NIGP 38541: Entrees, Freeze Dried: Meat, Poultry and Seafood

NIGP 38541 Entrees, Freeze Dried: Meat, Poultry And Seafood is an Item code under which state and local governments procure ready-to-eat protein entrees for school meal programs, correctional facilities, and other institutional food service operations. The recent opportunities in this code span school districts across Georgia, Connecticut, Missouri, Texas, and Virginia, where districts solicit freeze-dried and fully-cooked meat, poultry, and seafood products as components of comprehensive food service bids. State and local issuing bodies include school boards (Tattnall County, New Haven, Bridgeport, Richmond County, multiple Georgia counties), state agencies (Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Georgia Department of Corrections Industries, State of Georgia), county governments (Gwinnett County), and transit or institutional authorities. The school districts dominate recent activity, with multiple Georgia school systems issuing repeated bids for entrees as line items within larger grocery or direct-delivery food solicitations; the Georgia Department of Corrections Industries issues high-frequency, narrowly scoped bids for specific meat and poultry products delivered to correctional facilities. Representative recent opportunities include Tattnall County Board of Education's sealed bid for School Nutrition Program food products (IFB due July 22, 2026), New Haven Board of Education's RFP for grocery and food items serving 17,500–19,000 meals daily (RFP due June 16, 2026), and Houston County School District's substantial direct-delivery and warehouse procurement supporting approximately 39 schools and 31,000 students with an estimated $14 million annual value (ITB due April 17, 2026 and April 16, 2026 for two separate bids). Bridgeport and other Connecticut school districts, Dallas Independent School District, and Fairfax County Public Schools round out the geographic spread, with concentrated activity in Georgia school procurement through IFBs issued by districts including Colquitt County, Burke County, Early County, Lamar County, and Dougherty County.

Freeze-dried and fully-cooked entrees appear in these bids as line items within larger school nutrition food procurements rather than as standalone, high-volume commodities. When named explicitly, products include freeze-dried chicken, beef, and seafood items; fully-cooked chicken products in formats such as breaded fillets, popcorn bites, patties, nuggets, and fajita strips; ground beef; ham; leg quarters; and breakfast patties (chicken or turkey). Vendors must meet USDA National School Lunch Program standards, comply with Buy American provisions requiring 51 percent domestic agricultural content for processed foods, achieve whole-grain and low-sodium specifications, and pass food safety audits including HACCP plan documentation and 24/7 recall accessibility. Pricing is submitted on firm fixed-price, all-inclusive bases covering packing and transportation; most contracts run July 1 through June 30 annually with optional extensions up to three to four additional one-year terms. Georgia school districts and the Georgia Department of Corrections Industries generate the highest recent activity, reflecting standing seasonal demand cycles tied to school fiscal years beginning in July and institutional food service requirements. Contracts are typically awarded to single or multiple responsive, responsible bidders meeting specifications at lowest cost, with payment within 30 days of delivery and inspection. No disclosed incumbent vendors, set-asides, or budget ceilings appear in the recent opportunities reviewed.