(a) The state of Tennessee may enter into joint contractual arrangements with other states and/or the United States to obtain materials and services to carry out the purposes of a federal-state program.

(b) The state of Tennessee may enter into agreements with another state and/or the United States to purchase materials and services to carry out the purposes of a federal-state program. This agreement may be part of a series of the agreements whereas one (1) state or the United States has agreed to serve as a “lead state” and purchase materials and/or services from one (1) or more contractors, and resell these materials and services to the state of Tennessee and other states.

(c) The state of Tennessee may serve as a “lead state” and thus agree to purchase materials and/or services from one (1) or more contractors, and resell some of these materials and services to one (1) or more other states.

(d) No contract authorized under subsections (a)-(c) may be signed unless the contract is for goods and services necessary for a federal-state program, the procurement is legally acceptable under the laws of the federal government and those of all participating states, and unless the procurement has received federal government authorization.

(e) The contracts authorized under subsections (a)-(c) may be entered into with one (1) or more states or the United States and one (1) or more contractors as defined in § 12-11-102.

(f) Any contract authorized by this section may be negotiated and entered into without regard to the requirements for competitive bidding of chapter 3 of this title and the requirements of former § 12-4-109 [See the Compiler’s Notes]. Such exemptions must be approved in writing by the commissioner of the agency of the state of Tennessee authorized to manage the joint federal-state program, the commissioner of finance and administration and the comptroller of the treasury.