In order to accomplish the purposes of section 17.101 , the commissioner may participate jointly with private persons in appropriate programs and projects and may enter into contracts to carry out those programs and projects. The contracts may not include the acquisition of land or buildings and are not subject to the provisions of chapter 16C relating to competitive bidding.
The commissioner may spend money appropriated for the purposes of section 17.101 in the same manner that private persons, firms, corporations, and associations make expenditures for these purposes, and expenditures made pursuant to section 17.101 for food, lodging, or travel are not governed by the travel rules of the commissioner of management and budget.