§ 1008.43 Issuance of a formal advisory opinion.

(a) An advisory opinion will be considered issued once payment is received and it is dated, numbered, and signed by an authorized official of the OIG.

(b) An advisory opinion will contain a description of the material facts provided to the OIG with regard to the arrangement for which an advisory opinion has been requested. The advisory opinion will state the OIG's opinion regarding the subject matter of the request based on the facts provided to the OIG. If necessary, to fully describe the arrangement, the OIG is authorized to include in the advisory opinion the material facts of the arrangement, notwithstanding that some of these facts could be considered confidential information or trade secrets within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 1905.

(c)(1) The OIG will issue an advisory opinion, in accordance with the provisions of this part, within 60 days after the request for an advisory opinion has been formally accepted;

(2) If the 60th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, the time period will end at the close of the next business day following the weekend or holiday;

(3) The 60 day period will be tolled from the time the OIG—

(i) Notifies the requestor that the costs have reached, or are likely to exceed, the triggering amount until the time when the OIG receives written notice from the requestor to continue processing the request;

(ii) Requests additional information from the requestor until the time the OIG receives the requested information;

(iii) Notifies the requestor of the full amount due until the time the OIG receives payment of the full amount owed; and

(iv) Notifies the requestor of the need for expert advice until the time the OIG receives the expert advice.

(d) After OIG has notified the requestor of the full amount owed and OIG has determined that the full payment of that amount has been properly paid by the requestor, OIG will issue the advisory opinion and promptly mail it to the requestor by regular first class U.S. mail.

[62 FR 7357, Feb. 19, 1997, as amended at 63 FR 38326, July 16, 1998; 73 FR 15939, Mar. 26, 2008]