NIGP 38544: Entrees, Poultry

NIGP 38544 Entrees, Poultry, Item code, describes the frozen and fresh poultry products that state and local governments procure for school nutrition programs, institutional food service, and child care facilities. Recent solicitations show school districts and state agencies buying prepared poultry entrees—including chicken patties, drumsticks, wings, and processed chicken products—as core components of federal lunch and breakfast programs serving thousands of students daily. The City of Edinburg, Texas is procuring proteins including poultry for a Child and Adult Care Food Program serving 400 children ages 1–18, with daily deliveries required under RFP 2026-017, due August 4, 2026. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is soliciting pre-cooked chicken patties and turkey roast through the Texas Comptroller's Statewide Procurement Division under IFB 304T-26-300CF, due May 4, 2026, to supply multiple warehouse locations across five geographic regions. Early County Board of Education in Georgia is requesting line-by-line bids for meats, poultry, and seafood products to support the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program across three schools, with bids due June 8, 2026. The issuing bodies are predominantly school districts (independent and county), state nutrition departments, and state supported-living facilities; child care operators and Head Start programs also participate in this market. Most recent activity concentrates in Texas and Georgia, with secondary activity in Connecticut, Missouri, and Illinois.

Geographic activity spans multiple states with notable clustering in Texas (City of Edinburg, TDCJ, Northside ISD, Head Start of Greater Dallas) and Georgia (City Schools of Decatur, DeKalb County, Douglas County, Early County, Bulloch County, Henry County). Evaluation criteria commonly weight price at 20–30 percent alongside product quality, delivery capability, and HACCP compliance and food recall procedures. Contracts typically run July 1 to June 30 with one to four optional one-year renewals. Buy American provisions requiring at least 51 percent domestic agricultural content are standard in school nutrition and USDA commodity procurements. Insurance requirements range from $500,000 to $2,000,000 general liability per occurrence depending on contract value. Delivery frequency is typically Monday through Friday with temperature-controlled transport and 24-hour emergency fill rates expected. Most awards go to lowest responsive and responsible bidder on a line-item or single-vendor basis; a few RFPs explicitly invite small-business, minority-owned, or woman-owned responses without formal set-asides.