diff --git a/Modules/mip_parties.pck b/Modules/mip_parties.pck
index b60e225..84e2032 100644
--- a/Modules/mip_parties.pck
+++ b/Modules/mip_parties.pck
@@ -1,12 +1,6 @@
 CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE mip_parties AS
 
-  /*
-   PROCEDURE add_party
-   - allows an admin user to create new parties for use in the system
-   %param p_username - the name of the user to create
-   %param p_password - the password of the party
-   %p_role - the party's role in the system
-  */
+  FUNCTION is_tripartite(p_mktp_ref IN VARCHAR2) RETURN BOOLEAN; 
   FUNCTION get_user_id(p_username IN VARCHAR2) RETURN NUMBER;
   FUNCTION get_user_role(p_username IN VARCHAR2) RETURN VARCHAR2;
   --
@@ -192,6 +186,27 @@ CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE mip_parties AS
 END mip_parties;
 /
 CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY mip_parties AS
+  /*
+   FUNCTION is_tripartite
+   - This function searches the parties table with the supplied
+   - mktp_ref and returns true if the tripartite member column is yes.
+   %param p_mktp_ref - the market participant (supplier) to check.
+  */
+  FUNCTION is_tripartite(p_mktp_ref IN VARCHAR2) RETURN BOOLEAN AS
+    l_tripartite_status varchar2(3);
+    CURSOR c_tripartite IS
+      SELECT distinct tripartite_member FROM parties WHERE upper(mktp_ref) = upper(p_mktp_ref);
+  BEGIN
+    OPEN c_tripartite;
+    FETCH c_tripartite
+      INTO l_tripartite_status;
+    CLOSE c_tripartite;
+    if upper(l_tripartite_status) = 'YES' then
+      return TRUE;
+    else
+      return FALSE;
+    end if;
+  END is_tripartite;
   /*
    FUNCTION get_user_id
    - gets the primary key for a supplied username.  This function searches the parties