[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 5, Volume 2, Parts 700 to 1199] [Revised as of January 1, 2001] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 5CFR731.402] [Page 25-26] TITLE 5--ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL CHAPTER I--OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (Continued) PART 731--SUITABILITY--Table of Contents Subpart D--Suitability Actions Sec. 731.402 Notice of proposed action. (a) OPM shall notify the applicant, eligible, appointee, or employee (hereinafter, the ``respondent'') in writing of the proposed action and of the charges against the respondent. The notice shall state the reasons, specifically and in detail, for the proposed action. The notice shall also state that the respondent has the right to answer this notice in writing. If the respondent is an employee the notice shall further state that the employee may also make an oral answer, as specified in Sec. 731.403(a). The notice shall further inform the respondent of the time limits [[Page 26]] for answer as well as the address to which such answer should be made. (b) OPM shall send a copy of this notice to the agency, if any, that is involved. The notice shall be served upon the respondent by being mailed to the respondent's last known residence or duty station no less than 30 days prior to the effective date of the proposed adverse action. If the respondent is employed in the competitive service on the date the notice is served, the respondent shall be entitled to be retained in pay status during the notice period.