NIGP 57876: Robots (for Educational, Scientific Applications, etc.)

NIGP 57876 Robots (For Educational, Scientific Applications, Etc.), Item code, covers robotic systems and related accessories purchased by state and local governments for instructional, research, and operational use in K–12 schools, higher education institutions, and specialized departments. Recent solicitations show state and local buyers acquiring collaborative robotic arms with comprehensive gripper and workstation packages for educational laboratory environments, robotic athletic field painters with RTK-GNSS positioning for parks and recreation maintenance, and robotics supplies bundled within broader instructional materials catalogs. School districts and community colleges dominate this code's activity, procuring equipment to support STEM curricula, vocational training programs, and facility management operations. Issuing bodies include independent school districts (Katy ISD in Texas), community colleges (Arapahoe Community College in Colorado, Salt Lake Community College in Utah), municipal parks departments (City of Fort Worth), and purchasing cooperatives aggregating demand across multiple member jurisdictions. Cooperative purchasing vehicles such as Region 7 Purchasing Cooperative in Texas and Sourcewell (Minnesota local government unit) bundle robotics and related equipment within larger instructional or law enforcement equipment catalogs, expanding geographic reach and standardizing terms across participating entities.

Activity concentrates in Texas, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah, with secondary representation across the upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest through cooperative purchasing mechanisms. Representative recent opportunities include Arapahoe Community College's documented quote for a Universal Robots UR5e Collaborative Robot Arm with enclosed workstation, gripper sets, and all-inclusive delivery and installation due April 24, 2026, through the State of Colorado procurement system; the City of Fort Worth's request for quote for one robotic athletic field painter with RTK-GNSS positioning, training, and one-year service coverage with renewal options, due March 9, 2026; Cartwright Elementary School District's RFP on behalf of the SAVE consortium for STEM and College & Career Readiness Kits and Materials (including robotics components) to Arizona school districts, municipalities, and higher education institutions, due June 8, 2026, with estimated annual usage of $1,346,000 across participating members; and Katy Independent School District's supplemental RFP for teaching and instructional materials, supplies, and equipment (including robotics supplies) covering multiple campuses through October 2027 with three-year renewal options, proposals due May 29, 2026. All evaluated bids emphasize price competitiveness alongside product quality, vendor performance history, and compliance with state procurement rules and federal certifications including small-business status and debarment verification.