How not to buy something

Job hunting.
Not really but the un reality of some of the things at this job I am at make me so mad sometimes.
Item 1:
My boss wrote a memo on the 13 steps she needed to go through in order to buy something. You would think that this would send up some red flags and someone would off to help cut some of this stupid red tape before the next terrorist attack.
Wrong, instead the 13 steps have as of today become 15.

Item 2:
When buying some service what is most important:
a:lowest price
b: best quality service
c: minority participation.

The choices in order are c, a, b

Reverse of how it should be IMHO.
Maybe I slipped into a Bizarro universe when I wasn't looking.