NIGP 80569: Softball Equipment

NIGP Item 80569 Softball Equipment captures protective installation, pitching mats, and consumable supplies for recreational and competitive softball programs at school districts, county parks and recreation departments, and cooperative purchasing consortia. Recent state and local solicitations show purchasing concentrated on field safety infrastructure (protective netting above backstops and along baselines), commercial-grade pitching mats for practice surfaces, and district-wide athletic equipment and supplies bundled with apparel, uniforms, and related services. School districts dominate the issuing bodies, with independent school districts in Texas (Northside ISD, Austin ISD, Harlingen CISD), Oregon (North Clackamas School District), and Florida (Sarasota County Parks and Recreation) posting the most recent opportunities. A cooperative purchasing vehicle through the Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies (AEPA) on behalf of 31 state member agencies indicates multi-state aggregated demand for athletic supplies and equipment, including softball-specific items.

Recent opportunities span Texas, Florida, and Oregon. Northside Independent School District (San Antonio, Texas) issued IFB 2026137 for consolidated athletic equipment, supplies, software and related services with a response date of October 19, 2026, consolidating four expiring contracts and requiring all incumbent vendors to re-bid to maintain business with the district. Austin Independent School District posted RFP 27RFP024 on August 31, 2026 (response due September 15, 2026) for athletic equipment, supplies, apparel, uniforms and related services on an as-needed basis across all district campuses and administrative departments. North Clackamas School District No. 12 (Oregon) solicited sealed bids under ITB-2627-124 for the Rex Putnam High School Softball Field Netting Project with a response deadline of September 29, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time, including a mandatory pre-bid meeting on September 10, 2026; Addendum 1 (issued August 28, 2026) clarified post embedment and roofline specifications, with substantial completion required by November 9, 2026 and Oregon prevailing wage requirements and $2 million general liability insurance minimums in effect. Sarasota County requested quotes (RFQ 2026QQ732, due June 17, 2026) for ten commercial-grade softball pitching mats with spike-strip backing in Clay Turf color, with a maximum quote threshold of $50,000 and delivery to Twin Lakes Park. The Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies (AEPA #027-E) issued a cooperative purchasing solicitation for athletic supplies and equipment across 31 state member agencies with sealed bids due August 13, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET, requiring vendors capable of serving up to 31 states.