Fluid Milk Manufacturing

NAICS 311511 (Fluid Milk Manufacturing) encompasses the production and processing of fresh, fluid milk products including whole milk, reduced fat milk, skim milk, and flavored milk varieties. Manufacturers in this category pasteurize, homogenize, and package milk for distribution to consumers, institutions, and commercial food service operations. These businesses transform raw milk into various consumer-ready dairy products through processing and packaging techniques that ensure product quality, safety, and shelf stability.

Federal contract awards in this NAICS category demonstrate consistent procurement of milk and dairy products primarily by the Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service. Contract values range from approximately $10,000 to $1.2 million, with performance periods typically spanning one to five years. Frequently awarded entities include regional dairy companies such as Dairy Farmers of America, Hiland Dairy, Prairie Farms, Hollandia Dairy, and Upstate Niagara Cooperative. Most awards utilize firm-fixed price contract types, with approximately 40% designated as total small business set-asides. Delivery locations predominantly include federal correctional facilities, veterans medical centers, and domestic food assistance program distribution centers.

Recent federal contract opportunities within this NAICS code primarily solicit dairy product procurement for institutional food service operations. The Department of Veterans Affairs has posted multiple solicitations for milk and dairy product delivery to medical centers across multiple states, including Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Tennessee. The Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons has issued several requests for quotations for dairy products to support correctional facility nutrition programs. The Defense Logistics Agency has also published pre-solicitation notices for milk and dairy product support to military installations in regions including El Paso, Texas and New Mexico. These opportunities consistently require vendors to meet strict freshness, packaging, and delivery specifications, with most solicitations seeking multiple delivery locations and frequent delivery schedules.