NIGP 39358: Ice Cream Mix, Emulsifiers, Stabilizers, and Toppings

NIGP 39358 Ice Cream Mix, Emulsifiers, Stabilizers, and Toppings, an Item code, covers frozen dessert products and components that state and local governments procure primarily for school nutrition programs. Recent solicitations show school districts buying finished ice cream products in bulk—cups, sandwiches, bars, cones, and push-up pops—meeting strict nutritional compliance standards including USDA Smart Snacks requirements (maximum 200 calories, 35% sugar by weight, zero trans fat). The Pinellas County School District's Bid 26-JG-019, posted in June 2026, exemplifies the scope: a single-supplier procurement for 12 primary product lines in quantities ranging from 500 to 10,000 dozen units, with weekly delivery to 117 facilities across multiple municipalities, estimated contract value of approximately $500,000 over two years. Products must conform to state frozen dessert regulations and FDA Title 21 standards, with suppliers required to provide chest freezers at no charge and maintain two weeks' warehouse inventory. Issuing bodies under this code are predominantly school districts managing child nutrition programs at the district level, with procurement conducted through electronic portals and competitive sealed bids.

The code sees activity concentrated in the Southeast. Pinellas County School District in Florida (posted June 24, 2026, response due May 27, 2026) and the Douglas County School System in Georgia (RFP SN 26-004, posted February 4, 2026, response due March 4, 2026) represent recent opportunities. The Douglas County procurement, coordinated through the GEC Buying Cooperative for 30 districts across two Georgia areas, indicates cooperative purchasing is common in this space, though that particular solicitation focuses on fresh produce and eggs rather than ice cream products. The Georgia State Department of Management Services also posted a general food supplies procurement (May 15, 2026, response due June 22, 2026) with scope details in an attached document, suggesting state-level involvement beyond school districts. School-district-level activity appears to dominate the posted opportunities for frozen dessert products specifically, with emphasis on compliance documentation, taste testing, and reliable weekly delivery logistics.