Dollar Threshold Requirements

Tennessee Code Annotated
Tennessee Attorney General Opinions
Reference Number: CTAS-918
Reference Number: 
CTAS-918
Purchasing Law Formal Bids Informal Bids Statute
County Purchasing Law of 1983 Public advertising & competitive bidding for purchases of $10,000 & over. CLB authorized to lower dollar amounts of competitive bidding. This act does not apply to counties with private acts if the private act provides for advertising & competitive bidding in excess of $10,000 or a lesser amount established by private act. Any purchase costing less than $10,000 may be made without competitive bids & public advertisement, but whenever possible be based on three (3) competitive bids.

Formal Bids - 5-14-204

Informal Bids - 5-14-205

CLB authorized to lower dollar  amount: 5-14-206
CFMS of 1981 The finance committee authorizes the dollar limits for competitive bids but not to exceed amount authorized by state law for the highway & education departments or other amounts established by law.   5-21-120(a)
County Purchasing Law of 1957 If the amount of the expenditure or sale is estimated to exceed $500, sealed bids shall be solicited, unless the CLB by resolution establishes a higher amount not to exceed $10,000 ($10,000 for the highway department). All purchases or sales not requiring bid solicitation may be made without competitive bids & public advertisement, but whenever possible be based on three (3) competitive bids.

Formal Bids - 5-14-108(c)(1)

Informal Bids - 5-14-108(d)(1) 
County Uniform Highway Law (CUHL) Public advertising & competitive bidding for purchases of $10,000 & over except for repair of heavy road building machinery or other heavy equipment or emergencies. Any purchase costing less than $10,000 may be made without competitive bids & public advertisement, but whenever possible be based on three (3) competitive bids.

Formal Bids - 54-7-113

Informal Bids -  54-7-113
Education Public advertising & competitive bidding for purchases of $10,000 & over except for emergencies. Contracts for construction or additions of existing buildings in excess of $10,000 made by competitive bids with at least 10 days advance public notice. Any purchase costing less than $10,000 may be made without competitive bids & public advertisement, but whenever possible be based on three (3) competitive bids.

Formal Bids - 49-2-203(a)(4)(A), 49-2-203(a) (4)(C)(1)

Informal Bids - 49-2-203
Counties over 150,000 Competitive sealed bids or proposals for non-emergency or non-propriety purchases for $10,000 and above. These counties may retain their present competitive bidding conditions or establish different limits by private act or charter provision. Authorized to make purchases under $10,000 without competitive bids. 12-3-1007
Counties with Centralized Purchasing Authority & Full-Time Purchasing Agent Any county municipality, utility district, LEA, or other local government entity with centralized purchasing authority and a full-time purchasing agent is authorized to increase, by resolution or ordinance, the formal bid threshold to an amount not to exceed $25,000, notwithstanding any charter provision, private act, or other law to the contrary. Requires at least 3 written quotations when possible for purchases between the bid threshold and 40% of the bid threshold (or a lower amount established by the governing body). 12-3-1212