5 U.S.C.
§ 580. Arbitration awards
(a)(1) Unless the agency provides otherwise by rule, the award in an
arbitration proceeding under this subchapter shall include a brief, informal discussion of the
factual and legal basis for the award, but formal findings of fact or conclusions of law shall not
be required.
(2) The prevailing parties shall file the award with all relevant
agencies, along with proof of service on all parties.
(b) The award in an arbitration proceeding shall become final 30 days
after it is served on all parties. Any agency that is a party to the proceeding may extend this
30-day period for an additional 30-day period by serving a notice of such extension on all other
parties before the end of the first 30-day period.
(c) A final award is binding on the parties to the arbitration
proceeding, and may be enforced pursuant to sections 9 through 13 of title 9. No action brought
to enforce such an award shall be dismissed nor shall relief therein be denied on the grounds that
it is against the United States or that the United States is an indispensable party.
(d) An award entered under this subchapter in an arbitration
proceeding may not serve as an estoppel in any other proceeding for any issue that was resolved
in the proceeding. Such an award also may not be used as precedent or otherwise be considered
in any factually unrelated proceeding, whether conducted under this subchapter, by an agency, or
in a court, or in any other arbitration proceeding.
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