The Common Application is a not-for-profit membership organization (501c (3)) incorporated in the State of Virginia. This organization is an association of member colleges and universities that is organized and operated exclusively for the educational purpose of helping members receive admission applications from student applicants. Membership is open to colleges and universities that promote access by evaluating students using a holistic selection process.

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes in the procurement code because the procurement expenditure is a membership in professional, academic, or athletic organizations on behalf of a public institution of higher education, an employee of a public institution of higher education, or a student at a public institution of higher education.