NIGP 39042: Ice, Dry

NIGP 39042 Ice, Dry is an Item code covering dry ice procurement by state and local governments. State and local jurisdictions buy dry ice primarily for laboratory operations, food service delivery and storage, and institutional support functions. Recent solicitations show purchasing in three distinct operational contexts: laboratory and scientific use (twice-weekly delivery in precise pound-weight increments for testing and preservation); cafeteria and food-service supply chains (spot purchases bundled with broader grocery and food-service contracts); and blanket institutional supply arrangements through higher-education procurement. Issuing bodies soliciting under this code include state health and human services agencies, public universities, state-supported living centers, and school districts. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission, University of Georgia, and Texas A&M University are repeat buyers in the recent opportunities block.

Dry ice procurement activity concentrates in Texas and Georgia in the most recent solicitation window (late June through mid-August 2026). The Texas Health and Human Services Commission posted two dry ice-related bids: HHS0017174, a twice-weekly delivery contract for the Department of State Health Services Public Health Laboratory Division with a prior-year spend of $300,000 (July 7, 2026 closing), and HHS0017798 and HHS0017799, food-service grocery contracts for Mexia State Supported Living Center that include dry ice as a commodity line item (August 25, 2026 closing). The University of Georgia issued RFQ 51800ERFQ0017932026 for helium, nitrogen, and dry ice with an August 19, 2026 closing. Texas A&M University posted ITB TAMU-ITB-26-5071 for blanket dry ice supply (August 5, 2026 closing). Delivery requirements and contract structures vary: laboratory use mandates twice-weekly scheduled delivery by 2:00 p.m. with specific pound-weight specifications; food-service and institutional supply contracts require delivery windows between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on designated dates with vendor responsibility for all handling, overtime, and restacking charges.