NIGP 38033: Desserts, Milk Based (Not Otherwise Classified)

NIGP 38033 Desserts, Milk Based (Not Otherwise Classified), Item code, encompasses frozen dessert products — ice cream cups, frozen dessert bars, bulk ice cream, and related novelties — that state and local governments procure primarily through school nutrition programs for student consumption and sale. School districts and educational cooperatives dominate the recent solicitation activity, seeking products that comply with USDA Smart Snack standards and require vendor-supplied freezer equipment and maintenance at school locations. The work spans product sourcing, nutritional documentation, compliance verification (HACCP food safety protocols, Buy American provisions where applicable, federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act labeling), and logistics including inside delivery to multiple school sites with no additional transportation charges. Contracts typically run one to two years with renewal options and require firm pricing for defined periods (six months to one year from award), with price adjustments thereafter tied to documented third-party market indices such as USDA Agricultural Marketing Service reports or Consumer Price Index data.

Recent activity concentrates in Georgia, where the Walker County Board of Education is procuring ice cream and frozen desserts on behalf of the Georgia Educational Cooperative serving 26 districts and approximately 338 schools under RFP #27 with a July 17, 2026 proposal deadline, and the Cobb County School District issued RFP P26132 for frozen treats with an estimated annual expenditure of approximately $525,000 and a June 15, 2026 due date. The State of California Department of General Services also solicited pudding mix, gelatin dessert powder, and ready-to-serve pudding products via IFB 0000038924 with estimated combined annual spending of approximately $974,678.49 and a May 14, 2026 bid deadline, reflecting broader state-level purchasing beyond school nutrition channels. Evaluation criteria in school district RFPs weight taste testing heavily (150–250 points depending on the district) alongside cost and vendor service qualifications, and vendors must demonstrate adequate insurance coverage, compliance with state immigration and E-Verify requirements where applicable, and debarment certifications.