NASHVILLE (AP) - The state has taken six sealed bids on Nashville office space with the intent of moving workers out of the state-owned Cordell Hull Building.

The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/12IXnkT) reported among the bids are those from Lifeway Christian Resources and Bellsouth Telecommunications LLC.

The offers were made last week under a process that also names Jones Lang LaSalle of Chicago as the state's broker, giving the real estate firm a 4 percent commission if a deal is closed. State officials plan to sign a deal by Aug. 19. The initial contract would move 301 Department of Children's Services employees into leased commercial space.

State officials cite a review performed by the broker in saying the six-decade-old building has a water seepage problem and it would cost more than $24 million to keep the building in use.

Officials say the state Open Records Law allows them to take bids under seal.

About 1,000 state employees work in the Cordell Hull Building, next to the state Capitol.

State documents say the government could lease up to 173,000 square feet of office space in Hamilton County and up to 100,000 square feet in Shelby County.

In Nashville, the bids are for 73,000 square feet.