Tenn. Code Ann. § 41-22-120

Exceptions from the operation of the mandatory provisions of §§ 41-22-118 — 41-22-124 may be made in any case where, in the opinion of the procurement commission, articles so produced or manufactured do not meet the reasonable requirements of a department, institution, agency or political subdivision of the state. No department, institution, agency or political subdivision may be allowed to evade the intent and meaning of this section by slight variations from standards adopted by the TRICOR board when articles produced or manufactured by it are certified pursuant to procedures approved by the procurement commission.