Code of Federal Regulations Title 5. Administrative Personnel § 5.890.1029 Deciding a contest after a fact-finding proceeding

(a) Findings shall be accepted. The debarring official shall accept the presiding official's findings of fact, unless they are arbitrary, capricious, or clearly erroneous. If the debarring official concludes that the factual findings are not acceptable, they may be remanded to the presiding official for additional proceedings in accordance with § 890.1028.

(b) Timeframe for final decision. The debarring official shall issue a final written decision on a contest within 30 days after receiving the presiding official's findings. The debarring official may extend this decision period for good cause.

(c) Debarring official's final decision.

(d) No further administrative proceedings. No further administrative proceedings shall be conducted after the debarring official's final decision in a contest involving an additional fact-finding hearing. A provider adversely affected by the debarring official's final decision in a contested case may appeal under 5 U.S.C. 8902a(h)(2) to the appropriate U.S. district court.