The department of economic development shall conduct preliminary assessments of the advisability of conducting a comprehensive study exploring the feasibility of having a company or group, including the workers, purchase the plant and continue it in operation. Provided further, that rules and regulations established by the commissioner of economic development pursuant to section one hundred ninety-three of article seven of the omnibus economic development act of nineteen hundred eighty-seven regarding the selection and retention of experts to be used in undertaking assessments and the exemption of disclosure requirements shall apply to assessments conducted under this section.