scope:

Purpose

The purpose of this directive is to establish procedural requirements of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA's or "the Agency") Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity (ODEO) on:

a. Processing administrative complaints of discrimination filed with NASA in any program or activity assisted by NASA, excluding those covered under the Department of Education/National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Department of Justice, "Agreement Between National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Department of Education to Delegate Certain Civil Rights Compliance Responsibilities for Elementary and Secondary Schools and Institutions of Higher Education," 52 FR 43385 (November 12, 1987). This NPR does not alter the agreement between NASA and the Department of Education designating the Department of Education responsible for certain specific civil rights complaint investigation duties, with respect to elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education.

b. Conducting civil rights compliance reviews to ensure programs and activities receiving NASA financial assistance are compliant with applicable civil rights laws and regulations.

c. Processing administrative complaints of discrimination on the basis of disability filed under The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. §§ 701, et seq., Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq., and Sec. 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794d, regarding any program or activity conducted by NASA.

d. Processing administrative complaints of discrimination filed under DOJ, Guidance Document: Ensuring Equal Opportunity in Federally Conducted Education and Training Programs, E.O. 13160, 66 FR 5397 (January 18, 2001) regarding any education or training program or activity conducted by NASA.

e. Processing reports of harassment pursuant to NASA's award term and condition published in NASA, Reporting Requirements Regarding Findings of Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Other Forms of Harassment, or Sexual Assault, 85 FR 13934 (March 10, 2020).

f. Conducting internal compliance reviews of Center equal opportunity (EO) operations, including EO requirements pertaining to NASA conducted programs.

g. This NPR does not alter any NASA employee's rights to due process or redress related to a discrimination charge as currently guaranteed under any locally negotiated bargaining agreements or established practices.

Applicability

a. This directive is applicable to NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers, including Component Facilities and Technical and Service Support Centers. This language applies to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center, and other contractors only to the extent specified or referenced in the applicable contracts.

b. In this directive, all mandatory actions (i.e., requirements) are denoted by statements containing the term "shall." The terms: "may" or "can" denote discretionary privilege or permission, "should" denotes a good practice and is recommended, but is not required, "will" denotes expected outcome, and "are/is" denotes descriptive material.

c. In this directive, all document citations are assumed to be the latest version unless otherwise noted.

d. This directive is applicable to NASA directives developed or revised after the effective date of this NPR.