NIGP 01966: Rice

NIGP 01966 Rice, an Item code, reflects the narrow commodity focus state and local governments apply when procuring rice as a standalone food ingredient. Recent school nutrition program solicitations, however, show that rice procurement is bundled into broader food-service contracting rather than issued as a separate category. When rice appears in state and local bids, it is typically as one line item within comprehensive food-supply contracts that include proteins, produce, grains, and dairy serving school cafeterias across multiple sites. School districts are the primary issuing bodies under this code, though the solicitations examined do not isolate rice as a distinct procurement vehicle—instead, vendors bid on mixed food baskets that include rice alongside dozens of other commodity lines. No specialized rice-only solicitations appear in recent state and local activity.

Georgia school districts dominate recent activity in this commodity space. The Butts County School System issued an IFB on April 27, 2026 for School Nutrition Program food supplies across six school locations for the 2026–2027 contract year (due May 26, 2026), and the Douglas County School System posted an RFP on February 4, 2026 for fresh produce and eggs through the GEC Buying Cooperative serving 30 school districts across two geographic areas with approximately $5.5 million in combined estimated annual spending (due March 4, 2026). Both solicitations establish firm pricing for the full contract term with limited adjustment mechanisms tied to USDA market reports. Neither opportunity identifies rice as a distinct line item in available summaries, suggesting that when rice enters school nutrition procurement, it flows through general food-supply channels rather than as a separately tracked NIGP commodity. The code itself sees minimal standalone activity in current state and local markets.