NIGP 16502: Blenders, Food Cutters, and Mixers

NIGP 16502 Blenders, Food Cutters, and Mixers, an Item code, covers commercial food-processing equipment that state and local governments procure primarily for school food service, institutional dining, and specialized agricultural testing. Recent solicitations show school districts and colleges buying complete kitchen equipment packages that include industrial mixers, food processors, and slicers as components of larger turnkey installations, while state health and human services agencies source individual units or replacement parts for existing facilities. Food-processing equipment under this code appears in two main procurement streams: bundled kitchen modernization projects that address entire school cafeterias or institutional dining operations, and targeted replacement or maintenance procurements for specific equipment pieces at established sites.

Issuing bodies include independent school districts (LEAD Public Schools in Nashville, Somerset Independent School District, Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, Southbridge Public Schools), county facilities (Santa Clara County at Levi's Stadium), state agencies (Illinois Department of Human Services, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Florida Department of Agriculture), and community colleges (Northern Essex Community College). Recent activity spans Tennessee, Texas, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Florida. Representative opportunities include LEAD Public Schools' RFP for complete Southeast Elementary School kitchen equipment (Nashville, Tennessee; proposals due November 6, 2026) encompassing a commercial food processor and mixer among primary cooking and cold-storage equipment; the Illinois Department of Human Services' IFB for a commercial food processor and cutter/mixer (due September 8, 2026); the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's IFB for Robot Coupe food-processing equipment and a KitchenAid hand mixer at the Denton State Supported Living Center (due July 29, 2026); and Northside Independent School District's IFB for kitchen equipment, parts, supplies, rentals, repairs, and services across 132 schools and 15 support sites (due May 28, 2026). The code also captures maintenance service agreements, as evidenced by Northern Essex Community College's solicitation for preventive and emergency kitchen equipment services at its Danvers and Lynn campuses (due June 12, 2026).