NASA's review and clearance of guidance shall ensure that each guidance document proposed by a NASA responsible office satisfies the following requirements:

(a) The guidance document complies with all relevant statutes and regulation (including any statutory deadlines for Agency action);

(b) The guidance document identifies or includes:

(1) The term “guidance” or its functional equivalent;

(2) The issuing NASA responsible office name;

(3) A unique identifier, including, at a minimum, the date of issuance and title of the document and its regulatory identification number (RIN), if applicable;

(4) The activity or entities to which the guidance applies;

(5) Citations to applicable statutes and regulations;

(6) A statement noting whether the guidance is intended to revise or replace any previously issued guidance and, if so, sufficient information to identify the previously issued guidance; and

(7) A short summary of the subject matter covered in the guidance document at the top of the document;

(c) The guidance document avoids using mandatory language, such as “shall,” “must,” “required,” or “requirement,” unless the language is describing an established statutory or regulatory requirement or is addressed to NASA employees and will not foreclose NASA's consideration of positions advanced by affected private parties;

(d) The guidance document is written in plain and understandable English; and

(e) All guidance documents include a clear and prominent statement declaring that the contents of the document do not have the force and effect of law, are not meant to bind the public in any way, and the document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or NASA's policies.