(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.