scope:

APPLICABILITY

a. This directive applies to NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers, including Component Facilities and Technical and Support Service Centers.

b. This directive is in addition to, and does not replace, any other applicable requirements concerning court actions or proceedings such as those set forth in the below cited references.

c. For purposes of this directive, court actions or administrative or regulatory proceedings are all legal proceedings, in law or in equity, before a Federal, state, or local court or duly-constituted administrative body, brought on behalf of, or against, the United States, NASA, or any current or former NASA employee(s), even if not named as a party, in which it is contended that the matter complained of resulted from alleged NASA activities or operations or NASA personnel under color of authority. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Naming NASA as a defendant or respondent or making allegations directed at an official activity of NASA personnel, or activities involving NASA contractors or subcontractors.

(2) Making allegations or assertions involving NASA's nonappropriated fund activities.

(3) Asserting injuries from or damages against a NASA officer or employee (involving such activities as contracting, transportation, property, or personnel) allegedly resulting from the conduct of official duties.

(4) Raising contentions involving the NASA Office of the Inspector General (OIG).

d. 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 not required, "will" denotes expected outcome, and "are/is" denotes descriptive material.

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