(a) In the procurement of a firm or firms to perform an audit required by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-37,152 and 75-37,153, and amendments thereto, the secretary of administration shall encourage firms engaged in the lawful practice of their professions to place their names on a list maintained by the secretary of firms to receive requests for proposals on audit contracts.

(b) The secretary of administration shall establish specifications for the conduct by a firm or firms of an audit required by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-37,152 and 75-37,153, and amendments thereto. The specifications shall be used in preparing requests for proposals and evaluating the proposals received.

(c) For all audits required by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-37,152 and 75-37,153, and amendments thereto, the secretary of administration shall issue a request for proposals to all firms who have requested to be on the firm list and others who request a copy after notice in the Kansas register. The request for proposals shall request information on the firm’s qualifications, the qualifications of staff to be assigned to the job, the firm’s technical approach to the audit and the fee. The secretary shall evaluate the proposals received in response to the request for proposals and for each audit shall prepare a list of at least three and not more than five firms that are, in the opinion of the secretary, qualified to perform such audit. Such list shall be submitted to the department of administration audit contract committee.