(2) Diversion of 30 man-years of effort from lower priority programs for other agencies to high priority measurement standards programs, at a cost of $0.5 million. (3) Placing research and development contracts with other organizations with special qualifications to assist in the solution of standards problems, at a cost of $0.8 million. (4) Purchasing scientific equipment needed for the accelerated and expanded programs, at a cost of $1.3 million. These plans are summarized by program area in the following tabulation: 1 In addition to the 141 technical positions requested, an increase of 10 Bureau overhead positions will be required to meet anticipated demands for additional central services in the areas of procurement, shops and plant. RELATIONSHIP TO REGULAR 1962 BUDGET The proposed supplemental budget does not represent a resubmission of those items eliminated by the earlier reduction of the Bureau's regular 1962 budget. Much of the proposed increase in the regular budget had been for other than the standards responsibilities of the Bureau. When the new administration reviewed and amended the budget in February, for example, the budget was increased for a space telecommunications research program in the Central Radio Propagation Laboratory, but the Bureau was not at that time in a position to provide firm estimates of the additional needs in the standards programs. Those requirements have been firmed up in recent months and this supplemental request to finance them was being prepared at the time that the Congress was acting on the regular budget. In allocating the $2.75 million reduction in the regular budget, the Bureau has been careful to apply it to other program responsibilities than the critically needed measurement standards programs, as is indicated in the following summary of the reductions: Space telecommunications program (radio research) Other radio propagation research_ Fire research program__ Security equipment program. Materials research__. Standards-related programs__. Other areas of special responsibility_ General purpose equipment---. Total reduction__. $650,000 120, 000 250,000 40, 000 233, 000 93, 000 152, 000 1, 212, 000 2,750,000 As this tabulation shows, most of the reduction in the regular budget has been taken in programs not related to the standards responsibilities and in the equipment program. The urgent standards programs that were included in the regular budget have been retained within the reduced budget by giving them top priority and by eliminating other less critical, although important, increases. For example, none of the reduction was applied to the radio standards program because of the critical need for strengthening throughout that program area. In other divisions having standards responsibilities care was taken to apply the budget reductions to those programs that are less directly concerned with the development of improved standards. While some of the reductions, such as those for materials research, longer range standards-related research, and some of the equipment, will make the standards program less than optimum, it is much more important that the specific program increases proposed in the supplemental budget be implemented than those programs that have been eliminated as a result of the regular budget reduction. The program increases proposed within the supplemental budget are directly related to specifically identified needs for improved standards and measurement services. Each project has been carefully reviewed with respect to urgency of need and feasibiilty of performance. Similarly, each request for equipment relates to specific items needed for the research projects included in the supplemental budget. The details of the program plans are set out in a separate document to be provided as an appendix to this justification statement. The relationship of the proposed program changes to the total program of the Bureau is reflected in the table on page 124. RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL SERVICES APPROPRIATION On the "summary of Estimates by Program," page 42, are shown the requested increases by division in terms of added staff, average number of positions and obligations. The pages for each activity, which follow, and the individual division pages in appendix A present additional detail by program area. 1 Detailed estimates and descriptions of programs for each division are included in app. A. 2 Increases for equipment are consolidated under activity 6. 1 Detailed estimates and descriptions of programs for each division are included in app. A. 2 Increases for equipment are consolidated under activity 6. 1 Detailed estimates and descriptions of programs for the Mechanics Division are included in Appendix A. * Increases for equipment are consolidated under activity 6. No increases are requested in the supplemental estimate for the programs of the divisions in this activity. This activity encompasses the following divisions: Central Radio Propagation Laboratory Ionosphere Research and Propagation Division 1 Detailed estimates and descriptions of programs for each division are included in appendix A. * Increases for equipment are consolidated under activity 6. The urgent research programs for which the supplemental appropriation is requested cannot be conducted effectively without adequate scientific equipment. Identified needs totaling almost $1.3 million in equipment purchases will be essential to support the projects which make up the proposed program. Equipment of this nature is required, under the Bureau's financial system, to be purchased as an asset of the working capital fund. Because the capital of that fund is not capable of financing augmentations of equipment inventories, additional capital is required when program expansions require added equipment. It has been the practice to provide that additional capital through an authorization to pay part of the RTS appropriation to the working capital fund. In order to provide for the equipment needed for the expanded programs, the Bureau has programed $1,276,000 of the proposed appropriation for payment to the working capital fund. At the same time the Bureau requests that the authorization in the appropriation language be for $1.4 million. This will provide a moderate amount of program flexibility, which is needed for the conduct of research programs. The equipment estimates for each of the expanded program areas have been presented in connection with the programs. A listing of the needed equipment can be provided if it is desired. SUMMARY OF TOTAL NBS PROGRAM, 1962 This table is included to show the total estimated program of the National Bureau of Standards for 1962, so as to indicate the impact of the requested supplemental appropriations upon the various parts of the program. The estimates are preliminary because much of the program is uncertain until the other agencies have received and programed their appropriations. 1 The cost of standard sample production and equipment built by NBS staff is an investment of the working capital fund, recovered through charges to the technical program when standard samples are sold and equipment is depreciated. 2 Costs of service such as glass-blowing, electroplating, optical lens grinding, etc., are charged on a fee basis to the benefiting programs above. Bureau overhead costs are distributed to the above programs in proportion to direct labor costs. Excludes research and technical services (special foreign currency program). |