The paper identifies key assumptions that will affect the sizing and procurement of the FBI's automated fingerprint identification and criminal history record system, the National Fingerprint File/Interstate Identification Index (NFF/III), and related steps necessary to ensure complete and up-to-date record systems. In addition to time and resources, full NFF/III implementation calls for agreement on uniform national rules for the interstate exchange of criminal history information. The FBI can minimize automation cost by ensuring that the NFF/III is implemented to the maximum extent possible concurrently with the FBI's Identification Division (Ident), making realistic assumptions regarding the daily volume of new or expanded noncriminal justice fingerprint checks and adjusting the system design to defer or phase in capabilities that may not be needed immediately. 72 footnotes, 10 figures, and 10 tables