scope:

Purpose

a. This NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) prescribes specific procedures for managing and controlling communications to and from the Principals of the Office of the Administrator and guidance and standards for preparing internal and external correspondence and communications in both paper and electronic formats.

NOTE: The correspondence style preference of the NASA Administrator will override the requirements of this NPR.

b. This NPR describes various types of correspondence and communications designed to improve the management and flow of NASA information. It also provides guidance for preparing, documenting, and disseminating effective communications to the widest possible audience as prescribed by NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 7120.4, Program/Project Management, and NPR 7120.5, NASA Program and Project Management Processes and Requirements.

c. This NPR prescribes "plain language" format and style for preparing correspondence and communications.

Applicability

a. This NPR addresses drafting, preparing, and reviewing internal and external correspondence and communications.

b. This NPR applies to NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers, including Component Facilities.

c. This NPR provides guidance for all NASA employees, including scientists, technologists, engineers, program and project directors and managers, and those functions involving or supporting public and legislative affairs, education, history, scientific and technical information, technology transfer offices, and records management.

d. In this directive, all mandatory actions (i.e., requirements) are denoted by statements containing the term "shall." The terms "may" denotes a discretionary privilege or permission, "can" denotes statements of possibility or capability, "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.