Last Update: 6/16/2016 (Transmittal I-2-174)
HA 01250.031 Blanket Purchase
Agreements - Obtaining Expert Evidence
Renumbered from HALLEX section I-2-5-31
Detailed information about how the Federal government uses
blanket purchase agreements (BPA) can be found on the U.S. General
Services Administration website.
In general terms, the Federal government uses BPAs when there is
a recurring need for supplies or services from a specified contractor.
The Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) uses
BPAs when obtaining expert evidence at a hearing. Each OHO regional
office maintains a roster of medical experts (ME) and vocational
experts (VE) who have agreed to provide impartial expert opinions
pursuant to a BPA. Except in the limited circumstances outlined
in Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law (HALLEX) manual HA 01210.031, HA 01250.036,
and HA 01250.052 every
ME or VE who testifies at a hearing or provides a written response
to an interrogatory is covered under a BPA.
See HALLEX HA 01250.061 for handling a BPA for
individuals who meet the qualifications for both an ME and a VE.
If an administrative law judge (ALJ) requests an expert from
the RO roster, hearing office (HO) staff will enter the ME or VE
information into the Case Processing and Management System (CPMS)
scheduling event screen. This will automatically create a call order
to be associated in CPMS. After signoff by the ALJ, the HO staff
will give the call order number to the ME or VE at or after the
hearing.