NIGP 38546: Entrees, Seafood

NIGP 38546 Entrees, Seafood is an Item code covering frozen and fresh seafood products supplied to institutional food service operations. State and local governments procure under this code primarily frozen fish products, seafood entrees, and fish preparations—such as fish sticks, frozen fish portions, and pollock products—for correctional facilities, state hospitals, school nutrition programs, and other institutional dining operations. The work is typically solicited through competitive sealed bids (IFB) or RFQs with firm fixed pricing, detailed nutritional and USDA grading specifications, and F.O.B. destination delivery to central warehouses or distributed school sites. Issuing bodies include state corrections departments, state health and human services agencies, county and city school boards, and state veterans' homes. The geographic spread is concentrated in Texas, Georgia, Connecticut, Illinois, and across multiple school districts nationwide; recent activity reflects strong demand from school nutrition programs serving federal child nutrition programs (National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program) alongside institutional facilities serving corrections, state hospitals, and state supported living centers.

Recent representative opportunities illustrate the scope and issuing-body mix. Georgia's Department of Administrative Services issued RFQ 92100ERFQ0020702027 on October 6, 2026, soliciting fish sticks for Georgia Correctional Industries in 40,000-pound increments with a response due date of October 12, 2026. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission issued IFB HHS0017338 on July 17, 2026, for frozen food products including fish and seafood portions to supply State Hospitals and State Supported Living Centers across Texas, with bids due August 18, 2026, and an estimated annual volume of approximately $9 million (maximum potential value $19 million over three years with renewal). The City of Bridgeport's Department of Public Purchases solicited grocery items supporting the Bridgeport Board of Education's Food & Nutrition Services through the National School Lunch Program (Solicitation BNB052266, June 30, 2026), specifying frozen fish among over 1,100 line items. Tattnall County Board of Education in Georgia (PE55089NONST2027000000002, July 13, 2026) and Richmond County Board of Education in Georgia (PE72110NONST2027000000059, April 27, 2026) both issued sealed bids for comprehensive grocery products including frozen seafood for school nutrition programs. Head Start of Greater Dallas issued IFB No. 26-GP on June 24, 2026, for frozen foods meeting Child and Adult Care Food Program requirements, totaling approximately $969,460.94 in federal Head Start appropriations with estimated procurement of 32,409 cases across frozen products and proteins.