NIGP 83983: Telephone Cards

NIGP 83983 Telephone Cards, an Item code, covers prepaid calling cards and related telephone access products that state and local governments procure through cooperative purchasing arrangements and catalog discount mechanisms. The single recent opportunity in the record shows that what is actually being bought under this code involves network systems and supplies distributed through regional purchasing cooperatives rather than traditional telephone card products, suggesting the NIGP category may capture a broader range of telecommunications access and connectivity goods than its legacy title implies. Issuing bodies for this code include regional purchasing cooperatives (ESC entities) that consolidate procurement on behalf of school districts and other member jurisdictions, pooling demand to negotiate favorable pricing and payment terms across multiple governmental end-users rather than single agencies.

Region 7 Purchasing Cooperative (ESC 7) issued an RFP for a Catalog Discount Bid (NET2223) for Network Systems & Supplies on March 3, 2026, with an original response deadline of July 26, 2022, and an estimated contract value of $6,437,531 over a one-year term from August 18, 2022, through August 18, 2023. The prior award cycle attracted 36 respondents, indicating active vendor competition in the cooperative purchasing space. The Texas-based cooperative structure demonstrates how state and local purchasing offices use regional consolidation mechanisms to achieve scale and competitive pricing for technology and connectivity products, with evaluation criteria emphasizing discount depth, payment terms, free shipping, and strict compliance with cooperative standard conditions. No specific set-asides or incumbent vendors are identified in the available record.