§ 7.35 - Processing.

(a) The Director of EEO will process complaints filed under 29 CFR part 1614 for the Department with the assistance of the EEO Officer, DCM, the EEO Counselor and the full cooperation of all other Department managers, supervisors and other employees.

(b) The Director of EEO shall, in accordance with 29 CFR part 1614, provide for the development of an impartial and appropriate factual record upon which to make findings on the claims raised by the written complaint. An appropriate factual record is one that allows a reasonable fact finder to draw conclusions as to whether discrimination occurred. The person assigned to develop the factual record may use an exchange of letters or memoranda, interrogatories, investigations, fact-finding conferences or any other fact-finding methods that efficiently and thoroughly address the matters at issue and is encouraged, in accordance with 29 CFR 1614.108(b), to incorporate ADR techniques into the investigative efforts in order to promote early resolution of complaints.

(c) The Director of EEO will provide the Complainant and Complainant's representative, if applicable, and the EEO Officer a copy of the record developed. Within 180 days from the filing of the complaint, or where a complaint was amended, within the earlier of 180 days after the last amendment to the complaint or 360 days after the filing of the original complaint, within the time period contained in an order from the Office of Federal Operations on an appeal from a dismissal, or within any period of extension provided for in 29 CFR 1614.108(f), the Department shall provide the Complainant with a copy of the investigative file, and shall notify the Complainant that, within 30 days of receipt of the investigative file, the Complainant has the right to request a hearing and decision from an EEOC Administrative Judge or may request an immediate final decision pursuant to 29 CFR 1614.110 from the Department.