NIGP 57050: Scrap Metals, All Kinds

NIGP 57050 Scrap Metals, All Kinds (Item) encompasses the sale, collection, transport, and recycling of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals generated by state and local government operations. State and local buyers use this code for both outbound sales of surplus scrap metal—where governments market material as a revenue stream and award to the highest bidder—and for inbound collection and processing services where governments compensate vendors based on commodity market pricing indexes. The scope ranges from ad hoc sales of accumulated maintenance yard stockpiles to ongoing collection and transport contracts for mixed metals and specialty items like appliances and equipment from multiple county facilities.

Issuing bodies include county waste management departments, transportation agencies, municipalities, school districts, and special authorities. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) appears frequently with on-call collection contracts for maintenance stations across multiple counties; Sacramento County and Ventura County pursue both metal recycling and e-waste services on multiyear agreements; and smaller jurisdictions like the Town of Manchester, Connecticut, periodically liquidate waterworks stockpiles. Geographic activity concentrates in California, Connecticut, Georgia, and Maryland, with additional recent solicitation activity in Florida and Minnesota cooperative purchasing vehicles. Recent representative opportunities include the Town of Manchester's October 29, 2026 IFB for sale and removal of approximately 45 cubic yards of loosely piled waterworks scrap metal on an as-is, where-is basis with prevailing wage compliance; Caltrans' July 28, 2026 IFB for on-call scrap metal collection from four maintenance stations in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties under a three-year revenue contract with 5% small business and DVBE incentive structure; the County of Ventura's June 24, 2026 RFB for metal recycling services spanning three years with compensation tied to American Metal Market index pricing and highest-revenue-return award; and Sacramento County's June 9, 2026 competitive bid for collection and recycling of mixed metals and unprocessed appliances from two facilities with 10,800–11,775 ton annual volumes and prevailing wage requirements. Sourcewell, a Minnesota cooperative purchasing vehicle, posted an RFP on November 24, 2026 for material processing and recycling equipment with related products and services for use by its Participating Entities.