RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL PROGRAMS SUBCOMMITTEE

1. "Conflicts Between the Federal Research Programs and the Nation's Goals for Higher Education, Responses From the Academic and Other Interested Communities to an Inquiry by the Research and Technical Programs Subcommittee."

Part I (June 1965) and part II (August 1965) were prepared as a two-part compendium of responses from the academic community to a subcommittee questionnaire on the conflicts between Federal research programs and the Nation's goals for higher education. To fill a continuing large number of requests for these publications, approval was granted to print 1,000 additional copies of each volume (H. Res. 794, June 2, 1966, and H. Con. Res. 619, Aug. 18, 1966).

2. "A Case Study of the Utilization of Federal Laboratory Resources." This study was prepared by the Science Policy Research Division of the Library of Congress Legislative Reference Service at the request of the subcommittee. It discusses the management of Federal laboratories engaged in work upon environmental pollution, Federal policies affecting their management in the past, and questions concerning their management in the future.

The case study of the title is a close examination of 192 laboratories operated by 9 major agencies. Among the study's findings are:

1. The agencies generally do not have full information about their laboratories, and they are unable to assemble reliable information on staff, equipment, facilities, and others matters essential to good management.

2. There is disagreement within agencies on the work their laboratories are in fact doing.

3. There is no reliable information, including cost, on research conducted at Federal laboratories.

4. As pollution problems have increased, the Government has established additional laboratories, rather than to try to use existing ones.

V. Prior Activities of Current or Continuing Interest

EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE REORGANIZATION SUBCOMMITTEE 1. Identical Bidding by Contractors for Government Procurement. (a) Summary.-In a previous Congress, the subcommittee, and subsequently the full committee, reported a bill to provide public information on identical bids made by contractors to Federal and other public agencies. The bill passed the House but no action was taken by the Senate. The subcommittee continued its interest in the problem, however, and joined with the General Services Administration in preparing a certification clause that the bidder not reveal the contents of his bid to other competitors. The subcommittee was also instrumental in the issuance of Executive Order 10936 which had a similar objective to that of the proposed legislation. For additional related information, see p. 86, supra.)

(b) Previously unreported beneficial results.-Under the Executive order a listing of identical bids is contained in a report issued each year by the Attorney General entitled "Identical Bidding in Public Procurement." Although no dollar estimate of savings is yet possible, the subcommittee believes that the public exposure of this practice has a substantial beneficial effect, making it less likely that rigged bids or collusion by bidders will occur. Inasmuch as such rigging and collusion when successful nearly always result in the higher price to the Government, the reduction of rigging through exposure should therefore result in lower costs.

2. Industry Advisory Committees.

(a) Summary.-The subcommittee has for some time been interested in the use of advisory committees by the various Federal agencies and has recommended that the President issue an Executive order prescribing regulations for the formation and use of such advisory committees. Executive Order 11007 was subsequently issued by the President on February 27, 1962. Since then an attempt has been made to determine to what extent advisory committees are abiding by the standards set forth in the Executive order.

(b) Previously unreported beneficial results.—Although it is not possible to make a dollar estimate on the savings that may result, it is expected that the more efficient use of advisory committees and the improved procedures and recordkeeping that should come about will produce substantial economies in the operations of the affected agencies.

MILITARY OPERATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE

1. Military Air Transport Service Contracts With Commercial Carriers.

(a) Summary. In 1963 the Military Operations Subcommittee held hearings and issued a report in connection with a detailed study of the Military Air Transport Service (H. Rept. No. 599, 88th Cong.). One of the committee's recommendations urged the Civil Aeronautics Board to consider the advisability of establishing lower minimum rates for military airlift carriage in view of the greater economies being experienced by the commercial carriers in the operation of newer and higher capacity aircraft. This recommendation has been put into effect.

(b) Previously unreported beneficial results.-The Civil Aeronautics Board has since conducted periodic reviews of the minimum rates for airlift provided to the Department of Defense. As a result, several rate adjustments have been imposed by the CAB. The first became effective January 1, 1964 (CAB Economic Regulation No. 401); the second became effective July 1, 1964 (CAB Economic Regulation No. 403); and the third became effective September 1, 1964 (CAB Economic Regulation No. 414).

These adjustments in rates resulted in estimated savings of $4.4 million in fiscal year 1964, $11.6 million in fiscal year 1965, and similar amounts in succeeding fiscal years, at projected procurement levels. As an additional result of the Committee's recommendations, the CAB imposed still another reduction effective July 1, 1965, which resulted in savings estimated at $19.9 million under fiscal year 1966 MATS contracts, additional to the savings obtained from the first three rate reductions.

GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES SUBCOMMITTEE

1. Federal Internal Audit Systems.

(a) Summary. The study of Federal internal audit systems follows the recommendations contained in House Report No. 456, 88th Congress, wherein the Government Operations Committee pointed out the need for improved management controls in the larger Federal agencies and set forth the criteria pursuant to which these controls should be established.

On February 24, 1965, a letter was addressed to 24 Federal agencies requesting information as to the organization and operation of their internal audit functions. The replies received from these agencies are now being evaluated.

(b) Previously unreported beneficial results.-Undeterminable at

this time.

2. Efficiency Management Measurement.

(a) Summary.-Also in House Report No. 456, 88th Congress, the Government Operations Committee recommended that continued efforts be made to develop effective means for measuring the efficiency levels of Federal operations. In conjunction with Bureau of the

Budget studies in this field, the subcommittee is pursuing the matter further in order to determine the need for legislation or other congressional action.

(b) Previously unreported beneficial results.-Undeterminable at this time.

3. Electric Light Bulb Design.

(a) Summary.-The subcommittee is continuing its investigation begun in the 88th Congress into the design of incandescent light bulbs used in Federal Government buildings. Extensive tests and investigations increased evidence in support of the position taken by the subcommittee in a tentative report issued in June 1964 that the rated lives of incandescent light bulbs can be extended resulting in substantial savings from longer bulb life and reduced replacement costs.

The General Services Administration completed a test, undertaken as the result of the earlier report issued by the subcommittee, in which higher voltage light bulbs were substituted in the Veterans' Administration Hospital at Sepulveda, Calif. The test showed that use of the higher voltage bulbs coupled with an increase in wattage to the next higher wattage produced the double advantage of better light and lower cost.

An interim Federal standard has been issued by GSA directing the use of the higher voltage lamps by agencies procuring through the Federal Supply Service. After reviewing agency comments and making any necessary modifications, the GSA will reissue the standard for mandatory use by all Federal agencies.

A second report, entitled "The Short Life of the Electric Light Bulb," issued by the subcommittee in October 1966, evaluates the bulb design question in greater detail and responds to the comments received from bulb manufacturers.

The subcommittee intends to pursue the question of electric light bulb design in the interest of the Government as well as the millions of individual American consumers.

(b) Previously unreported beneficial results.-Undeterminable at this time, but if the efforts of the subcommittee to extend the useful life of the bulbs are successful, it is estimated the savings will be in the millions of dollars. This would be in addition to the expected savings of up to $2 million annually resulting from the modifications in the GSA procurement directives.

4. Government-Wide Data Processing Utilization and Acquisition. (a) Summary.-The subcommittee intends to continue its efforts in the data processing field, with particular emphasis on strong and effective implementation of Public Law 89-306. This legislation resulted from investigations made and hearings held by this subcommittee during the 88th and 89th Congresses.

(b) Previously unreported beneficial results.-Undeterminable at

this time.

5. Government Construction Activities.

(a) Summary-Based upon the subcommittee's initial inquiry, which shows deficiencies in painting contract operations at the National Bureau of Standards, a broad review of Government construction inspection procedures will be pursued.

(b) Previously unreported beneficial results.-Undeterminable at

this time.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE

1. CCC Grain Storage Activities.

(a) Summary.-The subcommittee examined grain storage activities of the Department of Agriculture, giving particular attention to rates being paid for storage of Government grain in commercial facilities.

(b) Previously unreported beneficial results.-The subcommittee's investigation was a contributing factor in action taken by the Department of Agriculture to reduce storage rates approximately 19 percent. Estimated savings because of this reduction during fiscal year 1966 were $43,081,360.

Total savings because of the reduction during fiscal years 1961 through 1966 are estimated at $408,382,043, and it is anticipated that multimillion-dollar annual savings will continue to be realized for a number of years.

2. Government Financed Exports of Agricultural Commodities.

(a) Summary. For a number of years, the subcommittee has devoted considerable attention to programs involving Governmentfinanced exports of agricultural commodities. Although no formal reports on this subject have been issued, several hearings have been held and a number of recommendations have been made to the Department of Agriculture.

(b) Previously unreported beneficial results.-In accordance with a recommendation made by the subcommittee, price review procedures for commodities sold under Public Law 480 programs were changed to provide for review of prices at the time of sale rather than months later, after the commodities had already been delivered and USDA funds paid out to finance them. As a result of the changed procedures, according to reports from the Department of Agriculture, reductions in financing through fiscal year 1966 are estimated at $2,420,550.

NATURAL RESOURCES AND POWER SUBCOMMITTEE

The subcommittee is continuing its intensive work on water pollution control and abatement, and also on the other investigations mentioned in items I.B. 2, 3, 5, 6, 13, 14, and 18 under Natural Resources and Power Subcommittee.