; and (3) employ and supervise hearing officers and other administrative personnel to perform the duties of the Special Administrator under this Act. (b) Recovery compensation services To the extent the Special Administrator determines is necessary to implement the provisions of this Act in a timely manner, the Special Administrator is authorized to contract with third parties to review business applications, recommend compensation determinations, arrange payments, and perform audits on behalf of the Special Administrator. Any third party contracting to provide recovery compensation services pursuant to this subsection shall be compensated on a cost basis pursuant to guidelines established by the Special Administrator in consultation with the Oversight Board. (c) Limitation of liability (1) The provisions of this Act and the services provided under subsection (b) shall be enforced by the Secretary. Any party contracting with the Special Administrator to assist in recovery compensation services pursuant to subsection (b) shall not bear any liability for the performance of such duties except for gross negligence, willful misconduct, or fraud. (2) There shall be no liability imposed on any party for not contracting with the Special Administrator as described in paragraph (1). Any financial institution not contracting with the Special Administrator that provides assistance or information to an applicant with respect to the compensation program established under this Act without receiving compensation for providing such assistance or information shall not bear any liability for the provision of such assistance or information except for gross negligence, willful misconduct, or fraud, provided that nothing in this subsection shall be construed to alter any duty or obligation owed by such party to an applicant under otherwise applicable State or Federal law or by agreement with the applicant. (3) State laws or regulations conflicting with the directions of the Special Administrator pursuant to subsection (b) are