a. Contractor shall provide services as necessary and mutually convenient between the Parties. b. Contractor shall preside and independently conduct informal hearings in accordance with HUD regulations and OCHA Administrative Policy. The Contractor will receive testimony and evidence presented by assisted households, OCHA staff, witnesses, and if applicable, District Attorney staff and/or legal representatives. As needed, Contractor will ask relevant questions and consider evidence presented without regard to admissibility under the rules of evidence applicable to judicial proceedings. Contractor shall regulate the conduct during proceedings to allow equal opportunity for all participants to present their positions and arguments. (Informal hearings are generally scheduled to be conducted within a maximum of two hours.) c. In response to the informal hearing, Contractor will issue a written informal hearing decision as to whether the Housing Authority acted in accordance with law, regulations and policies. The decision shall briefly state the reasons for the decision, as well as any mitigating circumstances considered regardless of the decision. Factual determinations relating to the individual circumstances of the family shall be based on a preponderance of the evidence presented at the informal hearing...
