NIGP 91809: Agricultural Consulting

NIGP 91809 Agricultural Consulting, an Item code, encompasses field research, financial analysis, and expert testimony on agricultural production and viability. State and local governments procure studies of dairy costs, farm business planning, agricultural supply chains, and agricultural feasibility assessments, typically bundled with written reports, oral testimony, and stakeholder engagement. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry and the Oregon Department of Agriculture are recent repeat buyers. Issuing bodies span state agriculture departments, county governments, and regional economic development authorities. Work emphasizes data collection through producer interviews and surveys, financial modeling, regulatory compliance documentation, and delivery of findings to legislative or administrative bodies. Contractors routinely hold advanced degrees in agricultural economics or related fields, with demonstrated knowledge of on-farm accounting systems and farming operations. Recent solicitations include the Maine Department of Agriculture's July 2026 RFP for a Dairy Cost of Production Study (due July 30, 2026) requiring Phase I and Phase II financial assessments of 32 Maine dairy farms with expert witness testimony at regulatory hearings, and the Oregon Department of Agriculture's April 2026 RFP for Farm Viability Business Program technical assistance (due May 11, 2026) covering business planning, succession planning, and financial literacy workshops across three regional food and agriculture business centers.

Geographic activity centers on Maine, Oregon, and Georgia, with secondary presence in Colorado and other agricultural states. The Maine and Oregon opportunities reflect state-level investment in agricultural retention and supply chain strengthening. Cost proposals are typically scored mathematically or weighted 20–45 percent of total evaluation, with experience and technical approach commanding 25–40 percent of the scoring matrix. Contracts run 9–12 months with renewal options common. No set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises appear in the recent block; local vendor preferences are not reported.