NIGP 38542: Entrees, Meat (Includes Beef and Pork)

NIGP 38542 Entrees, Meat (Includes Beef and Pork), an Item code, covers fresh, frozen, and prepared beef and pork entrée products that state and local governments procure for school nutrition programs, institutional food service, corrections facilities, and child care operations. Recent solicitations show state and local buyers purchasing ground beef, beef patties, beef brisket, pork products, ham, and prepared entrées (burritos, lasagna, meatloaf) in cases ranging from dozens to hundreds per item annually, typically as line items within larger grocery or food service contracts rather than standalone procurements.

State education agencies dominate the buying mix—school districts (Fairfax County, Early County, Rockwood R-VI, Henry County, DeKalb County, Bridgeport Board of Education, Northside Independent School District) issue the majority of recent solicitations—followed by state health and corrections entities (Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Illinois Department of Human Services, Georgia Correctional Industries, Texas Department of Criminal Justice). Recent activity concentrates in Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Connecticut, and Virginia. Representative opportunities include the Texas HHSC's IFB for frozen chopped beef brisket in BBQ sauce (IW258164, due July 27, 2026), the City of Edinburg's RFP for CACFP meal program proteins (RFP2026017, due August 4, 2026), the Illinois State Board of Education's IFB for locally sourced ground beef capped at $3 million (IFB 26-586, due March 3, 2026), and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's IFB for cafeteria food products including beef brisket and chicken leg quarters across five warehouse locations (IFB 304T-26-300CF, due May 4, 2026). Buy American and domestic sourcing preferences appear in most school nutrition solicitations; CACFP and USDA commodity compliance are standard requirements; firm fixed pricing for 12-month terms is typical; and F.O.B. destination with delivery included is near-universal.