Each Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) regional office (RO)
maintains a roster of VEs who have agreed to provide impartial expert
opinions pursuant to a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) with OHO. For
more information on BPAs, including how to invoice when a BPA is
used, see Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law (HALLEX) manual HA 01250.031. Except in the
limited circumstances outlined in subsection B below, hearing office
(HO) staff will select a VE from the RO roster. If a VE is not available
on the RO roster, HO staff will coordinate with the RO to obtain the
services of a VE from another OHO RO's roster.
Assisting HO staff will select VEs from the roster in rotation
whenever possible. VEs must be rotated equitably. When HO staff selects
a VE from the roster, the VE will go to the bottom of the roster and
will not be selected again until all other available VEs who are higher
on the roster have been selected.
For administrative efficiency reasons,
HO staff may select a VE to provide expert opinion evidence at multiple
hearings held on the same day. OHO management, through designated staff,
is responsible for selecting the particular expert and will generally
arrange for the VE to appear via audio, agency video, online video if
hearing testimony is needed.