Purchasing/Stores Glossary of Terms

Glossary Terms Beginning with "C"

C & S
Cancel and Superseding order. See University of Washington Policies & Procedures, Purchasing Department, Procedure 7.6.2.

C
A large C on the face of the requisition in blue, black or green ink indicates the requisition is closed.

C.P.M.
Certified Purchasing Manager

CD
Cash Discount. See Cash Discount, Discount, Terms.

CDMRC
Child Development and Mental Retardation Center.

CFP
Cleared for Payment - Invoices processed through purchasing/accounts payable system are cleared for payment and sent to Payables and Accounting Operations for check processing. See University of Washington Policies & Procedures, Purchasing Department, Section 13.

CM
Credit Memo - Form used by Vendor to issue a credit.

COD
Cash on Delivery.

CSA
Classified Staff Association (the Union that represents those that are part of the bargaining unit.)

CTI
Cost Transfer Invoice - Internal invoice used by authorized budgets, primarily Cost Centers, to transfer costs from one campus budget to another.

Can't Finds
Are problems or invoices which can't be handled because the corresponding requisition can't be located.

Cancellation
Occurs when either party puts an end to the contract in writing.

Cash Discount
A discount from the purchase price allowed to the Purchaser if paid within a specified period. See Discounts.

Cash Transmittal
Form used to deposit checks or cash into University budgets.

Cash on Delivery (COD)
Payment due and payable upon delivery of goods. It is not possible to accept COD terms on a purchase order because the University has no means to make a COD payment.

Catalog Order
A Stores stock order. Also, term used in the Online Ordering system.

Centralized Purchasing
A system of purchasing in which the authority, responsibility, and control of purchasing activities is concentrated in one administrative unit.

Certificate of Compliance
A supplier's certification that the supplies or services in question meet certain specified requirements.

Certificate of Insurance
Contractor's official notice of insurance coverage as may be required for public works jobs, air and boat charters, and some types of maintenance/repair projects.

Certified Mail
To certify the delivery of important first class or priority mail having little or no monetary value. Not available for international mail. May request signed receipt of delivery if desired. See University of Washington Operations Manual, Volume II, D54.1, Attachment B.

Change Order
Collective term for C & S's and M & A's. See University of Washington Policies & Procedures, Purchasing Department, Procedure 7.6.2.

Client Relations
A program to encourage positive attitudes and efforts by employees in all central support divisions of the University in providing services to their clients, such as other campus departments.

Commitment
A contract, purchase order or other legal obligation for goods or services.

Commodity
A broad classification of items, i.e., furniture, electronics, computers, etc., assigned to a given Buyer to purchase.

Commodity
A product or supply item.

Compensating Tax
See Use Tax.

Competitive Bidding
An open, advertised solicitation to request the offer of prices by individuals or firms for a contract, privilege, or right to supply specified services or merchandise.

Concealed Damage
Damage to the contents of a package which is in good order externally.

Conditional Sales Agreement
The term is most frequently applied to a sale, wherein the seller reserves the title to the goods, though the possession is delivered to the Buyer, until the Purchase price is paid in full. However, at the University, we generally obtain title at the beginning and the Vendor retains a security interest in the materials or equipment until payment in full is made.

Confirming Order
A purchase order placed verbally, or otherwise to a Vendor, listing the goods or services, may require a written confirmation, i.e., a confirming order.

Conflict of Interest
A situation wherein an individual as part of his/her duties must make a decision or take action that will affect his/her personal interests.

Consignee
The person or organization to whom a shipper directs the carrier to deliver goods.

Contract
A deliberate verbal or written agreement between two or more competent persons to perform, or not to perform, a specific act or acts. A purchase order, when accepted by a vendor, becomes a contract.

Contract-Classified Staff
Employeed in positions covered by UW/CSA Collective Bargaining Agreements #54, and #55 (effective through 10/31/1999. Clerical Supervisory, Clerical Non-supervisory, Mediaaid Data Processing bargaining units). Contract-classified staff are assigned to class codes 7000-8999.

Contractor
One who contracts to perform work or furnish materials in accordance with a contract, i.e., vendor.

Copyright
The exclusive right to the publication, production, or sale of the rights to a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work granted by law for a specified period of time to an author, composer, artist or distributor.

Cost Sharing
When more than one budget is involved in paying for a given item(s).

Counter Offer
An offer to enter into a transaction on terms differing from those proposed. Vendors' acknowledgment forms given to a purchaser in response to a purchase order may be a counter offer, and therefore, should be checked carefully for discrepancies from the original order.

Counter Order
A Stores stock order that is picked up at the Stores counter.

Cycle Pay
Check writing schedule in Payables and Accounting Operations for making payments to vendors.