can 

develop. Our construction agency, the Los Angeles I:liar:et Corps of 

Engineers, advises us that, with no more. than the now existing DO 

priority cosigned to this project, a high probability to:ists of delays 

in2 steel deliveries with resultant delays in =twang scheduled T.i0Ds 

and completion date for the T,itarilli;a: Launch Coniplcx construction. 

b. Co,per. The supply of copper wire for unctor winclinzs, 

transformers and elEjctr.icai ins.itallations is rapidly becoming extremely 

critical.. w-o•ld appear very likely that real property equipment for 

the Titan I IM Launch Complex could become, without high priority 

assistan.ce., extremely long lead time items, possibly 24 months. 

c. Porcelain (Power Lino Insulators). The most recent item.: 

to appear on the critical list and ir.cluded in the Titan 1112v1 design is 

cluclared as an extremely long lead time item at 24 months to procure. 

wood. A recent study has come. to our attention that total 

available vvest ,roast ouppliec of plywood have been earmarked for construction activities in SEA. since plywood is an es.sential clement in 

concrete forming, a lack of cal ability to acquire this critical mater i4.1 -

could 1..-npact most Unfavorably on early construction-progrosS for the 

ILC, iarticularly in the place.trient of foundations for the launch pad 

and other major structures. This would delay construction operations 

all along the line; and high priority assistance Ia needed to assure 

availability of this material when needed. 

3. The above information er.iphatsizea our concern that the priority 

rating presently assigned. to the MOL Prograni will not assure. timely 

delivery of critical materials on schedules compatible the .very 

tight construction acb.edule for the Titan h f Launch Complex, despite: 

the best efforts of our construction agency and the C011struction contractor to obtain them. We have discussed this matter recently with the 

Corps of 1.7.nginecrs and they have given na their considered opinion that 

any priority rating short of a DX rating will, in all probability-, ' 

jeopardize capability to meet presently scheduled DOD and project 

completion date for this launch complex. 

4. Accordingly, we most urgently recommend that every possible 

effort be made to obtain a .DX or better priority rating for the MOL. 

Program and its related. construction.. 

ROBERT U. ALEXANDER,,.. 

Acting Director 

2Directorate of Civil Engineering. 

Cy to: 11.14".VT,R (IV Ti) 

Distr Engr, Los An:eles' 

SAFS.f..0.7 (Col Morgan) 

r 
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MSI.7 I 

AFRDS 3 

SA. RD 3 

SCGC 4 

SCG 5 

0 

Coordination 

Coordination 

Coordination 

Process . 

Signature 

February1967 

NISFE 

Lt Col Fry/hcb 5629 

Approval Procedures for DOD Experiment Proposals for Manned Space Flight 

PROBLEM: 

A formal procedure is needed to collect, select and approve experiment proposals 

for manned space flight. 

DISCUSSION: 

DOD experiments flown on Gemini and those DOD experiments proposed for NASA's 

Orbital Workshop evolved from ad hoc committees and were approvet. in a one-time 

(xi process. We need a procedure that is continuous, provides equal opportunities for 

tTA all DOD R&D activities to fly worthy experiments, and U possible, can be in- 

• corporated into an existing management procedure. The existing procedure for the 

DOD Space Experiments Support Program (SESP) managed by AFSC and DOD 

z .erospaCe Research Support Program (ARS?) managed by OAR for collecting pro- 

• posed space experiments is adaptable to manned space flight experiments. The 

-0 attached letter recommends the use of these ARSP and SESP procedures and suggests 

the USAF, OSAF„ OSD and MSFEB experiment flow. 

KI) :RECOMMENDATION: 

(r):Recorzrx...ad the attached letter be signed by you in your capacity of AF Member 

1; on the INAiiFEB and sent to your MSFEB associate, MD Member. Mr. Daniel S. Fink. 

U 

7, .rti 

HARRY L. EVANS 

Major General, USAF 

Vice Director MOL Program 

1 Atcb. 

Proposed ltr to Mr. Fink. OSD 

Member. MSFEB. 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

10 FEB ISM" 

Mr. Daniel J. Fink, °SD Member 

Manned Space night Experix:aents Zoard 

OSD (DnR ZEE) 

Wash DC 20330 

Dear Dan 

With the evolution of the national manned space flight program 

from the Mercury and Gemini programs to the concurrent programs of Apollo, MOL and Apollo Applications, we need a fOrrnalized procedure for collecting, 6,:.:le.,cting and approving the ,

proposals for manned space flight e:cperimente. Previously, 

we had an informal operation in which experiments Wore collected 

and selected by ad LOC COmmaitteos and approved on a onetime 

basis. The procedure should be corAinuous .and expeditious, 

provide equal. opportunities for all DOD RUD activities to fly' 

;worthy experiments, and if possible, should be incorporated 

into an existing management procedure. 

The c:rd.sting procedures of the DOD Space Experiments Support 

Program (S.ESP) managed by Al SC and of the DOD Aerospace 

Research Support Program tARSP) managed by OAR for collecting 

proposed space experiments is suited, with a few minor changes, 

to our needs for manned experiments. The MOL Program Office 

will generate and implement experiment ideas of its own outside 

of ARSP/Sl.::S? channels. 

recommend the following procedures for use within the Pentagon 

for approving an experiment suitable for manned space flight: 

a. The Director of Space, DICS/R&D, Headquarters USAF 

would receive experiments from OAR and AFSC collected through • 

A:1SP and. :ESP, respectively, and would coordin ate them with the 

Air Staff and the MOL Program Office. Those experiments that 

the MOL Program Office considered to be clearable for 1.101. would 

be transferred to the IriOL Program Office. • 
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b. Experiments recormr4endeci for implementation would be 

omitted to you through the ASAF (Rz,n). As agreed to in the 

NASA/DOD Memorandum of Agreerata on the IvIS'YEB: 

(1) Experiments of a scientific, technological, or nonrrsilitary operational or applications nature will be carried az a 

secondary objective en a space-available basis on selected DOD 

flight 1.7113f40/16 and as primary or secc,nds.ry objectives on 

NASA flight programa. 

(2) Those experiments which ars peculiar to or primarily 

a.ssociatedwith the development of wc:::-.pon Ste ms, military 

operations, or the defense of the U. S. would norinally. be assigned 

to DOD programs. 

c. Experiments approved by you other than those assigned to 

MOL, would be prepared. for MSFE13 action by the DOD Sccreta.ry 

for MSFEB =Letters. The Secretary would coordinate the experi• 

meat with his NASA counterparts, request the MSFEB Executive 

Secretary to have the experiment placed on the agenda of a future 

.I.V:SFEZ meeting, and arrange to have the experiment presented at 

the Board meeting by the experimenter or by the MSFEB AF Technical Advisor. All DOD sponsored iizperiments would have been 

reviewed by the Director of '41:014 and by the 2v1SFEB AF Tecbnical 

Advisor prior to submittal. 

d. Upon acceptance of an er.perinaent by the MSFEB, a letter 

from you to the ASAF (R&D) would initiate the action to implment 

• experiment either through the Director of Space or the Director 

MOL. 

• he full procedures for handling manned space flight experiments 

should be included in the manual for the DOD Space Experiments 

;ma Flight Support Program now being prepared by AFSC, OAR 

and Hea.clquarters USAF. 

Sincerely 

SIGNED 

JAMES FERGUSON, General, USAF 

Commander Experiment Flow Chart 

Lt Co]. Wallace J. Fry/25 Jan 67/5629/hcb 

I Atoll 
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