Educational recognition can be an important part of a youth rehabilitation program. Students may complete high school requirements, earn a GED or high school equivalency credential, finish career and technical education, complete vocational training, earn certificates or participate in college-level educational programs.
When these milestones are recognized through a ceremony, administrators may need youth rehabilitation bachelors graduation regalia such as gowns, mortarboard caps, tassels, certificate covers, diploma covers, stoles, achievement cords and degree-specific academic apparel.
The best purchasing approach is to match the products to the actual educational accomplishment. A student completing a workforce certificate does not necessarily need the same apparel as a high school graduate, while a college degree recipient may have specific academic dress requirements established by the awarding institution.
Plan the Ceremony Around Educational Achievement
Before selecting graduation merchandise, identify the educational milestones that will be recognized.
Programs May Recognize:
- High school diploma completion
- GED or high school equivalency achievement
- Academic credit completion
- Career and technical education
- Vocational training
- Occupational skills development
- Workforce-readiness programs
- Employment-preparation education
- Apprenticeship-related learning
- Industry credential preparation
- Certificate programs
- Dual-enrollment accomplishments
- Community college coursework
- College certificates
- Associate degrees where applicable
- Other approved educational milestones
Actual opportunities vary among youth rehabilitation programs, government agencies, schools and educational partners. Administrators should verify the current programs and credentials before ordering graduation supplies.
Determine the Type of Recognition Event
Not every educational milestone requires the same ceremony format. A program can select a level of recognition based on the credential, institutional requirements and available budget.
Certificate Recognition Ceremony
This format may be appropriate for workforce, vocational or educational certificate programs.
- Certificate
- Certificate cover
- Approved recognition cord
- Optional stole
Traditional Graduation Ceremony
This format can be considered for high school diploma and GED completion.
- Graduation gown
- Mortarboard cap
- Tassel
- Diploma or certificate cover
Academic Degree Ceremony
Participants earning college degrees may require institution-specific academic regalia.
- Degree-appropriate gown
- Required academic headwear
- Tassel
- Academic hood where required
- Diploma cover
High School Graduation Supplies
Youth rehabilitation education programs may work with public schools, state-operated schools, alternative schools or other educational providers that award high school diplomas.
If another school or school district grants the diploma, its graduation requirements should be reviewed before purchasing apparel.
High School Products May Include:
- Graduation gown
- Mortarboard
- Tassel
- Diploma cover
- Approved honor cords
- Approved graduation stoles
GED Graduation Supplies
Students completing a GED or high school equivalency program may be recognized with a traditional graduation package when appropriate.
A GED Recognition Package May Include:
- Standard graduation gown
- Mortarboard
- Tassel
- Certificate cover
Programs may also choose a simplified recognition format using only the certificate and presentation cover.
Keep GED Recognition Separate From College Academic Regalia
GED completion does not normally require degree-specific products such as academic hoods or doctoral headwear.
A standard gown, cap and tassel can create a formal commencement appearance without using regalia associated with college degrees.
Graduation Supplies for Career and Technical Education
Career and technical education may focus on occupational preparation, practical skills and career pathways. Programs can recognize completion with traditional graduation apparel or a certificate-focused ceremony.
Possible Products Include:
- Standard gown
- Mortarboard where appropriate
- Tassel
- Certificate cover
- Achievement cord
- Program stole
The ceremony should clearly identify the actual achievement rather than implying that every vocational credential is a college degree.
Vocational Training Recognition
Vocational education may include a variety of career-focused programs. Recognition products can provide consistency across different training areas while allowing the educational organization to define distinctions where appropriate.
A Vocational Package Might Include:
- Graduation gown
- Cap where appropriate
- Tassel
- Certificate cover
- Approved cord or stole
Workforce-Readiness Programs
Workforce-development and employment-readiness programs may not require full graduation apparel.
A Simplified Package Could Include:
- Completion certificate
- Certificate cover
- Approved achievement cord
- Optional program stole
Where the program prefers a more formal ceremony, a standard bachelors graduation gown can also be considered.
College Programs Require Separate Academic Apparel Planning
If participants earn college credentials, administrators should obtain academic apparel specifications from the college or university awarding the credential.
Verify:
- Degree or credential type
- Required gown style
- Required gown color
- Academic headwear
- Tassel requirements
- Academic hood requirements
- Institution-specific commencement rules
Associate Degree Regalia
Associate degree graduation apparel varies among institutions. Some colleges use standard academic gowns and mortarboards, while others have specific color or apparel requirements.
The awarding institution should provide the current specification.
Bachelor’s Degree Regalia
Bachelor’s graduates may wear institution-approved gowns, mortarboards and tassels.
Do not automatically include an academic hood. Many institutions do not require bachelor’s graduates to wear hoods.
Master’s Degree Regalia
Master’s academic apparel may include a master’s gown, academic hood, tassel and specified headwear.
The hood should be selected according to the actual degree and institution requirements.
Doctoral Degree Regalia
Doctoral graduation apparel may include:
- Doctoral gown
- Doctoral hood
- Academic tam or other required headwear
- Tassel
Because doctoral regalia can vary considerably, precise specifications should be obtained before ordering.
Selecting Standard Graduation Gowns
For GED, vocational and other non-degree recognition events, one standardized gown can make purchasing easier.
Compare Products Based On:
- Available colors
- Matte or shiny finish
- Fabric
- Construction
- Size range
- Extended-size availability
- Current inventory
- Matching cap availability
- Whether tassels are included
- Replacement availability
- Institutional pricing
Matte vs. Shiny Graduation Gowns
Matte gowns offer a softer appearance with less shine. Shiny gowns have a more reflective finish.
Neither finish is universally required for youth rehabilitation education programs. The choice can be based on ceremony style, school requirements, availability and budget.
Choosing Graduation Gown Colors
There is no single universal graduation gown color for youth rehabilitation education.
Programs Can Consider:
- School requirements
- Educational partner preferences
- Existing ceremony traditions
- Available colors
- Availability across all required sizes
- Potential future reuse
- Budget
Commercial colors should not be represented as official youth rehabilitation or government colors unless the responsible organization has formally established them.
Choose the Gown Before Collecting Sizes
Graduation gown sizing can vary between products. One supplier’s size ranges should not automatically be applied to another supplier’s gown.
Use This Process:
- Select the intended gown
- Obtain the current sizing guide
- Collect the information required by that guide
- Assign participants to the appropriate categories
- Identify extended sizes
- Total the quantity required in each size
Do Not Use Age Alone for Youth Gown Sizing
Students of the same age can have very different height and fit requirements. Age alone is therefore not a reliable method of selecting graduation gown size.
Use the actual product’s sizing method.
Prepare a Size Distribution
Institutional suppliers can usually work from total quantities within each gown size category.
Example:
- Size group A — 8 gowns
- Size group B — 13 gowns
- Size group C — 20 gowns
- Size group D — 16 gowns
- Size group E — 10 gowns
- Extended sizes — 5 gowns
This example is illustrative. Actual size categories should come from the selected gown’s current chart.
Check Extended Sizes Before Finalizing the Product
Extended sizes may have different inventory availability than standard ranges.
Include all sizing needs in the original product inquiry so the program can confirm that the selected gown style and color can serve the full group.
Protect Student Privacy
A commercial supplier generally needs sizing, quantities and product specifications—not unrelated student records.
Where institutional policies permit, aggregate order information can reduce unnecessary sharing of personally identifying information.
Graduation Cap Planning
Some gown packages include mortarboards, while others sell caps separately.
Verify:
- Whether caps are included
- Total quantity
- Cap color
- Replacement availability
- Whether individual caps can be purchased
Graduation Tassel Planning
Tassels can be selected based on school requirements, program preferences and available colors.
Document:
- Tassel color
- Quantity
- Dated or undated style
- Graduation-year charm where applicable
- Which student group receives each tassel
Balance Dated and Reusable Merchandise
Year-specific tassels and charms can be appropriate for a particular ceremony but have limited future use.
Undated merchandise can provide more flexibility for replacement stock or future events.
Certificate Covers as a Flexible Recognition Product
Certificate covers can be used across high school, GED, vocational, workforce and other educational programs.
They can also be purchased independently of full cap-and-gown sets.
Before Ordering, Confirm:
- Document width
- Document height
- Portrait or landscape orientation
- Cover dimensions
- Interior configuration
- Quantity
Blank Certificate Covers
Blank covers may work well for programs recognizing multiple types of achievement throughout the year.
If documents use compatible dimensions, standardized covers may help simplify recurring purchasing.
Custom Certificate Covers
Customized covers may include approved program names, school names or authorized artwork.
Customization Can Affect:
- Minimum quantities
- Artwork preparation
- Proof approval
- Production schedule
- Unit price
- Future reuse
Use Logos and Government Marks Only With Authorization
Government seals, youth services logos, school district marks, college trademarks and other protected branding should only be reproduced when proper authorization exists.
A supplier’s ability to print artwork does not itself establish authorization to use that artwork.
Graduation Stoles for Program Recognition
Stoles can be considered when they represent a defined educational distinction.
Possible Uses Include:
- Program completion
- Academic achievement
- Career-training recognition
- Leadership
- Educational partner participation
- Another approved distinction
There is no universal stole-color system for youth rehabilitation education programs.
Honor and Achievement Cords
Cords can provide an additional way to recognize approved achievements.
Determine:
- Eligibility
- Meaning
- Color
- Quantity
- Whether institutional approval is required
Commercial cord colors should not be given unsupported universal meanings.
Build Product Packages by Achievement
Instead of giving every participant the same products, administrators can create packages that reflect the credential.
Example:
- High school graduate — school-approved gown, cap, tassel and diploma cover
- GED graduate — standard gown, mortarboard, tassel and certificate cover
- Vocational completer — gown where appropriate, tassel and certificate cover
- Workforce completer — certificate cover and approved cord
- College certificate recipient — institution-approved products
- College degree recipient — degree-specific academic regalia
Determine Quantities Product by Product
Total ceremony headcount should not automatically determine the number of every item ordered.
For Example, 120 Participants Might Require:
- 87 standard gowns
- 87 mortarboards
- 87 tassels
- 112 certificate or diploma covers
- 24 achievement cords
- 15 stoles
- 6 college regalia packages
The actual quantities should follow the recognition package assigned to each participant group.
Create an Institutional Product Worksheet
Useful Columns Include:
- Program
- Credential
- Recognition package
- Product
- Color
- Size
- Quantity
- Standard or custom
- Required or optional
- Required delivery date
- Approved delivery destination
Separate Essential Products From Optional Products
Essential Products May Include:
- Graduation gown
- Cap
- Tassel
- Certificate or diploma cover
Optional or Credential-Specific Products May Include:
- Graduation stoles
- Honor cords
- Achievement cords
- Graduation-year charms
- Customized covers
- Academic hoods
- Specialized degree regalia
This can help administrators prioritize products when working within a limited ceremony budget.
Small Orders for Individual Programs
Some youth rehabilitation programs may have small graduating groups or recognize students throughout the year instead of holding one large annual ceremony.
Programs can ask whether gowns, caps, tassels and certificate covers are available individually and whether minimum quantities apply.
Bulk Orders for Larger Education Systems
State, county or regional organizations may need coordinated graduation products for multiple programs or locations.
Bulk Orders Can Include:
- Graduation gowns by size
- Mortarboard caps
- Tassels
- Certificate covers
- Diploma covers
- Graduation stoles
- Honor cords
- Achievement cords
- Degree-specific academic apparel
Institutional Review Should Occur Before the Purchase
When graduation merchandise will be used inside a residential, secure or controlled youth rehabilitation environment, the responsible organization should determine whether product review is required.
Products routinely used at ordinary school ceremonies should not automatically be assumed to be acceptable in every institutional setting.
Review May Include:
- Graduation gowns
- Mortarboards
- Tassels
- Decorative charms
- Stoles
- Cords
- Certificate covers
- Diploma covers
- Academic hoods
- Academic headwear
- Custom decorations
- Packaging materials
Commercial Products Are Not Automatically “Facility Approved”
A commercial supplier should not describe graduation products as “rehabilitation approved,” “facility approved,” “security approved,” “correctional approved” or “institution compliant” unless the applicable authority has actually established that approval.
The responsible organization determines whether the merchandise is acceptable for its environment.
Ask for Product Specifications When Required
If institutional personnel need more information before approving a product, the purchasing organization can request available specifications from the supplier.
Completing product review before a large order can reduce the risk of purchasing merchandise that cannot be used as intended.
Identify the Legal Purchasing Organization
The education team planning the ceremony may not be the entity that issues payment.
The Purchaser Could Be:
- State government agency
- County government
- Youth services department
- Juvenile justice agency
- School district
- State-operated school
- Educational provider
- College
- Authorized nonprofit organization
- Another approved program partner
Identifying the legal buyer early can simplify quotes, billing and procurement documentation.
Prepare a Clear Request for Quote
A structured RFQ allows suppliers to price the same merchandise and makes comparisons more useful.
Include:
- Credential groups
- Recognition packages
- Gown style
- Gown color
- Gown finish
- Quantity by size
- Extended sizes
- Cap quantity
- Tassel specifications
- Certificate-cover dimensions
- Diploma-cover requirements
- Stole and cord quantities
- Academic apparel specifications
- Customization requirements
- Required delivery date
- Approved delivery destination
Compare Equivalent Product Packages
Supplier pricing can appear very different when package contents are not the same.
One quotation may include a gown, cap and tassel, while another may quote only the gown.
Compare:
- Product specifications
- Package contents
- Unit price
- Extended-size charges
- Accessory costs
- Customization charges
- Shipping
- Multiple-location charges where applicable
- Total delivered cost
Calculate Cost by Recognition Package
Different student groups can have very different product costs.
Consider Calculating:
- High school package cost
- GED package cost
- Vocational recognition cost
- Certificate-only package cost
- College academic regalia cost
Ask About Institutional and Volume Pricing
Government agencies and educational programs can ask whether institutional pricing is available for qualifying quantities.
Actual pricing may depend on product type, quantity, sizing, customization, inventory and shipping configuration.
Confirm Inventory Across the Complete Order
Do not rely only on total gown inventory.
Verify Availability Of:
- Every standard gown size
- Extended sizes
- Selected colors
- Mortarboards
- Tassels
- Certificate covers
- Diploma covers
- Stoles
- Cords
- Degree-specific academic products
Separate Stock Merchandise From Custom Merchandise
Products That May Be Stocked Include:
- Standard graduation gowns
- Mortarboards
- Standard tassels
- Selected certificate covers
- Selected cords
Products That May Require Additional Production Time Include:
- Custom graduation stoles
- Customized diploma covers
- Customized certificate covers
- Special academic hoods
- Custom doctoral apparel
- Other personalized merchandise
Plan Around the Longest-Lead-Time Product
If gowns are stocked but custom stoles require additional production, the order schedule should be built around the custom product rather than the gown alone.
Build the Timeline Backward From the Ceremony Date
Allow Time For:
- Final participant confirmation
- Credential verification
- Product selection
- Size collection
- Institutional product review
- RFQ preparation
- Supplier quotation
- Procurement approval
- Artwork authorization
- Custom production
- Supplier processing
- Shipping
- Institutional receiving
- Shipment inspection
- Internal distribution
Expedited Shipping Does Not Eliminate Other Lead Times
Expedited carrier service may shorten transportation for qualifying stocked merchandise.
It does not remove procurement, customization, production, product review or receiving requirements.
Confirm the Approved Receiving Address
The public address associated with a youth rehabilitation facility or educational program may not be the correct destination for commercial deliveries.
Verify:
- Legal purchasing organization
- Facility or program name
- Receiving department
- Approved commercial delivery address
- Attention line
- Purchase order or reference number
- Required carton labeling
- Carrier instructions where applicable
Coordinate Multi-Site Orders Carefully
A government organization may operate youth education programs at several locations.
Where purchasing policies allow, centralized purchasing can be evaluated while preserving separate size and quantity allocations for each location.
Potential Advantages Include:
- Consistent gown specifications
- Combined purchasing quantities
- Potential volume pricing
- Standardized accessories
- Simplified supplier evaluation
- Easier recurring purchases
Include Split Shipping in the Quote
If merchandise will be delivered to several locations, provide the supplier with destination-specific quantities before the quote is finalized.
This allows any additional packaging, handling or transportation costs to be included in the total comparison.
Government and Institutional Procurement Requirements
If public funds are used, the responsible purchasing organization should determine the procurement process applicable to the transaction.
Possible Purchasing Methods May Include:
- Direct purchase where authorized
- Written supplier quotation
- Multiple competitive quotes
- Formal solicitation
- Purchase order
- Authorized purchasing card
- Existing contract vehicle
- Another approved purchasing method
Formal Institutional Quotations
A graduation supplier may be able to prepare a written quotation identifying:
- Supplier information
- Products
- Quantities
- Unit prices
- Extended totals
- Shipping
- Applicable transaction terms
Verify Purchase-Order Acceptance
Some government and educational institutions use purchase orders, but supplier acceptance can depend on the specific transaction.
Confirm current PO capability and applicable payment terms before an organization issues a purchase order.
Vendor Registration Requirements Vary
Government agencies, school systems and other public purchasers may require vendor registration or supporting procurement documentation.
The purchasing organization should determine the applicable requirements and verify supplier status through its official process.
Do Not Assume Government Contract Status
A commercial graduation supplier serving public institutions is not automatically a government contractor, approved rehabilitation-program vendor, contract holder or preferred supplier.
Such descriptions should only be used when the specific status actually exists and can be substantiated.
Youth Rehabilitation Graduation Purchasing Checklist
- Identify educational accomplishments
- Confirm participant eligibility
- Separate participants by credential
- Select the appropriate recognition format
- Create product packages
- Verify high school requirements
- Verify college requirements where applicable
- Select standard gowns
- Select color and finish
- Obtain the current size chart
- Collect sizing information
- Identify extended sizes
- Calculate quantities by size
- Determine cap quantities
- Select tassels
- Choose dated or undated accessories
- Measure certificates and diplomas
- Select presentation covers
- Define stole requirements
- Define cord requirements
- Identify academic hoods where applicable
- Identify custom merchandise
- Confirm branding authorization
- Complete institutional product review
- Create a central purchasing worksheet
- Identify the legal buyer
- Prepare a detailed RFQ
- Compare equivalent supplier quotes
- Ask about institutional pricing
- Verify inventory across all sizes
- Identify custom-product lead times
- Follow applicable procurement procedures
- Confirm PO acceptance where needed
- Verify the approved delivery location
- Order with sufficient lead time
- Inspect merchandise before the ceremony
Questions to Ask an Institutional Graduation Supplier
- Which standard graduation gowns are available?
- Which colors can be supplied across all required sizes?
- What sizing chart applies?
- Are youth and adult sizing options available where appropriate?
- Are extended sizes available?
- Can individual replacement gowns be ordered?
- Are mortarboards included?
- Are tassels included?
- Are dated and undated tassels available?
- Which certificate-cover sizes are available?
- Are diploma covers available?
- Are graduation stoles available?
- Are honor and achievement cords available?
- Can degree-specific academic apparel be supplied?
- Can academic hoods be supplied according to institution requirements?
- Can authorized custom merchandise be produced?
- Can product specifications be provided for institutional review?
- Can a formal institutional quotation be prepared?
- Is institutional or volume pricing available?
- Which products are stocked?
- Which products require additional production?
- What processing times apply?
- What shipping services are available?
- Can merchandise be organized by program or destination?
- Can multiple approved delivery locations be supported?
- Are purchase orders accepted for qualifying transactions?
Cap and Gown Outlet for Youth Rehabilitation Education Orders
Cap and Gown Outlet is an independent academic regalia supplier that can be evaluated by youth rehabilitation education programs, government agencies, school districts, state-operated schools, vocational education providers, workforce organizations, colleges and other qualifying institutional purchasers.
Relevant merchandise can include graduation gowns, mortarboard caps, tassels, certificate covers, diploma covers, graduation stoles, honor cords, achievement cords and degree-specific academic regalia where appropriate.
Potential Institutional Ordering Capabilities
- Individual graduation products
- Small-group quantities
- Bulk institutional orders
- No minimum quantity where applicable
- Multiple graduation gown sizes
- Youth and adult sizing where available
- Extended sizes where available
- Multiple gown colors
- Matte and shiny gown options where available
- Mortarboard caps
- Graduation tassels
- Certificate covers
- Diploma covers
- Graduation stoles
- Honor and achievement cords
- Degree-specific academic apparel where appropriate
- Formal institutional quotations
- Institutional or volume pricing
- Nationwide U.S. shipping
- Fast processing for qualifying stocked merchandise
- Expedited shipping options where available
Current inventory, minimum quantities, sizing, customization, pricing, institutional pricing, processing time, shipping options, purchase-order acceptance, payment terms and transaction-specific government purchasing capabilities should be confirmed before ordering.
Independent Supplier and Non-Affiliation Disclosure
Cap and Gown Outlet is an independent commercial academic regalia supplier. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, authorized by, or acting on behalf of any youth rehabilitation facility; juvenile justice agency; youth services department; correctional agency; federal, state, county or local government; school district; school; college; university; credentialing organization; or other government or educational entity unless a specific official relationship has actually been established.
References to youth rehabilitation education, youth education programs, GED programs, vocational training, workforce education and government purchasing describe potential institutional applications for commercially available graduation merchandise. They do not establish facility approval, government endorsement, procurement award, contract status or approved-vendor designation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Youth Rehabilitation Graduation Regalia
Can youth rehabilitation education programs purchase graduation caps and gowns?
Yes. Programs can evaluate commercially available graduation apparel for high school, GED, vocational and other educational recognition events, subject to applicable institutional requirements.
Can high school graduates wear traditional school graduation regalia?
Potentially. The school or district awarding the diploma should confirm any required gown, cap, tassel or accessory specifications.
Can GED students participate in a cap-and-gown ceremony?
Yes. Programs may consider a standard gown, mortarboard, tassel and certificate cover when a traditional graduation format is appropriate.
Do GED graduates need academic hoods?
No. Academic hoods generally should not be treated as standard GED graduation merchandise.
Can vocational students be recognized with graduation apparel?
Yes. Standard graduation products may be used for vocational recognition when the ceremony clearly identifies the actual credential being celebrated.
Can a workforce program hold a certificate-only ceremony?
Yes. Programs may use certificates and presentation covers without requiring a full cap-and-gown package.
Can certificate covers be ordered separately?
Yes, where available. They can be useful for programs that do not need complete graduation sets.
Is there an official graduation gown color for youth rehabilitation education?
No universal commercial gown color applies to all youth rehabilitation education programs.
Can programs use stoles and honor cords?
Potentially. The responsible educational organization should establish what each product represents and complete any required institutional review.
Can smaller programs purchase only a few graduation products?
Individual products and small quantities may be available depending on the merchandise selected.
Can several locations combine graduation orders?
Potentially, where the purchasing organization’s procedures permit centralized procurement. Quantities and delivery requirements should still be documented by location.
Are commercially available graduation products automatically approved for rehabilitation facilities?
No. Product availability does not establish institutional approval. The responsible organization determines whether proposed merchandise is acceptable for its environment.
Can a government agency logo be printed on graduation products?
Only when the purchaser has appropriate authorization to reproduce the applicable logo, seal or other protected mark.
Can a supplier prepare a formal institutional quote?
A supplier may be able to provide a written quotation based on the requested products, quantities, specifications and delivery requirements.
Can a government youth program purchase graduation products using a PO?
Some qualifying transactions may support purchase orders. The purchasing organization should confirm its procurement requirements and the supplier’s current PO acceptance before issuance.
How early should youth rehabilitation programs order graduation supplies?
Programs should allow time for participant confirmation, sizing, institutional review, quotations, procurement, customization where applicable, supplier processing, shipping, receiving and inspection.
Building an Efficient Youth Rehabilitation Graduation Supply Order
Begin by identifying the educational achievement that each participant will receive. Separate high school, GED, vocational, workforce, certificate and college groups before selecting merchandise.
Use certificate-focused recognition where appropriate, traditional caps and gowns for formal graduation ceremonies and degree-specific academic apparel only when the actual credential requires it.
Select the gown before collecting final sizes, include extended sizes during the initial inventory check and measure certificates and diplomas before purchasing presentation covers.
For programs operating in controlled or residential settings, complete any required institutional review before placing the final order. Commercial availability should never be confused with facility approval.
For larger purchases, create a detailed product worksheet and RFQ, compare equivalent merchandise, calculate total delivered cost and verify inventory across every required size.
Finally, identify the actual purchasing organization, follow its applicable procurement procedures, verify purchase-order requirements where relevant and confirm the approved commercial receiving destination before shipment.
Cap and Gown Outlet can be evaluated as an independent commercial source for graduation gowns, caps, tassels, certificate covers, diploma covers, stoles, cords and degree-appropriate academic regalia for qualifying youth rehabilitation education programs, subject to current availability, institutional requirements and applicable purchasing procedures.
