NASA Procedural Requirements

NPR 1450.10D Effective Date: March 24, 2006 Expiration Date: March 24, 2026

Subject: NASA Correspondence Management and Communications Standards and Style Revalidated (6/21/2021)

Responsible Office: Office of the Chief of Staff

PREFACE

P.1 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.

P.2 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.

P.3 Authority

a. The Freedom of Information Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. º 552, et seq.

b. The Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. º 552a.

c. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, as amended, 18 U.S.C. º 2510, et seq.

d. The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended, 51 U.S.C. º 20113 (a).

e. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as amended, 44 U.S.C. º 3501, et seq.

f. Executive Order (EO) 12958, EO 12958 , as amended, Classified National Security Information.

g. Executive Order (EO) 13526, Classified National Security Information, dated December 29, 2009.

h. OMB Circular No. A-130, Management of Federal Information Resources dated February 8, 1996.

i. NPD 1450.12, Handling Correspondence and Information from The Executive Office of the President.

P.4 Applicable Documents and Forms

a. NPD 1440.6, NASA Records Management.

b. NPR 1441.1, NASA Records Retention Schedules.

c. NPR 1600.1, NASA Security Program Procedural Requirements.

d. The Gregg Reference Manual.

e. NASA Style Guide.

P.5 Measurement/Verification

In assessing whether NASA employees are in compliance with this NPR, the Headquarters Executive Secretariat will proofread and edit all outgoing correspondence signed by Office of the Administrator senior leadership and will advise and assist Headquarters and Center administrative personnel on the proper preparation of official correspondence and communications.

P.6 Cancellation

a. NPR 1450.10.C, NASA Correspondence Management and Communications, dated February 25, 2002

b. Standards and Style.

Revalidated 6/21/2021, Original Signed By:

/S/
Paul Morrell
Chief of Staff

DISTRIBUTION:
NODIS

This document does not bind the public, except as authorized by law or as incorporated into a contract. This document is uncontrolled when printed. Check the NASA Online Directives Information System (NODIS) Library to verify that this is the correct version before use: https://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov.