Not later than 7 days after transmission to the employing office of a claim pursuant to section 1402(b) of this title, the Executive Director shall appoint a hearing officer to conduct a preliminary review of the claim.
The Executive Director shall appoint a hearing officer under this subsection in the same manner and in accordance with the same requirements and procedures applicable to the appointment of a hearing officer under section 1405(c) of this title.
Not later than 30 days after a claim is filed under section 1402 of this title, the hearing officer shall submit to the individual filing the claim and the office which is the subject of the claim a report on the preliminary review conducted under this section, and shall include in the report the hearing officer’s determination as to whether the individual is a covered employee who has stated a claim for which relief may be granted under this subchapter (as described in paragraph (6) of subsection (b)). The submission of the report shall conclude the preliminary review.
The hearing officer may (upon notice to the individual filing the claim and the employing office which is the subject of the claim) use an additional period of not to exceed 30 days to conclude the preliminary review.