A brief summary of the departments and commission included in the Governor's Office of Diversity Business Enterprise is listed below:

The Department encourages economic growth, assists Tennessee communities in preparing and competing for economic development and job creation opportunities, offers support services for entrepreneurs, existing industries and new firms, while marketing the state and recruiting new industries domestically and internationally.

The Department of Finance and Administration (F&A) also acts as the chief corporate office of state government. Many complex processes are required to achieve this mission. The governor's proposed budget for state government is developed with the oversight of the commissioner, the governor's chief financial officer. Centralized accounting and financial reporting of the state's financial activity is also managed by the department. Other processes which provide state government with the necessary infrastructure to work effectively are an information resources service, capital project management, real property management, employee insurance administration, and resource development and support.

Professional Services

The state of Tennessee serves citizens in a multitude of ways using many methods including outsourcing through professional service contracts.   Tennessee's system for buying these services is unique.  It does not follow the model found in other states in which a large, rule-laden, centralized bureaucracy is responsible for service procurement.  The "centralized" model seems to have a significant history of overpriced projects and failures to buy what was really sought by program staff and needed by citizens.  Neither does Tennessee's system for buying services follow the model of total decentralization which is characterized by a potential for a lack of controls and accountability.

Outsourcing and service contracting by Tennessee state government is decentralized.  It is predominately the responsibility of each state agency guided by the state's service contracting rules.  Each agency has responsibility for compiling lists of potential contractors, evaluating proposals, selecting contractors and grantees, drafting agreements, and managing contracts for the delivery of services either to the state or third party beneficiaries.  Although these processes are decentralized, F&A is mandated by statute to serve as a centralized, review and approval function within state government.

F&A oversees the execution of the state's personal, professional, and consultant service contracting rules. F&A's statutory, service procurement responsibilities have established it as Tennessee's central oversight agency for service procurement.  While maintaining its oversight role, F&A staff work to assist other state staff in achieving procurement goals while protecting the taxpayers’ interests.  In administering the state's service contracting rules and the related contract approval process, F&A staff: (1) consult with state agencies toward ensuring that contracts achieve their goals and protect the state interests; (2) review and approve service contracts; and (3) coordinate with all entities that must approve each contract.  In this role F&A also maintains the on-line, Service Provider Registry and the Internet site where all RFPs and Related Notices are posted for public review.

The Department provides support services to state government, including procurement of goods and services, management of state owned and leased buildings, motor vehicles management, equipment, surplus property, printing and photographic services, postal services, food services, records management and central stores.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation is responsible for transportation - aviation, public transit, waterways and railroads. The department's involvement ranges from airport improvements to funding transit buses to planning for river ports. Aviation safety, transit management, railroad rehabilitation and mobility for our elderly and handicapped are recognized by the department as important elements in Tennessee's overall transportation system as we approach the next century.

The State Building Commission oversees construction of all State public buildings. The Commission's responsibility includes authority over most acquisition, disposal, improvement or demolition of real property owned by the State with the exclusion of roads, highways, and bridges. In addition, its authority extends to the leasing of real property as well as disposal by lease of State property.  

The Department of Finance & Administration's Division of Real Property Administration is the implementation arm of the State Building Commission.  It is responsible for buying many construction and real property-related goods and services.