R.I. Gen. Laws § 37-2-74: Printing, binding, advertising, and election expenses.

All printing, binding, advertising, and election expenses in connection with all primaries and elections, advertising Rhode Island, and all legislative printing, including the printing of the public laws and acts and resolves, shall be purchased by the secretary of state and in respect to those purchases, the department of state shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter which relate to the function of purchasing.