NIGP 20145: Hats, Felt

NIGP Item 20145 Hats, Felt encompasses the procurement of felt headwear and related customization services by state and local governments. State and local agencies are currently buying felt hats in two primary contexts: as part of broader apparel and accessories contracts for district-wide or city-wide use, and as specialized uniform headgear for specific departments or divisions, such as honor guards and game wardens. Customization through embroidery, screen printing, and sizing services is a standard component of many solicitations. Issuing bodies include independent school districts, state procurement divisions, city governments, and specialized state agencies. Temple Independent School District and the City of Phoenix represent multi-use apparel contracts where hats are one line item among many; the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and City of Austin solicit felt hats as stand-alone uniform items for specific agency use. School districts and municipal departments are the primary buyers, with no single jurisdiction dominating activity.

Recent activity clusters in Texas, where the state comptroller, two major cities, and a large school district have posted solicitations within the past three months. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts issued IFB 304T-27-201A3.3 in August 2026 for 125 felt western hats without customization and 150 identical hats with "TEXAS GAME WARDEN" embroidery, with bids due September 3, 2026, specifying 10X quality beaver fur blend with a cattleman's crease crown and reference manufacturers Resistol and Stetson. The City of Austin posted IFQ 8700_AD1001 in June 2026 for Rodeo King Cowboy Hats and sizing and reshaping services for the Police Department Honor Guard, with quotations due July 1, 2026. Temple Independent School District issued RFP00627 in September 2026 for a multi-vendor apparel and accessories contract including hats and caps with custom screen printing and embroidery, with proposals due October 6, 2026. The City of Phoenix posted IFB 25-0771 in July 2026 for safety and non-safety uniforms and accessories including hats for nine city departments, with offers due July 28, 2025.