SPECIAL MANAGEMENT GUIDE LINES FOR THE SRI PARANORMAL PROJECT

CIA-STARGATE

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Body:  Approved For Rel   re 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00787ROOQX0200028-0
 15 January 1974
 SUBJECT  .   Special Management Guidelines for the
 SRI Paranormal Project
 1. Both the nature of research in the paranormal field and the
 intense interest it excites within our organization and in the public at large,
 together with the highly competitive and complexly motivated character of other
 research efforts in this field, make it essential that we formulate and adhere
 to certain special guidelines for the administration of any new efforts.  The
 real intent and purposes of such guidelines would be to:
 a. simplify the contractor's task by eliminating all unnecessary
 confusion and distractions;
 b. tighten the responsibility and control functions within the
 sponsor's organization;
 c. serve both the contractor's and the sponsor's interests by
 increasing project security; 'and
 d. permit us to arrive at sound and well-documented, however
 modest, conclusions by focusing on limited, consistent and
 explicit objectives.
 The guidelines listed below need not be considered definitive; to the extent that
 modifications seem essential from a practical point of view or that additional
 guidelines would serve the above purposes, contractor and sponsor personnel should
 agree on emendations.
 2. Data Control. The complex nature of the funding and phasing of
 SRI's past paranormal investigations makes it virtually impossible to establish,
 now, which data were developed under whose auspices.  Other than
 portions which
 clearly relate to sponsor tasking and direct or indirect sponsor validation, no
 attempt will be made to control use of that data--most of which has already
 e~
 eed       become public knowledge in one form or other.  But it will be understood that,
 from the start of the new (January 1974) contract effort, all data developed will
 fall under the sponsor's purview and none of it will be released in any form to
 other than authorized sponsor personnel without prior sponsor approval.  On its
 part, the sponsor undertakes to be as expeditious and liberal as circumstances
 permit in approving the release of non-sensitive data for open publication.
 3. Authorized Personnel.  As far as the sponsor's organization is
 concerned, 'authorized' personnel will be understood to mean: in the first     S G11
 instance, the primary project officer, II or his immediate superiors (Mr
 S G1I
 and Mr McMahon); and, in 0 absence orS G1I
 witla r      t to purely 'basic' research matters, his alternate project officer,
 S G1I             espeor his immediate superiors F__      I and Dr Stevens).              As
 far as the contractor's organization is concerned, 'authorized' personnel will S G11
 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200200028-0
 Approved For Release 2003/04/1~~;       P9~-00787RO00200200028-0
 Guidelines for SRI Project
 _ 2 _
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 be understood to mean: only those (to be listed by name and function) immediately
 involved in the research effort, the essential chain-of-command superiors and such
 other SRI specialists as may be required in conducting the research.  Individuals
 other than 'authorized' personnel, whether from the sponsor's or other govern-
 mental or non-governmental organizations, will not be given access to project data
 without prior sponsor approval.  Such approval will be limited to individuals
 essential to the conduct of the research.  It is likely that, because of prior
 associations and publicity, the contractor will receive queries about the status
 of research and we appreciate the awkwardness this might create; whenever possible,
 it is suggested that the contractor take the position that, largely on its own
 resources, the masses of data already collected are being studied and the results
 may, if appropriate, be published at a later time; the contractor should avoid
 more explicit comments unless there is prior coordination with the sponsor.
 4. Release of Data to Sponsor Personnel. The requirements for progress
 and financial reports are specified in the contract and they will be released only
 to 'authorized' sponsor personnel.  In the same sense, visits to the paranormal
 research laboratory should be limited to authorized sponsor personnel.  The sponsor
 will attempt to curtail inqueiies and requests for site visits by its personnel
 and it is suggested that, should it become necessary, the contractor handle such
 requests by stating that it now operating under restrictive groundrules and urging
 the individual to contact the project officer or his alternate.
 5. Acceptance of Guidance from Sponsor Personnel. Similarly, to
 avoid confusion or disruption of the contractor's efforts, tasking and guidance
 will be accepted only from authorized personnel; unsolicited views may be referred
 to the project officer or his alternate.  It may be that, later, the contractor
 and the sponsor will wish to brief sponsor personnel and solicit their views and
 suggestions; but, if so, it should be undertaken in a well-controlled, methodical
 manner and for quite specific purposes related to the research design and
 objectives.
 6. Other Sponsorship.  The sponsor assumes that the scope and terms
 of the contract are such that SRI's paranormal investigative resources will be
 fully absorbed by the effort but, since the sponsor's support cannot be alluded
 to by SRI, that will not preclude offers of sponsorship by others--including the
 government.     It is suggested that, in response to official or unofficial offers,
 SRI initially state that it is consolidating and studying previously collected
 data and doesn't wish to undertake new investigations until this analysis is
 completed.  If this response doesn't have the desired result, SRI should inform
 authorized sponsor personnel before making any commitments or disclosures.  SRI
 and sponsor personnel will then agree on the most effective means of handling
 the situation.
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 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200200028-0