From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.5-pre1 (2020-06-20) on ip-172-31-74-118.ec2.internal X-Spam-Level: * X-Spam-Status: No, score=1.8 required=3.0 tests=BAYES_50,TO_NO_BRKTS_PCNT autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.5-pre1 Date: 3 Aug 93 17:08:26 GMT From: world!news.bu.edu!inmet!dsd!ryer@decwrl.dec.com (Mike Ryer) Subject: How to *really* mandate Message-ID: List-Id: 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