Panel approves TBI lease amendment and waiver of advertisement for a Greene County correctional lease

The Executive Subcommittee approved two Department of General Services (DGS) items: a lease amendment for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and a waiver of advertisement to negotiate a lease for the Department of Correction in Greene County.

Deputy Commissioner John Hull said the TBI lease amendment authorizes a one‑time payment of $171,200 to cover additional garage items discovered after construction began. "They need proper ventilation, fire suppression, carbon monoxide detectors, in that area. And, also, because Davidson County is considered to be a higher security risk area, they need bulletproof windows and additional light poles, in the parking area for safety and security," Hull said. He added the lease's commencement is still expected by October 2025. Commissioners approved the amendment by voice vote.

Hull also asked approval to waive advertisement for a Greene County Department of Correction lease, allowing DGS to negotiate directly with the incumbent landlord who had won a prior long‑term lease award. Hull said the landlord's construction bids were "more than double the anticipated cost they built into their rental rate" and the landlord had incurred a financial hardship. The waiver permits negotiating a short‑term lease and an option to cancel that short‑term lease if the state commences a long‑term lease within three years. The committee approved the waiver by voice vote.

Both items were presented as procurement exceptions; no roll call tallies were recorded in the public discussion.