§ 184. Articles manufactured to be furnished to the state or subdivisions thereof. 1. The commissioner is authorized and directed to cause to be manufactured or prepared by the inmates in the state correctional facilities, such articles as are needed and used therein, and also, such articles as are required by the state or political subdivisions thereof, and in the buildings, offices and public institutions owned or managed and controlled by the state, including articles and materials to be used in the erection of the buildings, and including material for the construction, improvement or repair of highways, streets and roads.

2. All such articles manufactured or prepared in the state correctional facilities, or by inmates, and not required for use therein, shall be of the styles, patterns, designs and qualities fixed by the department of corrections and community supervision, except where the same have been or may be fixed by the office of general services in the executive department. Such articles may be furnished to the state, or to any political subdivision thereof, or for or to any public institution owned or managed and controlled by the state, or any political subdivision thereof, government of the United States or to any state of the United States or subdivision thereof or to any public corporation, authority, or eleemosynary association funded in whole or in part by any federal, state or local funds, at and for such prices as shall be fixed and determined as hereinafter provided, upon the requisitions of the proper officials thereof. No article so manufactured or prepared shall be purchased from any other source, for the state or public institutions of the state, or the political subdivisions thereof, or public benefit corporations, authorities or commissions, unless the commissioner of corrections and community supervision shall certify that the same can not be furnished upon such requisition, and no claim therefor shall be audited or paid without such certificate.