Whenever any state department or agency applies to the department of general services to lease or rent any equipment, the department of general services shall first ascertain whether or not any such equipment is available for use from any other department, institution, or agency. The department of general services shall have the power to request the transfer of any such equipment from one (1) department, institution, or agency to another with the approval of the head of the transferring department, institution, or agency.
T.C.A. § 12-3-104