(a) In the event that the hearing official considers a prehearing conference necessary, he may convene a prehearing conference.

(b) The purpose of a prehearing conference is to allow the parties to settle or narrow the dispute. A prehearing conference consists of—

(1) A telephone conference call;

(2) An informal meeting of the parties with the hearing official; or

(3) The submission and exchange of written materials by the parties.

(c) All prehearing conferences requiring appearances by the parties shall take place in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.