The Division of Professional Regulation is seeking a law firm or legal services entity (hereinafter “Firm” or “Vendor”) to provide a pool or group of attorneys to perform hearing officer services pursuant to 29 Del. C. § 8735(v). The Division of Professional Regulation is responsible for the administrative, ministerial, budgetary, clerical, and investigative functions for over 40 commissions, boards, councils, and agencies. Included in the Division’s functions is the provision of a hearing officer to conduct hearings on behalf of all such entities. The Division hearing officers preside over hearings, including any evidentiary hearings, hear and determine any prehearing matter pending before any board, commission, council, or agency under Titles 16, 23, 24, or 28, conduct in-depth, comprehensive research; reports findings to superior/agency staff including precedents and applicable state and federal laws/rules/regulations/contracts; draft recommended decisions based on findings of fact and applicable laws, rules and regulations; research other regulatory matters; and provide written recommendations within 30 days of the conclusion of a hearing. Hearing officers are responsible for assembling the record in any appeal of a decision over which they presided. The Division hearing officers generally preside over 250-350 hearings a year, with approximately 80-90% of the hearings being uncontested Rule to Show Cause Hearings for non-compliance with continuing education requirements. The remaining 10-20% are two party contested hearings resulting from formal Complaints filed by the Department of Justice. The Division currently employs one hearing officer who is unable to cover all hearing officer related matters. The winning law firm will be responsible for providing enough attorneys to cover any matters the current hearing officer cannot.
