How to *really* mandate

[world!news.bu.edu!inmet!dsd!ryer@decwrl.dec.com (Mike Ryer)]

If the DOD or congress really wanted to enforce the Ada mandate, they could
use the "Jeweled Bearings" model.  For those of you who don't regularly
read government RFPs, here's the scoop:

Every RFP I have ever seen (in the past 10 years) contains the "Jeweled 
Bearings and Related Items Certificate".  This is FAR (Federal Acquisition
Regulation) number 52.208-2.  It is a "certification" that must be signed
by an officer of the corporation as part of every bid, and becomes part
of every contract.  (Note, I mean a legally binding *contract clause*, not an 
item in the statement of work, or some looser entity).  People take these
things very seriously.

The clause says, in part:

  This is to certify that --

    (1) Jeweled bearings and/or related items  ... ( ) Will be incorporated
    in one or more items, ( ) will not be incorporated into any item covered
    by this offer.  {bidder must check one box}

    (2) Any jewel bearings required ... will be ordered from the Wiliam Langer
    Plant, Rolla, North Dakota 58367, as provided in the Required Sources for
    Jeweled Bearings and related items clause; ....

I don't know whether the William Langer plant is a government-owned facility
and the requirement is for cost control, or whether it is a pork-barrel
operation.  In either case, I'm certain it works.

So, imagine replacing "Jeweled Bearings" with "Software", and replacing
"will be ordered from ..." with "will be programmed in Ada".  You'll have
instant 100% compliance with the mandate on all contracted-out work.

If the jeweled bearings clause is intended for cost savings, then the
situation is very analogous to Ada.

If you want a strong mandate for Ada, there's a good model.  Write your
congressman (or button-hole Al G. at Tri-Ada :-)).

Mike "fish or cut bait" Ryer
Speaking only for myself, of course