(a)
(1) If an administrative hearing has been requested, the presiding official will direct the parties to attend a prehearing conference to consider:
(i) Simplification of issues;
(ii) Obtaining stipulations of fact and of documents to avoid unnecessary proof;
(iii) Settlement of the matter;
(iv) Discovery; and
(v) Such other matters as may expedite the disposition of the proceedings.
(2) Any relevant and significant stipulations or admissions will be incorporated into the initial decision.
(b) If a prehearing conference is impractical, the presiding official will direct the parties to correspond with each other or to confer by telephone or otherwise to achieve the purposes of such a conference.