Section 184. Articles manufactured to be furnished to the state or subdivisions thereof

1. The commissioner of  correctional  services  is  authorized  and  directed to cause to be manufactured or prepared by the
  inmates in the state  correctional  facilities,  such  articles  as  are
  needed  and used therein, and also, such articles as are required by the
  state or political subdivisions thereof, and in the  buildings,  offices
  and  public  institutions  owned or managed and controlled by the state,
  including articles and materials to be  used  in  the  erection  of  the
  buildings,  and  including material for the construction, improvement or
  repair of highways, streets and roads.
    2.  All  such  articles  manufactured  or  prepared   in   the   state
  correctional  facilities,  or  by  inmates,  and  not  required  for use
  therein, shall be of the styles, patterns, designs and  qualities  fixed
  by  the  department of correctional services, except where the same have
  been or may be fixed by the office of general services in the  executive
  department.  Such  articles  may  be  furnished  to the state, or to any
  political subdivision thereof, or for or to any public institution owned
  or managed and controlled by the state,  or  any  political  subdivision
  thereof,  government  of the United States or to any state of the United
  States or subdivision thereof or to any public  corporation,  authority,
  or  eleemosynary  association funded in whole or in part by any federal,
  state or local funds, at and for such  prices  as  shall  be  fixed  and
  determined  as hereinafter provided, upon the requisitions of the proper
  officials thereof. No article  so  manufactured  or  prepared  shall  be
  purchased from any other source, for the state or public institutions of
  the  state,  or  the  political  subdivisions thereof, or public benefit
  corporations, authorities or commissions,  unless  the  commissioner  of
  correctional  services  shall certify that the same can not be furnished
  upon such requisition, and no claim therefor shall be  audited  or  paid
  without such certificate.