[en] The objective of this effort is a modular system of computer programs called SCALE. (SCALE is an acronym for Standardized Computer-Analysis for Licensing Evaluation.) The anticipated NRC applications and design criteria for the SCALE system are described in a companion paper by R.H. Odegaarden. The purpose of the present paper is to describe the components and capabilities of the initial version of the SCALE system, with emphasis being placed on those aspects of the system that lead to analytical standardization. The SCALE system draws heavily from basic neutron-transport, data-processing, and heat-transfer methods technology developed at Oak Ridge over the past several years. The data-processing is a direct outgrowth of that employed in AMPX, a modular code system for processing coupled neutron-photon cross sections from ENDF/B. Modified versions of the AMPX problem-dependent data-processing modules NITAWL and XSDRNPM are incorporated into SCALE. However, even though some of the functions performed in AMPX and SCALE are the same, the overall purpose and organizational structure of SCALE is substantially different from that of AMPX