NIGP 49538: Cultures, Microbial (Living Organism)

NIGP 49538 Cultures, Microbial (Living Organism), an Item code, covers the procurement of live microbial cultures — bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses, and other microorganisms — used in laboratory, educational, diagnostic, and quality-control work by state and local agencies. State and local governments purchase these cultures primarily through scientific supply vendors and specialized microbiology distributors for use in public health laboratories, environmental testing, educational institutions, and regulatory compliance activities. The cultures arrive as prepared, viable specimens ready for immediate use or propagation, and agencies typically procure them through standing agreements with vendors who maintain viability and quality standards.

No recent state or local contract opportunities under this Item code appear in the available procurement records. This narrow, specialized code sees minimal solicitation activity in the state and local market, as most agencies source microbial cultures through blanket purchase orders, cooperative purchasing vehicles, or direct purchases from established scientific suppliers rather than through formal RFP or IFB processes. Firms targeting this code should focus on direct outreach to state health departments, university systems, municipal environmental testing labs, and school districts with advanced science programs, as formal competitive procurement notices for this commodity are rare.