La. R.S. 39:1563

The state chief procurement officer shall be in the classified service of the state and shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Article X, Section 7 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974. The state chief procurement officer shall have had a minimum of eight years experience in the large scale procurement of supplies, services, or personal, professional, consulting, or social services, involving specification development, the preparation of bid proposals and bid evaluation and award, including at least three years of supervisory experience. Preference shall be given to such experience in governmental purchasing.