(a) The purpose of these regulations is to establish those procedures authorized and required by Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 4525) of Division 5 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

(b) Selection by the Department for professional services of private architectural, landscape architectural, engineering, environmental, land surveying, or construction project management firms shall be on the basis of demonstrated competence and on the professional qualifications necessary for the satisfactory performance of the services required. Selection of the services of analytical laboratory, forestry, geological, geophysical, and other firms shall be on this same basis when the additional services qualify as environmental services or ancillary services logically or justifiably performed in connection with architectural, landscape architectural, engineering, environmental, land surveying, or construction project management services.