NIGP 01958: Oats

NIGP 01958 Oats, an Item code, represents a narrow commodity within the grains and cereals category that state and local governments source primarily for school nutrition programs. School districts purchase oats and oat products as components of breakfast menus and prepared foods, bundled within larger food-service procurements that span snacks, produce, dairy, proteins, and prepared entrees. The work involves sealed competitive bidding on unit pricing for oat-based commodities delivered to multiple school locations on fixed or adjustable schedules, with contract periods typically running a full academic year (July through June). Issuing bodies are almost exclusively school districts and school system nutrition services departments, which consolidate purchasing across multiple schools or partner through cooperative buying arrangements. Individual districts may serve thousands of students daily and maintain centralized warehousing or direct delivery to school sites, with pricing anchored to USDA or commodity-market reference reports.

Three recent solicitations illustrate the buying pattern: Butts County School System (Georgia) issued an IFB on April 27, 2026 for food products including oats across six school locations, with bids due May 26, 2026; Rockwood R-VI School District (St. Louis County, Missouri) solicited grocery items encompassing grains and cereals over 900 line items for 19,000 students, with electronic bids due April 29, 2026; and Douglas County School System (Georgia) issued an RFP through the GEC Buying Cooperative for fresh produce and eggs to 30 districts across two regions, with proposals due March 4, 2026 and estimated spending of $4.4 million for Area One. School districts in Georgia and Missouri dominate recent activity under this code. Contracts include firm pricing for the full term, with limited mid-year adjustments permitted when manufacturer prices rise 5 percent or greater, and automatic renewal options extending through multiple academic years. No incumbent vendor information or specific set-aside designations appear in the recent solicitations; all qualified vendors meeting insurance, experience, and federal compliance requirements compete openly.