Tennessee Code Title 12. Public Property, Printing and Contracts § 12-3-1103

(a) The procurement commission is authorized to adopt rules and regulations establishing criteria and standards for minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, and small businesses that are eligible to be included under this part. The rules and regulations must include methods by which eligibility can be verified and the business deemed certified.

(b) Such criteria and standards for eligibility shall include, but not be limited to, the number of employees, the total gross receipts or annual sales volume, including ownership and control.

(c) The maximum number of employees and the maximum dollar value of a small business under such rules and regulations may vary from industry to industry to the extent necessary to reflect the differing characteristics of any relevant factors of each particular industry.

(d) The governor's office of diversity business enterprises shall implement and administer a certification program and publish a directory of businesses certified as small businesses and diversity business enterprises.

(e) Any business desiring to be certified as a small business or diversity business enterprise shall make application to the governor's office of diversity business enterprises on an application as prescribed by such office.