Prequalification of consultants. Letters of interest for provision of consultant services.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, any consultant, who has not submitted his qualifications to the department, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, shall not be eligible to perform consultant services for the department. Any prequalified consultant, who has submitted his qualifications to the department, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, who desires to provide consultant services to the department in response to a notice published in accordance with the provisions of section 13b-20g shall submit only a letter of interest to that effect. (c) If the prequalified list contains less than five consulting firms or does not include a consultant with a particular expertise required by the department, any consultant may submit a letter of interest to the department in response to a notice published, in accordance with the provisions of section 13b-20g . The letter of interest shall set forth the consultant's qualifications for performing the specific service sought by the department. The selection panel shall then develop a qualified list of consultants in accordance with sections 13b-20i and 13b-20j .