NIGP 38568: Seafood, Wild and Farm Raised, Fish and Shellfish

NIGP 38568 Seafood, Wild And Farm Raised, Fish And Shellfish (Item) covers prepared and raw seafood products procured by state and local governments for institutional feeding and retail operations. Based on recent solicitations, state and local buyers source fish sticks, whole fish, shellfish, and other seafood items for school nutrition programs, correctional facilities, and municipal food distribution networks. Issuing bodies include state departments of administrative services, county boards of education, city development authorities, and special-purpose districts. School nutrition programs represent the dominant buyer segment, soliciting seafood as part of comprehensive grocery and protein procurement for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program; correctional facilities and retail grocery operators pursuing SNAP/EBT participation also appear in the recent activity. The code sees activity across Georgia and the broader Southeast, with Georgia the clearest concentration point based on recent postings from the state purchasing office, multiple county school boards, and Atlanta-based municipal development entities.

Representative opportunities include Georgia Department of Administrative Services soliciting 40,000-pound increments of fish sticks for Georgia Correctional Industries (RFQ #92100ERFQ0020702027, due October 12, 2026); Hancock County Board of Education requesting seafood and other grocery supplies for school year 2026–2027 (IFB #SN002-2027, due June 26, 2026, bid opening June 29, 2026); Early County Board of Education procuring seafood and other proteins for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program (due June 8, 2026); Richmond County Board of Education issuing RFQ #26-204 for frozen fish and other protein products for 2026–2028 (due May 27, 2026); and Invest Atlanta seeking food distributors with documented Georgia-sourced supply capacity for municipal grocery markets (RFP due August 6, 2026). School district procurements mandate USDA Grade A standards, whole-grain and low-sodium specifications, HACCP plans, Buy American compliance (over 51 percent domestic agricultural content for food products), and general liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence. All-inclusive pricing with no separate fuel surcharges is standard; delivery frequencies and windows (often Monday through Wednesday, 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) are specified by issuing body. Contract terms typically run July 1 through June 30 with optional renewal periods.