ATTACHMENT 3 BUDGET REQUESTS PS-1 PROJECT (FYs 1971 and 1972) * [January 23, 1970] (b) Automation of merchandise processing, fiscal year 1971 Budget Request: Executive direction_-__$800,000 In 1970 Customs is continuing its direction of studies leading to the automation of the merchandise processing. We must provide adequate follow-up for the "PS-1" study which will reach the decision stage late in the current fiscal year. For 1971 we are requesting $800,000 for 6 positions, computer rental, and software development as follows: (2) Continued and rapidly rising workload have necessitated a review of Customs capability to effectively perform its revenue collection work under increasingly severe manpower limitations. In the past, productivity gains partially closed the gap between increased resources and even larger workload increases. It has become apparent that improved procedures will have to be developed to handle future large workload increases. As you know we have had underway, for approximately 7 months, a study of our merchandise processing system which will lead to automating major parts of this important Customs function. We call this PS-1 project, a term I think you have heard before. This study will reach the decision stage late this fiscal year. We are already planning a development effort and must provide adequate funds for it. For 1971 we are requesting $800,000 for manpower, rental of computer and peripheral equipment, and for software development for a pilot test of a system designed to provide automated assistance to merchandise entry and cargo processing. We hope to be able to develop from this test an all-new system that will provide a more effective operation with a capacity for handling future importation increases without corresponding personnel increases. It will also reduce paperwork, simplify some of our procedures, and provide benefits to the importing public as well as to customs. [February 26, 1971] d. Automation of Merchandise Processing (PS-1 Project) [fiscal year 1972 Budget Request] Total positions_- 228 138 $2,700,000 The major impact on "processing cargo" will stem from the PS-1 Project. In fiscal year 1971, $800,000 was provided for a start on an automated merchandise processing system. This is a most important multi-year project which is essential for providing a more effective operation with a capacity for handling future importation increases without corresponding personnel increases. In 1972, we are requesting additional funds for this project as follows: Project manager, GS-15, $22,885. Systems analysts, Supervisor, GS-14, $19,643.. Computer programer, Supervisor, GS-14, $19,643 Systems analyst, GS-13, $16,760 Systems specialist, GS-13, $16,760 Communication specialist, GS-13, $16,760. Facilities specialist, GS-13, $16,760. Computer programer, GS-13, $16,760. Computer programer, GS-12, $14,192. Communication specialist, GS-12, $14,192. Systems specialist, GS-12, $14,192 Communication specialist, GS-11, $11,905. Programer, GS-11, $11,905. Systems specialist, GS-11, $11,905. Clerk-stenographer, GS-5, $6,548. Total salaries. Deduct recruitment lapse.. AUTOMATED MERCHANDISE PROCESSING Our major hope for the future in processing the continued increases in commercial importations with reasonable manpower requirements, is through automation. For fiscal year 1971, $800,000 was provided for a start on an automated merchandise processing system. This is a most important multiyear project which we feel is essential for providing a more effective operation with a capacity for handling future importation increases. For 1972, we are requesting $2.7 million for the continued development of this long-term project. Two hundred twentyeight (228) positions (138 average positions) are needed to carry this project forward. CUSTOMS AUTOMATED INTELLIGENCE NETWORK (CADPIN) Customs enforcement work is steadily being enhanced by the expanded coverage of our automated intelligence network. This computer-based network will cover the entire Mexican border and 34 other key offices by the end of the current fiscal year. The system has been of tremendous help in our enforcement efforts. Not only is it an aid to inspectors by identifying suspect vehicles, but it is providing our agency service with a means for storing intelligence data with rapid response for the prompt identification of suspects. It is helping us to develop modern sophisticated investigative methods, and it has potential for even greater use in investigations of major narcotic smuggling rings, large-scale conspiracies, and major fraud cases. We have already in the short period of operation realized good results with 173 productive hits which produced nearly 4,000 pounds of marihuana, 5 pounds of heroin, and 250,000 dangerous drug pills. Seventy-seven automobiles were taken into custody, including several stolen cars for which the local police had established lookouts. As a side benefit, we have also recently had three immigration referrals, 20 arrests, including one for kidnapping and one for burglary, one runaway girl returned to her parents, and one emergency message delivered to a person to see a doctor as he had been exposed to spinal meningitis. I might add that we have taken great pains, even before the current Senate investigations on the subject of the right to privacy, to insure that these files are not opened up to any outside investigative services, to see that the files are purged continually, so that information does not reside in there too long, and that the volume of information in the files, themselves, be kept to a very bare minimum so that there is no risk of invasion of the privacy of any citizens whatsoever by utilizing this system. I have given specific instructions to all of our personnel responsible for this operation to pay particular attention to these admonitions. For fiscal year 1972, we are requesting funds to extend coverage to major airports and key crossings on the Canadian border. This project is vital to our enforcement and for it we are requesting $1,555 million. This amount will finance the necessary equipment and the 30 positions (26 average positions) which are needed to extend our coverage. I would like to thank the committee at this point for their tremendous assistance in this program. This is probably the most quickly developed, highly sophisticated communications and data processing operation in the United States. I do not think there has ever been a situation or a circumstance in which an operation this sophisticated has started from scratch and gone into full operation in a year. |