RSA establishes policy and prescribes the methods found necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the programs for which RSA is responsible. Policy is a formal statement, from among one or more legally supportable options, establishing conditions, relationships or conduct which are held to be necessary for implementing or substantiating the letter and/or intent of relevant law and regulations and ensuring the proper management by such laws and regulations.

• Policy Directives (PD) are formal statements of required action(s) or condition(s) that must be carried out or met by State VR agencies or other RSA grantees in order to be in compliance with the Acts. A PD is legally enforceable because it is based on a statutory or regulatory provision.
• Technical Assistance Circulars (TAC) are formal statements of guidelines and/or suggested methods to satisfy statutory, regulatory or policy requirements. A TAC addresses those areas of program requirements for which state VR agencies or other RSA grantees have flexibility in determining precisely how such requirements are to be met.
• Information Memoranda (IM) transmit information to grantees who operate formula or discretionary grant programs authorized by the Acts, and to individuals who are responsible for monitoring these programs.
• Other Documentation: Other sub-regulatory guidance documents, such as Grant Award Notification Attachments, Frequently Asked Questions, and Dear Colleague Letters, that support RSA programs.