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(3) Final request for payment (SF270) (if applicable).

(4) Invention disclosure (if applicable).

(5) Federally-owned property report. In accordance with §80.32(f), a grantee must submit an inventory of all federally owned property (as distinct from property acquired with grant funds) for which it is accountable and request disposition instructions from the Federal agency of property no longer needed.

(c) Cost adjustment. The Federal agency will, within 90 days after receipt of reports in paragraph (b) of this section, make upward or downward adjustments to the allowable costs.

(d) Cash adjustments. (1) The Federal agency will make prompt payment to the grantee for allowable reimbursable costs.

(2) The grantee must immediately refund to the Federal agency any balance of unobligated (unencumbered) cash advanced that is not authorized to be retained for use on other grants.

ment. If not paid within a reasonable period after demand, the Federal agency may reduce the debt by:

(1) Making an adminstrative offset against other requests for reimbursements,

(2) Withholding advance payments otherwise due to the grantee, or

(3) Other action permitted by law. (b) Except where otherwise provided by statutes or regulations, the Federal agency will charge interest on an overdue debt in accordance with the Federal Claims Collection Standards (4 CFR Ch. II). The date from which interest is computed is not extended by litigation or the filing of any form of appeal.

Subpart E-Entitlement [Reserved]

PART 81-GENERAL EDUCATION PROVISIONS ACT-ENFORCEMENT

Subpart A-General Provisions

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The closeout of a grant does not affect:

(a) The Federal agency's right to disallow costs and recover funds on the basis of a later audit or other review;

(b) The grantee's obligation to return any funds due as a result of later refunds, corrections, or other transactions;

(c) Records retention as required in § 80.42;

(d) Property management requirements in §§ 80.31 and 80.32; and

(e) Audit requirements in § 80.26. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 3474; OMB Circular A102)

§ 80.52 Collection of amounts due.

(a) Any funds paid to a grantee in excess of the amount to which the grantee is finally determined to be entitled under the terms of the award constitute a debt to the Federal Govern

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The following definitions apply to the terms used in this part:

Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) means a judge appointed by the Secretary in accordance with section 451 (b) and (c) of GEPA.

Applicable program means any program for which the Secretary of Education has administrative responsibility, except a program authorized by

(a) The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended;

(b) The Act of September 30, 1950 (Pub. L. 874, 81st Congress), as amended; or

(c) The Act of September 23, 1950 (Pub. L. 815, 81st Congress), as amended.

Department means the United States Department of Education.

Disallowance decision means the decision of an authorized Departmental official that a recipient must return funds because it made an expenditure of funds that was not allowable or otherwise failed to discharge its obligation to account properly for funds. Such a decision, referred to as a "preliminary departmental decision" in section 452

of GEPA, is subject to review by the Office of Administrative Law Judges. Party means either of the following: (a) A recipient that appeals a decision.

(b) An authorized Departmental official who issues a decision that is appealed.

Recipient means the recipient of a grant or cooperative agreement under an applicable program.

Secretary means the Secretary of the Department of Education or an official or employee of the Department acting for the Secretary under a delegation of authority.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234 (b), (c), and (f)(1), 1234a(a)(1), 1234i, and 3474(a))

[54 FR 19512, May 5, 1989, as amended at 58 FR 43473, Aug. 16, 1993]

§ 81.3 Jurisdiction of the Office of Administrative Law Judges.

(a) The Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) established under section 451(a) of GEPA has jurisdiction to conduct the following proceedings concerning an applicable program:

(1) Hearings for recovery of funds.
(2) Withholding hearings.
(3) Cease and desist hearings.

(b) The OALJ also has jurisdiction to conduct other proceedings designated by the Secretary. If a proceeding or class of proceedings is so designated, the Department publishes a notice of the designation in the FEDERAL REGISTER.

(Authority: 5 U.S.C. 554, 20 U.S.C. 1234(a))

§ 81.4 Membership and assignment to

cases.

(a) The Secretary appoints Administrative Law Judges as members of the OALJ.

(b) The Secretary appoints one of the members of the OALJ to be the chief judge. The chief judge is responsible for the efficient and effective administration of the OALJ.

(c) The chief judge assigns an ALJ to each case or class of cases within the jurisdiction of the OALJ.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234 (b) and (c), and 3474(a))

§ 81.5 Authority and responsibility of an Administrative Law Judge.

(a) An ALJ assigned to a case conducts a hearing on the record. The ALJ regulates the course of the proceedings and the conduct of the parties to ensure a fair, expeditious, and economical resolution of the case in accordance with applicable law.

(b) An ALJ is bound by all applicable statutes and regulations and may neither waive them nor rule them invalid.

(c) An ALJ is disqualified in any case in which the ALJ has a substantial interest, has been of counsel, is or has been a material witness, or is so related to or connected with any party or the party's attorney as to make it improper for the ALJ to be assigned to the case.

(d)(1) An ALJ may disqualify himself or herself at any time on the basis of the standards in paragraph (c) of this section.

(2) A party may file a motion to disqualify an ALJ under the standards in paragraph (c) of this section. A motion to disqualify must be accompanied by an affidavit that meets the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 556(b). Upon the filing of such a motion and affidavit, the ALJ decides the disqualification matter before proceeding further with the case. (Authority: 5 U.S.C. 556(b); 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234 (d), (f)(1) and (g)(1), and 3474(a))

§ 81.6 Hearing on the record.

(a) A hearing on the record is a process for the orderly presentation of evidence and arguments by the parties.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this part or in a notice of designation under §81.3(b), an ALJ conducts the hearing entirely on the basis of briefs and other written submissions unless

(1) The ALJ determines, after reviewing all appropriate submissions, that an evidentiary hearing is needed to resolve a material factual issue in dispute; or

(2) The ALJ determines, after reviewing all appropriate submissions, that oral argument is needed to clarify the issues in the case.

(c) At a party's request, the ALJ shall confer with the parties in person or by conference telephone call before

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determining whether an evidentiary hearing or an oral argument is needed. Authority: 5 U.S.C. 556(d); 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), and 3474)

$81.7 Non-party participation.

(a) A person or organization, other than a party, that wishes to participate in a case shall file an application to participate with the ALJ assigned to the case. The application must

(1) Identify the case in which participation is sought;

(2) State how the applicant's interest relates to the case;

(3) State how the applicant's participation would aid in the disposition of the case; and

(4) State how the applicant seeks to participate.

(b) The ALJ may permit an applicant to participate if the ALJ determines that the applicant's participation—

(1) Will aid in the disposition of the case;

(2) Will not unduly delay the proceedings; and

(3) Will not prejudice the adjudication of the parties' rights.

(c) If the ALJ permits an applicant to participate, the ALJ permits the applicant to file briefs.

(d)(1) In addition to the participation described in paragraph (c) of this section, the ALJ may permit the applicant to participate in any or all of the following ways:

(i) Submit documentary evidence. (ii) Participate in an evidentiary hearing afforded the parties.

(iii) Participate in an oral argument afforded the parties.

(2) The ALJ may place appropriate limits on an applicant's participation to ensure the efficient conduct of the proceedings.

(e) A non-party participant shall comply with the requirements for parties in §81.11 and § 81.12.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), and 3474(a))

§ 81.8 Representation.

A party to, or other participant in, a case may be represented by counsel. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), and 3474(a))

§ 81.9 Location of proceedings.

(a) An ALJ may hold conferences of the parties in person or by conference telephone call.

(b) Any conference, hearing, argument, or other proceeding at which the parties are required to appear in person is held in the Washington, DC metropolitan area unless the ALJ determines that the convenience and necessity of the parties or their representatives requires that it be held elsewhere.

(Authority: 5 U.S.C. 554(b); 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), and 3474(a))

§ 81.10 Ex parte communications.

A party to, or other participant in, a case may not communicate with an ALJ on any fact in issue in the case or on any matter relevant to the merits of the case unless the parties are given notice and an opportunity to participate.

(Authority: 5 U.S.C. 554(d)(1), 557(d)(1)(A); 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), and 3474(a))

§ 81.11 Motions.

(a) To obtain an order or a ruling from an ALJ, a party shall make a motion to the ALJ.

(b) Except for a request for an extension of time, a motion must be made in writing unless the parties appear in person or participate in a conference telephone call. The ALJ may require a party to reduce an oral motion to writing.

(c) If a party files a motion, the party shall serve a copy of the motion on the other party on the filing date by handdelivery or by mail. If agreed upon by the parties, service of the motion may be made upon the other party by facsimile transmission.

(d) Except for a request for an extension of time, the ALJ may not grant a party's written motion without the consent of the other party unless the other party has had at least 21 days from the date of service of the motion to respond. However, the ALJ may deny a motion without awaiting a response.

(e) The date of service of a motion is determined by the standards for determining a filing date in § 81.12(d).

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), and 3474(a))

[54 FR 19512, May 5, 1989, as amended at 57 FR 56795, Nov. 30, 1992]

§ 81.12 Filing requirements.

(a) Any written submission to an ALJ or the OALJ under this part must be filed by hand-delivery, by mail, or by facsimile transmission. The Secretary discourages the use of facsimile transmission for documents documents longer than five pages.

(b) If a party files a brief or other document with an ALJ or the OALJ, the party shall serve a copy of the filed material on the other party on the filing date by hand-delivery or by mail. If agreed upon by the parties, service of a document may be made upon the other party by facsimile transmission.

(c) Any written submission to an ALJ or the OALJ must be accompanied by a statement certifying the date that the filed material was filed and served on the other party.

(d)(1) The filing date for a written submission to an ALJ or the OALJ is the date the document is

(i) Hand-delivered; (ii) Mailed; or

(iii) Sent by facsimile transmission. (2) If a scheduled filing date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, the filing deadline is the next business day.

(e) A party filing by facsimile transmission is responsible for confirming that a complete and legible copy of the document was received by the Department.

(f) If a document is filed by facsimile transmission, a follow-up hard copy must be filed by hand-delivery or by mail within a reasonable period of time.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), and 3474(a))

[54 FR 19512, May 5, 1989, as amended at 57 FR 56795, Nov. 30, 1992]

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(a) Voluntary mediation is available for proceedings that are pending before the OALJ.

(b) A mediator must be independent of, and agreed to by, the parties to the case.

(c) A party may request mediation by filing a motion with the ALJ assigned to the case. The OALJ arranges for a mediator if the parties to the case agree to mediation.

(d) A party may terminate mediation at any time. Mediation is limited to 120 days unless the mediator informs the ALJ that—

(1) The parties are likely to resolve some or all of the dispute; and

(2) An extension of time will facilitate an agreement.

(e) The ALJ stays the proceedings during mediation.

(f)(1) Evidence of conduct or statements made during mediation is not admissible in any proceeding under this part. However, evidence that is otherwise discoverable may not be excluded merely because it was presented during mediation.

(2) A mediator may not disclose, in any proceeding under this part, information acquired as a part of his or her official mediation duties that relates to any fact in issue in the case or any matter relevant to the merits of the case.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234 (f)(1) and (h), and 3474(a))

§ 81.14 Settlement negotiations.

(a) If the parties to a case file a joint motion requesting a stay of the proceedings for settlement negotiations, or for approval of a settlement agreement, the ALJ may grant a stay of the proceedings upon a finding of good

cause.

(b) Evidence of conduct or statements made during settlement negotiations is not admissible in any proceeding under this part. However, evidence that is otherwise discoverable may not be excluded merely because it was presented during settlement negotiations.

(c) The parties may not disclose the contents of settlement negotiations to the ALJ. If the parties enter into a settlement agreement and file a joint mo

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(a) The parties to a case are encouraged to exchange relevant documents and information voluntarily.

(b) The ALJ, at a party's request, may order compulsory discovery described in paragraph (c) of this section if the ALJ determines that

(1) The order is necessary to secure a fair, expeditious, and economical resolution of the case;

(2) The discovery requested is likely to elicit relevant information with respect to an issue in the case;

(3) The discovery request was not made primarily for the purposes of delay or harassment; and

(4) The order would serve the ends of justice.

(c) If a compulsory discovery is permissible under paragraph (b) of this section, the ALJ may order a party to do one or more of the following:

(1) Make relevant documents available for inspection and copying by the party making the request.

(2) Answer written interrogatories that inquire into relevant matters. (3) Have depositions taken.

(d) The ALJ may issue a subpoena to enforce an order described in this section and may apply to the appropriate

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