Tennessee Code Title 12. Public Property, Printing and Contracts § 12-3-1212

(a) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, a county, municipality, utility district, or other local governmental entity having centralized purchasing authority with a full-time purchasing agent may, by resolution or ordinance of its governing body, increase the threshold over which public advertisement and sealed competitive bids or proposals are required to an amount not to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for nonemergency, nonproprietary purchases.

(b) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, a county, municipality, utility district, or other local governmental entity having non-centralized purchasing authority may, by resolution or ordinance of its governing body, increase the threshold over which public advertisement and sealed competitive bids or proposals are required to an amount not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for nonemergency, nonproprietary purchases.

(c) At least three (3) written quotations are required when possible for purchases costing less than the bid threshold established under subsection (a) or (b), but more than forty percent (40%) of such bid threshold or some lower amount as may be established by the governing body in a resolution. Purchases of like items must be aggregated for purposes of the bid threshold.

(d) For purposes of this section, a “full-time purchasing agent” means a person who devotes the whole of the person's working time to the demands and duties of the office of purchasing agent.