Contracting for collection services.

§ 13.13 Contracting for collection services. EPA will use private collection services where it determines that their use is in the best interest of the Government. Where EPA determines that there is a need to contract for collection services it will— (a) Retain sole authority to resolve any dispute by the debtor of the validity of the debt, to compromise the debt, to suspend or terminate collection action, to refer the debt to DOJ for litigation, and to take any other action under this part which does not result in full collection of the debt; (b) Require the contractor to comply with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, to the extent specified in 5 U.S.C. 552a(m), with applicable Federal and State laws pertaining to debt collection practices (e.g., the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq. )), and with applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue Service; (c) Require the contractor to account accurately and fully for all amounts collected; and (d) Require the contractor to provide to EPA, upon request, all data and reports contained in its files relating to its collection actions on a debt.