Tennessee Code Title 4. State Government § 4-3-5504

(a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the information systems council shall, with the assistance and support of the department of general services and the department of finance and administration, be responsible for establishing the policy under which the state procures telecommunications, computer or computer-related equipment or services. The council, in establishing procurement policy, shall also have the ability to authorize research and development, including the procurement of equipment, for the purpose of improving the state's information system. The role of the council, in establishing such policy, shall not include the administrative or day-to-day operations of the procurement process, including, but not limited to, the selection of vendors to provide equipment or services and the resolution of protests. Such procurements shall be administered by either the department of general services or the department of finance and administration, or both, under present or future laws, rules and regulations governing procurements.

(b) It is the legislative intent that the information systems council, in establishing procurement policy pursuant to this section, select the purchasing method for a procurement that, in the sole discretion of the council, will produce the lowest and best overall costs to the state. In making the determination of which method would produce the lowest and best overall costs, the council shall consider, when appropriate, the costs of the hardware, software development, operations, maintenance, and such other factors as the council determines to be relevant.