a) The Consultant Services Unit shall determine the eligibility of each firm that responds to a solicitation. A firm shall be considered ineligible and shall be excluded from the selection process for any one of the following reasons:

1. 1) It is not prequalified for the type(s) or volume of service required;
2. 2) It does not have sufficient expertise or work force for the particular job;
3. 3) It does not have a sufficient financial rating or accounting system for the type of contract contemplated;
4. 4) The Department has determined that the firm does not have an acceptable affirmative action program;
5. 5) If the Consultant is to be retained to prepare contract plans for a facility which will carry railroad traffic, and the owning railroad determines that a particular firm is unacceptable.