Tennessee § 12-3-1203 - Purchases for other local governmental units.

§ 12-3-1203. Purchases for other local governmental units.

Any municipality, county, utility district, or other local governmental unit of the state may, upon request, purchase supplies, equipment, and services for any other municipality, county, utility district, or other local governmental unit. The purchases shall be made on the same terms and under the same rules and regulations as regular purchases of the purchasing entity. The cost of the purchase shall be borne by the local government for which the purchase was made. Where the local government making the request is required to advertise and receive bids, it shall be sufficient for those purposes that the purchasing entity comply only with its own purchasing requirements. Any local education agency (LEA) may purchase equipment under the same terms of a legal bid initiated by any other LEA in Tennessee. Any LEA may purchase directly from a vendor the same equipment at the same price and under the same terms as provided in a contract for such equipment entered into by any other LEA. Any LEA which purchases equipment under this subsection (b) shall directly handle payment, refunds, returns, and any other communications or requirements involved in the purchase of the equipment without involving the LEA which originated the contract. The originating LEA shall have no liability or responsibility for any purchases made by another LEA under a contract which the originating LEA negotiated and consummated. Any municipality, county, utility district, or other local governmental unit of this state may purchase supplies, goods, equipment, and services under contracts or price agreements entered into by any other local governmental unit of this state. Such purchases shall be made on the same terms and under the same rules and regulations as regular purchases of the purchasing entity. Any local governmental unit that purchases supplies, goods, equipment, or services under this section shall directly handle payment, refunds, returns, and any other communication or requirements involved in the purchase without involving the local governmental unit that originated the contract. The originating local governmental unit shall have no liability or responsibility for any purchases made by another local governmental unit under a contract that the originating local governmental unit negotiated and consummated. Where any local or private act, charter, or general law requires that a local governmental unit purchase by competitive bidding, the local governmental unit may, notwithstanding the local or private act, charter, or general law, purchase without public advertisement or competitive bidding in accordance with this section. This subsection (c) shall not apply to: Purchases of new or unused motor vehicles, unless the motor vehicles are manufactured for a special purpose as defined in § 12-3-1208; and Purchases related to any transportation infrastructure project, including, but not limited to, projects for the construction or improvement of streets, highways, bridges, tunnels, or any roadway related facility. Acts 1984, ch. 765, § 7; 2003, ch. 228, § 1; 2010, ch. 1067, § 2; 2012, ch. 600, §§ 1-3; 2013, ch. 329, § 1; T.C.A. § 12-3-1004 ; Acts 2013, ch. 403, § 68. Compiler's Notes. For the disposition of sections in title 12, ch. 3, as amended by Acts 2013, ch. 403, effective July 1, 2013, please see the table of disposition in § 12-3-101 . Former title 12, ch. 3, part 12, §§ 12-3-1201 , 12-3-1202 , concerning the purchase of computers and other electronic devices, was transferred to § 12-3-1211 , and former title 12, ch. 3, part 10, §§ 12-3-1001 — 12-7-1012 , was transferred to this part by Acts 2013, ch. 403, §§ 68-70, effective July 1, 2013. Attorney General Opinions. It would be possible for a local sheriff's office and a school board to combine their food procurement bids in order to take advantage of the higher total purchase amount so that both local governmental entities save money. OAG 15-31, 2015 Tenn. AG LEXIS 31 (4/2/15).