(a) Informal hearings—(1) Purpose. The Department Compliance Officer may convene such informal hearings as may be deemed appropriate for the purpose of inquiring into the status of compliance of any recipient, contractor, or subcontractor to which this part applies.

(2) Notice. Recipients, contractors, and subcontractors shall be advised in writing as to the time and place of the informal hearings and may be directed to bring specific documents and records, or furnish other relevant information concerning their compliance status. When so requested, the recipient, contractor, or subcontractor shall attend and bring requested documents and records, or other requested information.

(3) Conduct of hearings. The hearing shall be conducted by hearing officers appointed by the Department Compliance Officer. Parties to informal hearings may be represented by counsel or other authorized representative as provided in 43 CFR part 1 and shall have a fair opportunity to present any relevant material. Formal rules of evidence will not apply to such proceedings.

(b) Formal hearings—(1) Opportunity for hearing. Whenever an opportunity for a hearing is required by § 27.9(c), reasonable notice shall be given by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the affected applicant or recipient. This notice shall advise the applicant or recipient of the action proposed to be taken, the specific provision under which the proposed action against it is to be taken, and the matters of fact or law asserted as the basis for this action, and either (i) fix a date not less than twenty (20) days after the date of such notice within which the applicant or recipient may request of the Secretary or his designee or the administrative law judge to whom the matter has been assigned that the matter be scheduled for hearing or (ii) advise the applicant or recipient that the matter in question has been set down for hearing at a stated place and time. The time and place so fixed shall be reasonable and shall be subject to change for cause. The complainant, if any, shall be advised of the time and place of the hearing. An applicant or recipient may waive a hearing and submit written information and argument for the record. The failure of an applicant or recipient to request a hearing under this paragraph or to appear at a hearing for which a date has been set shall be deemed to be a waiver of the right to a hearing under section 403 of Public Law 93-153 and implementing rules, regulations, and orders and consent to the making of a decision on the basis of information on the record.

(2) Time and place of hearing. Hearings shall be conducted by the Office of Hearings and Appeals of the Department, at a time and place fixed by the administrative law judge to whom the matter has been assigned. Hearings shall be held before an administrative law judge designated by the Office of Hearings and Appeals in accordance with its procedures.

(3) Right to Counsel. In all proceedings under this section, the applicant or recipient and the Department shall have the right to be represented by counsel or other authorized representative as provided in 43 CFR part 1.

(4) Procedures, evidence, and record. (i) The hearing, decision, and any administrative review thereof shall be conducted in conformity with 5 U.S.C. 554 through 557 and in accordance with such rules of procedure as are proper (and not inconsistent with this section) relating to the conduct of the hearing, giving of notices subsequent to those provided for in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, taking of testimony, exhibits, arguments and briefs, requests for findings, and other related matters. Both the Department and the applicant or recipient shall be entitled to introduce all relevant evidence on the issues as stated in the notice for hearing or as determined by the administrative law judge conducting the hearing at the outset of or during the hearing.

(ii) Technical rules of evidence shall not apply to hearings conducted pursuant to this part, but rules or principles designed to assure production of the most credible evidence available and to subject testimony to test by cross-examination shall be applied where determined reasonably necessary by the administrative law judge conducting the hearing. The administrative law judge may exclude irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence. All documents and other evidence offered or taken for the record shall be open to examination by the parties and opportunity shall be given to refute facts and arguments advanced on either side of the issues. A transcript shall be made of the oral evidence except to the extent that the substance thereof is stipulated for the record. All decisions shall be based upon the hearing record and written findings shall be made.

(5) Consolidated or joint hearings. In cases in which the same or related facts are asserted to constitute noncompliance with this part with respect to two or more Federal authorizations to which this part applies, or asserted to constitute noncompliance with this part and the regulations of one or more other Federal departments or agencies, the Secretary may, by agreement with such other departments or agencies, where applicable, provide for the conduct of consolidated or joint hearings, and for the application to such hearings of rules of procedure not inconsistent with this part. Final decisions in such cases, insofar as this part is concerned, shall be made in accordance with § 27.11.