A Federal employee, or applicant for Federal employment, who believes that he or she has been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, reprisal, physical and/or mental disability must contact the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity for assignment of an ODEO Counselor within forty-five (45) calendar days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act.

"Contingent" (contract) workers may qualify as 'Federal employees within the meaning of the anti-discrimination statutes and must contact an agency ODEO Counselor within 45 days of the date of alleged discrimination by NASA. Contract workers will qualify as 'Federal employees' only if they meet certain criteria which show that NASA exercises control over the means and manner of their performance.

An MSFC ODEO Counselor will engage in fact finding and attempt resolution within the thirty (30) calendar day period following the initial contact.

If the matter has not been resolved within the thirty (30) calendar day counseling period, the EEO Counselor will issue the Counselee a Notice of Final Interview and Notice of Right to File a Complaint.

The Counselee has fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the Notice to file a formal complaint.

Formal complaints can be filed only after the counseling period and only on matters raised with the ODEO Counselor. Formal complaints must be filed with: The Director, Discrimination Complaints Division, Code EC, Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546.

Should you wish to contact an MSFC ODEO Counselor or wish additional information on the discrimination complaint procedures, please contact the MSFC Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, Code OS01 at 544-0022, fax your request to 544-2411, or come by the office located in Building 4200, Room 420; TDD 544-9619.

Another avenue of employee redress is the appropriate union: MESA, 544-7501; AFGE, 544-7500. Employees may receive ODEO counseling or go through the informal grievance procedure, but they must choose either the formal complaints process or the formal union procedure to proceed. The ODEO office can advise you of additional avenues of employee redress.