# Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-303: Execution of contracts by executive branch state agencies - Approval by chief procurement officer - Contracts for rendering public relations, advertising or related services - Applicability to various contracts - Posting of contracts on state procurement office's website > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-303 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-303 - **Heading:** Execution of contracts by executive branch state agencies - Approval by chief procurement officer - Contracts for rendering public relations, advertising or related services - Applicability to various contracts - Posting of contracts on state procurement office's website - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 12 / Chapter 3 / Section 12-3-303 ## Text (a) Any contract for goods or services entered into by an executive branch state agency shall be executed by the head of such state agency and approved by the chief procurement officer. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, approval of the chief procurement officer and no other officer of the state government is necessary, except as follows: (1) Contracts for financial management or accounting services shall also be approved by the commissioner of finance and administration; (2) Contracts for auditing services shall also be approved by the comptroller of the treasury; (3) Contracts for engineering or architectural services shall also be approved by the office of the state architect; (4) Contracts of the Tennessee higher education commission, the Tennessee student assistance corporation, and all state colleges and universities operated by the board of trustees of the University of Tennessee, the board of regents, and the state university boards do not need to be approved by the chief procurement officer; however, these contracts are subject to applicable provisions of the rules and policies promulgated by the central procurement office and approved by the procurement commission; or (5) Those procurements, contracts, grants, and other documents subject to approval by the comptroller of the treasury pursuant to § 4-56-108 or otherwise required by law. (b) All contracts for rendering public relations, advertising or related services entered into by or on behalf of agencies and departments of the executive branch of state government shall be restricted to provide for only the rendition of media advertising and related design and production services, except as otherwise determined in accordance with policies established by the procurement commission. (c) (1) This section shall not apply to construction and engineering contracts entered into by the department of transportation pursuant to title 54, chapter 5, or to contracts for projects required by law to be approved by the state building commission. (2) This section shall not apply to contracts to hire additional counsel for the state or any of its departments, institutions or agencies; provided, that all such contracts shall be made in accordance with § 8-6-106 , except for legal counsel employed pursuant to any statute concerning the issuance and sale of bonds, notes, or other obligations. (3) This section shall not apply to contracts for procurement of services in connection with the issue, sale, purchase, and delivery of bonds, notes and other debt obligations or the administration, safekeeping, and payment after delivery of such debt obligations by the state or any of its agencies. (d) All contracts for goods and services shall be posted on the state procurement office's website, at a minimum providing the following information, as applicable, regarding each request for goods or services: (1) Business unit or agency requesting; (2) Contract number; (3) Brief description of the contract; (4) Type of contract; (5) Commencement date of the contract; (6) Ending date of the contract; (7) Maximum liability; and (8) Status of the contract. Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 794, s 3, eff. 8/1/2020. Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 403, s 18, eff. 7/1/2013. Acts 1981, ch. 332, § 20; 2010 , ch. 1098, § 2; 2011 , ch. 295, §§ 5, 19. g; (2) Contract number; (3) Brief description of the contract; (4) Type of contract; (5) Commencement date of the contract; (6) Ending date of the contract; (7) Maximum liability; and (8) Status of the contract. Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 794, s 3, eff. 8/1/2020. Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 403, s 18, eff. 7/1/2013. Acts 1981, ch. 332, § 20; 2010 , ch. 1098, § 2; 2011 , ch. 295, §§ 5, 19. (a) Any contract for goods or services entered into by an executive branch state agency shall be executed by the head of such state agency and approved by the chief procurement officer. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, approval of the chief procurement officer and no other officer of the state government is necessary, except as follows: (1) Contracts for financial management or accounting services shall also be approved by the commissioner of finance and administration; (2) Contracts for auditing services shall also be approved by the comptroller of the treasury; (3) Contracts for engineering or architectural services shall also be approved by the office of the state architect; (4) Contracts of the Tennessee higher education commission, the Tennessee student assistance corporation, and all state colleges and universities operated by the board of trustees of the University of Tennessee, the board of regents, and the state university boards do not need to be approved by the chief procurement officer; however, these contracts are subject to applicable provisions of the rules and policies promulgated by the central procurement office and approved by the procurement commission; or (5) Those procurements, contracts, grants, and other documents subject to approval by the comptroller of the treasury pursuant to § 4-56-108 or otherwise required by law. (1) Contracts for financial management or accounting services shall also be approved by the commissioner of finance and administration; (2) Contracts for auditing services shall also be approved by the comptroller of the treasury; (3) Contracts for engineering or architectural services shall also be approved by the office of the state architect; (4) Contracts of the Tennessee higher education commission, the Tennessee student assistance corporation, and all state colleges and universities operated by the board of trustees of the University of Tennessee, the board of regents, and the state university boards do not need to be approved by the chief procurement officer; however, these contracts are subject to applicable provisions of the rules and policies promulgated by the central procurement office and approved by the procurement commission; or (5) Those procurements, contracts, grants, and other documents subject to approval by the comptroller of the treasury pursuant to § 4-56-108 or otherwise required by law. (b) All contracts for rendering public relations, advertising or related services entered into by or on behalf of agencies and departments of the executive branch of state government shall be restricted to provide for only the rendition of media advertising and related design and production services, except as otherwise determined in accordance with policies established by the procurement commission. All contracts for rendering public relations, advertising or related services entered into by or on behalf of agencies and departments of the executive branch of state government shall be restricted to provide for only the rendition of media advertising and related design and production services, except as otherwise determined in accordance with policies established by the procurement commission. (c) (1) This section shall not apply to construction and engineering contracts entered into by the department of transportation pursuant to title 54, chapter 5, or to contracts for projects required by law to be approved by the state building commission. (2) This section shall not apply to contracts to hire additional counsel for the state or any of its departments, institutions or agencies; provided, that all such contracts shall be made in accordance with § 8-6-106 , except for legal counsel employed pursuant to any statute concerning the issuance and sale of bonds, notes, or other obligations. (3) This section shall not apply to contracts for procurement of services in connection with the issue, sale, purchase, and delivery of bonds, notes and other debt obligations or the administration, safekeeping, and payment after delivery of such debt obligations by the state or any of its agencies. (1) This section shall not apply to construction and engineering contracts entered into by the department of transportation pursuant to title 54, chapter 5, or to contracts for projects required by law to be approved by the state building commission. (2) This section shall not apply to contracts to hire additional counsel for the state or any of its departments, institutions or agencies; provided, that all such contracts shall be made in accordance with § 8-6-106 , except for legal counsel employed pursuant to any statute concerning the issuance and sale of bonds, notes, or other obligations. (3) This section shall not apply to contracts for procurement of services in connection with the issue, sale, purchase, and delivery of bonds, notes and other debt obligations or the administration, safekeeping, and payment after delivery of such debt obligations by the state or any of its agencies. (d) All contracts for goods and services shall be posted on the state procurement office's website, at a minimum providing the following information, as applicable, regarding each request for goods or services: (1) Business unit or agency requesting; (2) Contract number; (3) Brief description of the contract; (4) Type of contract; (5) Commencement date of the contract; (6) Ending date of the contract; (7) Maximum liability; and (8) Status of the contract. (1) Business unit or agency requesting; (2) Contract number; (3) Brief description of the contract; (4) Type of contract; (5) Commencement date of the contract; (6) Ending date of the contract; (7) Maximum liability; and (8) Status of the contract. Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 794, s 3, eff. 8/1/2020. Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 403, s 18, eff. 7/1/2013. Acts 1981, ch. 332, § 20; 2010 , ch. 1098, § 2; 2011 , ch. 295, §§ 5, 19. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-101 State requirements to be purchased by the central procurement office](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-102 Exempt agencies and purchases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-103 Requirements of professional persons or groups providing fiscal agent, financial advisor, advisory or consultant services covered by this part](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-103.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-104 Transfer of equipment between departments, institutions and agencies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-104.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-201 Chapter definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-201.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-202 Long distance telephone service for students at state universities and colleges](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-202.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-301 Written acquisition plan - Data relating to purchases and purchase estimates - Amendments to acquisition plan](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-301.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-302 Bidding not to include statement that bidder willing to meet lowest bid price - Exception where negotiation permitted](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-302.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-303 Execution of contracts by executive branch state agencies - Approval by chief procurement officer - Contracts for rendering public relations, advertising or related services - Applicability to various contracts - Posting of contracts on state procurement office's website](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-303.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-304 Unauthorized contracts void - Personal liability of officers and heads of agencies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-304.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-305 Responsibility for effective management of contracts - Guidelines - Inclusion of total estimated scope or volume in solicitations - Certification to state agencies the sources of services and supply and the contract price of the various goods and services covered by contracts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-305.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-306 Registration with the department of revenue to collect and remit sales and use taxes - Development of procedures for compliance](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-306.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-307 Application of procedural and administrative accountability requirements to matching funds](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-307.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-3-308 Contracts through or administered by social services agencies without discrimination - Religious organizations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-308.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T12_C3_S12-3-303. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.