The State Department of Corrections shall cause to be prepared, annually, at times it may determine, catalogues containing the description of all articles and products manufactured or produced under its supervision pursuant to the provisions of this article. Copies of this catalogue must be sent by it to all offices, departments, institutions, and agencies of this State and made accessible to all political subdivisions of this State referred to in §§ 24-3-310 to 24-3-330. At least thirty days before the beginning of each fiscal year, the proper official of each office, department, institution, or agency, when required by the Department of Corrections, shall report to the department estimates for fiscal year of the kind and amount of articles and products reasonably required for the ensuing year, referring in the estimates to the catalogue issued by the department insofar as articles and products indicated are included in this catalogue. However, nothing in this chapter prohibits a state office, department, institution, or agency or the political subdivisions of this State from contacting and requesting the Department of Corrections to manufacture or produce articles or products similar, but not identical, to articles or products listed in the catalogue.