1. The director in compliance with the provisions of chapters 8 and 34 shall purchase, lease, or otherwise provide suitable plants, machinery and equipment and purchase materials to put the vocational enterprise programs into effect. The department may lease or purchase lands and buildings for the operation and administration of the vocational enterprises program.

2. The director may lease farm properties under the department’s control on terms and amounts which are fair and reasonable. All moneys received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the working capital revolving fund.

3. The department may purchase in accordance with chapter 34 such raw materials as may be required for any industry service or agribusiness operation now or hereafter carried on by the department and may employ such outside help as may be necessary.

4. The commissioner of administration may waive competitive bids and purchase required supplies for vocational enterprises on the open market if they can be so purchased at a better price or for delivery necessary to meet a current production requirement of vocational enterprises. The commissioner of administration may also purchase on the open market used equipment for the manufacturing, service, vocational training, or agribusiness operations of vocational enterprises if the department director certifies that the purchase price of such equipment is equal to or lower than the current market value of such equipment.

5. The department shall be responsible for all articles manufactured, services provided, or products grown or processed by the vocational enterprises program, and shall act as a distributing agent for the manufacturing, service and production carried on in its correctional centers, with authority to appoint agents or salespersons. The director shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the factories, services, vocational training, and agribusiness and shall establish such rules and regulations as are deemed necessary.