Historical Considerations of NTIS

Historical Considerations of NTIS - Sarah Kadec

Historical Considerations of NTIS

Sarah T. Kadec
February 7, 2000

No attempt to be comprehensive
Possibly there were other considerations not reported

Alternative 1a: Department of Commerce Proposal

No evidence that Commerce has previously proposed closing or transferring NTIS to another Government Agency.

1946	NTIS was effectively placed under the Department of Commerce (DOC) by Executive Order transferring the Publications Board to the Office of Technical Services (OTS) in DOC.
1970	DOC's Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology recommends NTIS become a corporation.
1980	Commerce's Technical Advisory Board's Working Group on STI policies examines the role of NTIS and possible alternatives to present operations.
1981	DOC's Assistant Secretary for Communications asks the Information Industry Association to consider whether the private sector could offer NTIS products. IIA's Task Force recommends contracting out the entire operation.
1984	NTIS issues a Federal Register notice seeking vendors to distribute technical reports; there were no responses.
1986	NTIS holds a meeting on privatization at the request of OMB.
1988	On January 6, a notice in the Commerce Business Daily announced a planned January 29 conference with potential bidders on a contract for performance of NTIS services; pre-bidders conference was held.
1999	DOC proposes closure of NTIS and transfer of functions.

As early as 1962, the Crawford Report stated that "the STINFO mission is quantitatively a minor portion of the over-all activities of the Department of Commerce and has never received emphasis from a high administrative level in that organization".

Alternative 1b: Transfer to Library of Congress

1988 The Office of Technology Assessment issues a report entitled "Informing the Nation: Federal dissemination in an electronic age" in which it addressed proposal to consolidate NTIS with the Library of Congress (also GPO, government Corporation, DOC retaining).

Alternative 2: Retain NTIS In Department of Commerce

Refer back to 1946 Executive Order under alternative 1a.

1950 Congress passes P. L. 81-776 directing DOC establish and maintain a clearinghouse for collection and dissemination of STE information.

1963 President's Science Advisory Committee states that OTS should be given enough support to announce promptly, and supply inexpensively, declassified government technical reports.

1980 Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act directs DOC to create a Center for Utilization of Federal Technology.

1987 House Committee on Science, Space and Technology hearings discuss establishing a National Technical Information Corporation under the DOC.

1988 Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act requires DOC to report to Congress on NTIS modernization.
... This same year the OTA issues its report (see Alt.#1b).

1991 American Technology Preeminence Act placed additional requirements on DOC relative to NTIS.

1995 In hearings before the House Committee on Science in hearings on dismantling of the DOC, Secretary Brown commits to providing NTIS increased flexibility to use commercial business practices.

Alternative 3: Merge NTIS with GPO/SuDocs

1988 OTA's "Informing the Nation' addresses a proposal to consolidate NTIS with the Superintendent of Documents either within GPO or as part of a new Government information Office.

Alternative 4: Transfer NTIS to NARA

In this review, no Congressional, Administration or private sector considerations of this option appeared.

Alternative 5: Establish an Independent Service Bureau

1958 Baker Report specifically recommends against a Centralized information service, as did the Weinberg report in 1963. (This later report considerd a proposal for a Department of Science).

1965 Dr. Mortimer Taube, Documentation, Inc. proposes CFSTI as an independent organization.

1970 DOC's Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology recommends NTIS become a corporation.

1975 House Committee on Science and Technology hears proposal for a new Science and Technology Information and Utilization Corporation.

1987-88 House Committee on Science, Space and Technology discusses establishing a National Technical Information Corporation as part of a now Technology Administration in DOC, and a Government Information Agency to collect and distribute results of Federal R&D.

1988 OTA's "Informing the Nation" addresses the proposal to make NTIS a government corporation.

1995 House Committee on Science hears proposals to move the DOC Science and Technology programs into a new Department of Science. In these same hearings, the NTIS Advisory Board advocates reorganizing NTIS into a government corporation.

Alternative 6: Establish a National Sci/Tech Library

1987 Vlannes and others (from the private sector) in their report "National Technology Center" proposes the Center as a new "national library" incorporating NTIS.

Alternative 7: Explore the Roles of NAS and NSF

1958 Baker report recommends establishment of a Science Information Service within NSF.

1962 Crawford report points to a potential conflict of interpretations and understanding with respect to responsibilities assigned to NSF in the NDEA (1958) and to NTIS in P.L. 81-776 (1950). It does not propose a merger.

1975 House Committee on Science and Technology in hearings on National Science and Technology Policy and Organization Act considers the merger of SSIE, NTIS and NSF in a Science and Technology and Utilization Corporation.

Alternative 8: Explore the Roles of the Private Sector

1981 DOC's Assistant Secretary for Communications asks the Information Industry to consider whether the private sector could offer NTIS' products.

1984 Grace Commission specifically recommends that NTIS not be privatized, citing the need for an expanded NTIS role in R&D coordination.
.... This same year NTIS issues a Federal Register notice seeking vendors to distribute technical reports with no responses.

1985 OMB asks Commerce to convene an industry/government working group on privatizing NTIS. That meeting is held in 1986.

1987 OMB directs privatization of NTIS in FY88 passback; H.R. 2160 amends NTIS' reauthorization to prohibit privatization pending further study.
.... This same year, the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology holds its first hearings on NTIS privatization.

1988 Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 prohibited NTIS privatization.
.... This same year, in hearings on the National Technical information Act, language that Congress remains unalterably opposed to contracting out NTIS or its major functions or activities is discussed.
.... Also this year, the President's Commission on Privatization recommends against privatization.

1993 House Committee on Science, Space and Technology's hearings on the National Competitiveness Act includes the NTIS Business Plan of July 1992. The plan states "Privatization was ruled out by Congress-as inappropriate from a public policy prospective... A single private firm would find it difficult if not unmanageable to maintain ongoing acquisition relationships with the various Government information source agencies."

1995 House Committee on Science in its hearings on dismantling the DOC hears testimony that NTIS being sold to the private sector carries dangers of failing into the hands of a foreign company; there is no copyright protection on the collection. In privatizing NTIS its mission and collection of information is no longer in the public interest, its access to federal agencies is limited and it loses its status in dealing with other governments to obtain information for, dissemination within the United States.

1950	Congress passes P. L. 81-776 directing DOC establish and maintain a clearinghouse for collection and dissemination of STE information.
1963	President's Science Advisory Committee states that OTS should be given enough support to announce promptly, and supply inexpensively, declassified government technical reports.
1980	Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act directs DOC to create a Center for Utilization of Federal Technology.
1987	House Committee on Science, Space and Technology hearings discuss establishing a National Technical Information Corporation under the DOC.
1988	Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act requires DOC to report to Congress on NTIS modernization. ... This same year the OTA issues its report (see Alt.#1b).
1991	American Technology Preeminence Act placed additional requirements on DOC relative to NTIS.
1995	In hearings before the House Committee on Science in hearings on dismantling of the DOC, Secretary Brown commits to providing NTIS increased flexibility to use commercial business practices.

1958	Baker Report specifically recommends against a Centralized information service, as did the Weinberg report in 1963. (This later report considerd a proposal for a Department of Science).
1965	Dr. Mortimer Taube, Documentation, Inc. proposes CFSTI as an independent organization.
1970	DOC's Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology recommends NTIS become a corporation.
1975	House Committee on Science and Technology hears proposal for a new Science and Technology Information and Utilization Corporation.
1987-88	House Committee on Science, Space and Technology discusses establishing a National Technical Information Corporation as part of a now Technology Administration in DOC, and a Government Information Agency to collect and distribute results of Federal R&D.
1988	OTA's "Informing the Nation" addresses the proposal to make NTIS a government corporation.
1995	House Committee on Science hears proposals to move the DOC Science and Technology programs into a new Department of Science. In these same hearings, the NTIS Advisory Board advocates reorganizing NTIS into a government corporation.

1958	Baker report recommends establishment of a Science Information Service within NSF.
1962	Crawford report points to a potential conflict of interpretations and understanding with respect to responsibilities assigned to NSF in the NDEA (1958) and to NTIS in P.L. 81-776 (1950). It does not propose a merger.
1975	House Committee on Science and Technology in hearings on National Science and Technology Policy and Organization Act considers the merger of SSIE, NTIS and NSF in a Science and Technology and Utilization Corporation.