(a) Claims in the amount of $10,000 or more will be acted upon as directed by the General Counsel;

(b) Claims less than $10,000 will be acted upon by the Chief Counsel of the NASA Field Installation where the employee was assigned at the time of the loss or damage or the Assistant General Counsel for Litigation for NASA Headquarters claims.

(c) Claims of $10,000 or more, pursuant either to the Federal Tort Claims Act, or 51 U.S.C. 20113(m), shall be acted upon only with the prior approval of the General Counsel. Such claims shall be forwarded to the General Counsel for approval, if the Chief Counsel or the Associate General Counsel for General Law is of the opinion that the claim may be meritorious and otherwise suitable for settlement under any authority. A claim so forwarded should be accompanied by a report of the facts of the claim, based upon such investigation as may be appropriate, and a recommendation as to the action to be taken.

(d) Claims acted upon by NASA officials pursuant to this section shall be acted upon pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act, or 51 U.S.C. 20113(m)(1) or (2), as the NASA official deems appropriate.