Senator STEVENSON. Now, Dr. Hoffman, in your prepared comments you referred to a contract with Battelle Columbus Laboratories to study the economic effects of corrosion in the United States.

It's our understanding that this contract was awarded on a solesource basis.

Can you explain why it was awarded on that basis?

Dr. HOFFMAN. I was informed that Battelle had an input-output economic analysis technique there, thus, it would be very efficient to deal with them so that NBS could handle economic data in that

manner.

That was the fundamental reason that was done.

Senator STEVENSON. Did you survey other potential contractors to determine whether that was also the case with him?

Dr. HOFFMAN. I didn't do so personally, but I believe that was done, to the best of my knowledge.

Senator STEVENSON. You believe that was done by the Bureau.
Does anybody know?

Dr. HOFFMAN. I don't happen to know the exact answer to that question, no.

Senator STEVENSON. Who would know?

Dr. HOFFMAN. I believe I could ask our legal counsel or our procurement people to find that out, sir.

Senator STEVENSON. Would you submit that information for the record?

Dr. HOFFMAN. I certainly would, sir.

[The folowing information was subsequently received for the record:]

The decision to award the contract to Battelle Columbus Laboratories to study the economic effects of corrosion in the United States was arrived at after careful study and deliberation by NBS scientific and Department of Commerce procurement and legal personnel. The NBS scientific staff members who were involved in these deliberations possessed considerable expertise in corrosion research and had a broad knowledge concerning which institutions had corrosion expertise germane to the intended study. In their professional judgment, Battelle Columbus Laboratories exclusively possessed the extensive knowledge of corrosion technology essential to the conduct of the study. In fact, the basis for concluding that Battelle should receive the award rested on the fact that Battelle previously had conducted a study on the "Technical Economic Evaluation of Air Pollution Corrosion Costs on Metals in the U.S." Further, in the opinion of the NBS staff, that study was one of the best done on the economic costs of corrosion, and amply demonstrated Battelle's superior competence in this area. The coupling of corrosion and economic expertise was imperative for the performance of the study. A copy of the detailed discussion which was submitted to the procurement sections of NBS and DoC in support of the sole source procurement action taken in this matter is attached.

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

The work to be accomplished. as outlined in the attached prospectus, requires first and foremost an interdisciplinary research center with expertise in socioeconomics, technical economics, materials economics, information handling and corrosion technology. In particular, the study requires that an evaluation be made of the extent to which the best available corrosion technology is being used in all sectors of American industry and other sectors of the economy. To meet this requirement, a deep and broad knowledge and involvement in all phases of corrosion technology must be the key characteristic of the institution carrying out the proposed study. Battelle Memorial Institute uniquely fits this requirement because the manager of its Corrosion Division, Walter K. Boyd, has developed unparalleled in-depth knowledge through his vast experience of over thirty years

in the corrosion field at Battelle to interact with the corrosion problems of an extremely broad segment of American industry and other sectors of the economy. In meeting this responsibility he has assembled a staff that is the broadest and most competent in the U.S. from the standpoint of corrosion technology. Moreover, because Mr. Boyd and his staff provide corrosion expertise to Battelle's Metals and Ceramic Information Center, they have access to one of the most extensive store of corrosion information.

In addition, Battelle also has a world renowned group working on high temperature corrosion problems that is separate from Mr. Boyd's group. Mr. Boyd's very broad knowledge of corrosion technology derives not only from his access to all the resources of Battelle and his involvement in research on a multitude of corrosion problems from industries and other sectors of the economy such as the pipeline, chemical, defense, solid waste disposal (the corrosion of incinerators) industries, but also from his and his staff's continual involvement in failure analysis and interaction with the other companion group(s) at Battelle Memorial Institute. His preeminence in this activity, which requires unusually expert knowledge of corrosion technology, is attested to by the fact that he serves on failure analysis review boards of NASA and the Air Force. He has been very active in organizations concerned with spreading the best available corrosion technologies, e.g., internationally, AGARD (an arm of NATO), and nationally, the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE). He has been a director of the latter organization since 1969, and he and his staff have chaired and served on key committees of that organization. These committees are concerned with disseminating the most advanced corrosion technology, over the whole gamut of American industry and other sectors of the economy. Also, he was recently chosen by NACE to represent independent not-for-profit research organizations on a U.S. delegation investigating corrosion technology in the Soviet Union.

Because the proposed study must produce a product that will be universally accepted by government and industry alike, the study must be carried out by the foremost expert in the application of corrosion technology to industrial problems and other sectors of the economy. Mr. Boyd and his staff at Battelle possess the highest expertise available as required by our program, along with an institution that has the required technical economics and socioeconomic abilities and a superb position in the materials information field (it is the home of a number of relevant information centers: Metals, Ceramics, Copper, Iron, Cobalt, Energy, Automated Search, Battery Information Centers).

Senator STEVENSON. Back again to computer sciences.

Does the Institute for Computer Science and Technology have any mission in addition to those under the Brooks Act?

Dr. AMBLER. No, sir. The Institute for Computer Science and Technology is responsible only for the Brooks Act, at least in the new organization. In the present organization, the Institute was responsible for operating the central computation facilities of the National Bureau of Standards, and we propose to move that to another group. Senator STEVENSON. Dr. Lyons, under the new National Engineering Laboratory, what will be the role of the experimental technology incentives program which many people believe to be one of the most innovative in the Government?

Dr. LYONS. If I may, Senator, I'll refer that question to Dr. Ambler. Dr. AMBLER. The function of the experimental technology incentives program will not be changed as a result of the reorganization. We do intend gradually to modify some of the ways that NBS has been carrying out the program.

We have found in working with the various Federal agencies with respect to their procurement regulations, that we have been getting rather deeply involved in administrative problems associated specifically with those agencies. We hope to eliminate that aspect insofar as possible so as to concentrate more on the basic thrust of the program, namely, the role of-or rather the kinds of policy changes that

would-on the part of the Federal Government lead to encouragement of technological innovation.

We've been getting slightly away from technology while being drawn to an extent into administrative operations. We intend to make a correction on that account.

Senator STEVENSON. Dr. Hoffman, you referred to measurement services provided by the Institute for Materials Research in radiation. This is a subject of particular interest to this subcommittee.

Given the proliferation of radiation-emitting devices, how adequate is our measurement capability for various types of radiation; and specifically, do we have adequate measurement capabilities for radiation in the microwave part of the spectrum?

Dr. HOFFMAN. Sir, if I may respectfully pass that one on to my colleague, Dr. Lyons, who just acquired that group.

Senator STEVENSON. Is this part of the reorganization?

Dr. LYONS. The test methods are not adequate, Senator, for much of the problem, and I described some of this in my testimony. We are at work attempting to do two things, really. First, to be able to measure stray electromagnetic radiation in the environment, to measure it precisely enough to take corrective measures, if possible; and second, to be able to determine the effect of such radiation on electronically controlled devices. And there we are particularly concerned with new microprocessors that we feel are going to be all around us in the future-microcomputers that may be on board our automobiles in another year or two, which may indeed be sensitive to this kind of interference.

And one of the greatest concerns that we can see now in industry is coming from the automotive industry. They want to know how to measure this, how to quantify the effects on these computers that they propose to have in their automobiles.

Senator STEVENSON. Are you involved in determining levels of exposure for human beings?

Dr. LYONS. We are involved only in the measure of the field itself. We are consulting with NIOSH and others who are involved in determining the effect of such radiation on human tissue.

Senator STEVENSON. Do you feel that the resources in the budget are adequate for all your activities in this field?

Dr. LYONS. Yes, sir.

Well, I should hasten to point out that I think it's an area that should grow, and we are putting our proposals in to devote some of our competence money in the future for building up our strength in this area.

I also expect we'll probably have a programatic initiative next time around.

Senator STEVENSON. Well, based on what I have heard in this committee-we have had a number of hearings on this subject now-it's a growth field, and we don't begin to understand what all the effects are going to be-of radiation, both nonionizing and ionizing, in all parts of the spectrum-on human safety, as well as equipment such as you have described.

I would hope that this would figure heavily in your 5-year planning and would get adequate attention in future budgets.

I'm not the expert, but I suspect we're going to need to devote far more resources in the future than we are now to this subject. Do you disagree with that general proposition?

Dr. LYONS. No, I agree. It's going to grow. I think we have a good base. I think we do know how to get a handle on the problem. And I do expect it to grow.

Senator STEVENSON. Do you feel there is adequate coordination with the other agencies that are interested in this subject?

Dr. LYONS. I really can't answer that.

I've had some conversation with our people in Boulder-in fact this week they indicated that the coordination is good-but I can't give you my own judgment yet on that.

Senator STEVENSON. Do you do any work for DOD in this field? Dr. LYONS. The same division at Boulder does do, I think, an extensive amount of research for DOD, but I don't know if they're working on EMI.

Dr. AMBLER. Yes, we do carry out some work for DOD, Mr. Chair

man.

I would say that the connections we have established with various other agencies are good, not only with NIOSH but with the Bureau of Radiological Health and other regulatory agencies.

I would say that this illustrates one of the strong points about the Bureau of Standards; we do work rather well and rather extensively with other Federal agencies.

Senator STEVENSON. Could more dollars be spent usefully on this subject in fiscal 1979 than are budgeted?

Dr. AMBLER. We shall be, in the next few months, conducting extensive program reviews within the NBS. I'm sure that interaction with other Federal agencies is one of those areas that Dr. Lyons will raise as being an area in which the Bureau could well expand its activities. Before giving a definite answer to your question, I'd like to wait and see what the various other areas are that the program managers of the Bureau feel might be expanded. Only then can I assess the various priorities in the context of all NBS activities.

But I certainly do share your feeling that this is an important area for the Bureau to be providing a very strong response.

Senator STEVENSON. I understand the executive office of the President is planning a major study of the Bureau.

Can you tell us anything about this study, how it's going to be conducted and over how long a period of time, and how the results might change the Bureau in the future?

Dr. AMBLER. I don't know the details of how the Office of Science and Technology Policy proposes to go about this study.

I have had one conversation with a member of Dr. Press' staff who indicated that he plans to visit me at the end of February or the beginning of March.

Senator STEVENSON. It's his office that's conducting the study, OSTP?

Dr. AMBLER. Yes, sir, that's my understanding. I think OSTP is involved at the request of OMB.

To go on, I really welcome this opportunity-I look forward to displaying for OSTP the programs of the Bureau of Standards in depth.

I intend to explain to the study team the increasing number of requests

wwwww

being made of the Bureau of Standards by its clientele. My goals are to convince the study team that the NBS can vigorously and efficiently respond to these demands and to make a convincing case that the NBS is an outstanding Federal laboratory that can be used more than it has been in the past.

Senator STEVENSON. Have you received any indication of the role the Bureau will play in this study?

Dr. AMBLER. No, sir.

It's my understanding that the first meeting will be aimed at discussing how OSTP proposes to go about this study.

I have every indication that they will take into account any suggestions I might have.

Senator STEVENSON. I'm going to have to wind up now.

You've been very helpful to us, and we may have some additional questions which I will take the liberty of submitting to you in writing, and we'd be glad to have your answers in writing for our record, along with other additional comments that you might wish to make.

As I think you know, this is the first of our oversight hearings. We'll be holding another on April 6 th in which the Assistant Secretary, Mr. Baruch, will testify.

Thank you very much gentlemen.

This hearing is adjourned until April 6th.

[Whereupon, at 11:20 a.m., the subcommittee adjourned, to reconvene Thursday, April 6, 1978.]

[The following information was subsequently received for the record:]

FISCAL YEAR 1979 BROOKS ACT INITIATIVE: EFFICIENT PROCUREMENT AND
UTILIZATION OF COMPUTER RESOURCES BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

MANAGEMENT PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

NBS plans to initiate in FY 1979 a significantly augmented and strengthened program in support of its Brooks Act (PL 89–306) responsibilities. This program will provide the needed standards to achieve increased economies through more competitive ADP procurement and improved ADP utilization by Federal agencies. Toward this objective, the program will:

1. Address the criticisms of the present NBS program as outlined in the House Government Operations Committee Report of October 1, 1976.

2. Address the criticisms of the several GAO Federal ADP audits conducted within the last five years and the findings of deficiencies by the on-going GAO audit of the Federal ADP standards program;

3. Carry out the responsibilities assigned to NBS by OMB in (a) the OMB (BOB) Letter of December 15, 1966, (b) Executive Order 11717, dated May 9, 1973, and (c) the OMB Letter to Congressman Brooks dated January 19, 1977; 4. Reflect the changing patterns of computer procurement and usage due to changing technology, e.g., minicomputers, microcomputers, and computer networking; and

5. Meet the requirements of new assignments to NBS, such as those resulting from the Privacy Act of 1974.

Although many criticisms were cited and deficiencies identified in the above references, the FY 1979 program addresses only those which NBS considers to have had the greatest negative impact on Government procurement and use of its highly complex computer resources. Major problems areas not addressed in the FY 1979 program include: (a) stated needs for computer scientific and technological advisory services to Federal agencies, and (b) identified research and development needs in areas not directly related to computer standards activities.