(a) Complaints of prohibited personnel practices or other prohibited activities within the investigative authority of the Special Counsel (including complaints of political activities prohibited by 5 U.S.C. 7321-7324) should be submitted to the Office of Special Counsel, Complaints Examining Unit, 1730 M Street, NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036-4505.

(b) Complaints, allegations, and information may be submitted in any written form, but should include:

(1) The name, mailing address, and telephone number(s) of the complainant(s), and a time when the person(s) making the disclosure(s) can be safely contacted, unless the matter is submitted anonymously;

(2) The department or agency, location, and organizational unit complained of;

(3) A concise description of the actions complained about, names and positions of employees who took these actions, if known to the complainant, and dates, preferably in chronological order, together with any documentary evidence the complainant may have;

(4) In the case of any allegation of a prohibited personnel practice, the personnel action that has been taken or is proposed or threatened to be taken, and the date of the action, proposal, or threat;

(5) In the case of action taken because of an individual's disclosure of information, the information believed to evidence violation of law, rule, or regulation, gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or substantial and specific danger to public health or safety and when, to whom, and how or in what form it was disclosed; and

(6) A statement as to whether the complainant consents to the disclosure of his or her identity to the agency by the Special Counsel for the purpose of further investigation.

(a) Employees, former employees, or applicants for employment having information evidencing violations of law, rule, or regulation or gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety should be submitted to the Office of Special Counsel, Disclosure Unit, 1730 M Street, NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036-4505.

(b) Information may be submitted in any written form, but should include:

(1) The name, mailing address, and telephone number(s) of the person(s) making the disclosure(s), and a time when that person(s) can be safely contacted by this agency, unless the matter is submitted anonymously;

(2) The department or agency, location and organizational unit complained of;

(3) A statement as to whether the complainant consents to the disclosure of his or her identity to the agency by the Special Counsel in connection with referral to the appropriate agency.

The Special Counsel is authorized to issue advisory opinions only concerning Chapter 15 of Title 5, United States Code (dealing with political activity of State or local officers and employees) and Subchapter III of Chapter 73 of Title 5, United States Code (dealing with political activity of Federal officers and employees). Requesters may telephone the Office of Special Counsel toll free at 1-800-872-9855, or (202)/FTS 653-7143 in the Washington, DC, area, or make such requests in writing to the Office of Special Counsel, 1730 M Street, NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036-4505.