NIGP 91887: Purchasing Consulting (incl. Specification Development)

NIGP 91887 Purchasing Consulting (Including Specification Development), an Item code, covers professional advisory and project-support services that state and local governments buy to develop procurement specifications, manage complex competitive processes, assess organizational capabilities, and guide capital or operational initiatives from requirements definition through implementation. The code encompasses specification development, procurement strategy, vendor evaluation support, program management oversight, and feasibility or organizational studies that inform purchasing or project decisions. Issuing bodies span state departments, counties, cities, school districts, transit authorities, and special-purpose districts. Recent solicitations show purchasing consulting applied across transportation (Georgia Department of Transportation program management for federally funded projects; Columbus Consolidated Government corridor and trails studies), public safety technology assessment (City of Arlington systems replacement), pension administration (Fairfax County requirements development), real property acquisition compliance (Maricopa County and Tucson City), workforce development and economic development (California medical device export acceleration; State of Utah government contracting assistance), and municipal operations efficiency (City of College Park public works assessment). State and local buyers also use this code for specialty consulting tied to specific regulations—federal relocation compliance, CAL SIOP professional learning frameworks, Salesforce platform maintenance planning—and for technical advisory support on capital projects such as wastewater treatment systems (Cincinnati's Mercy West Advanced Treatment System Owner's Advisor).

Recent activity spans multiple regions with concentrations in the Southeast (Georgia, Florida, Arizona), California, the Mid-Atlantic (Fairfax County, Maryland school districts), and Texas. Representative recent opportunities include the Georgia Department of Transportation's RFQ (posted October 16, 2026; RFQ release November 16, 2026; SOQ due December 16, 2026) for Program Management Services supporting Transportation Alternatives and Local Administered Project programs, which requires a six-person consultant team to manage federal and state-funded projects across environmental review, roadway design, and bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure; the City of Arlington, Texas RFP (posted October 14, 2026; due November 12, 2026) for public safety technology systems assessment, procurement guidance, and implementation oversight; the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development RFO (posted October 12, 2026; due October 29, 2026; budget ceiling $150,000) for medical device export market research and accelerator program design; Fairfax County's RFP (posted June 12, 2026; due July 24, 2026) for a Procurement Disparity Study analyzing supply chain demographics; and the State of Utah Division of Purchasing's RFSQ (posted April 24, 2026; due May 8, 2026) for APEX Accelerator on-demand government contracting advisory services under a five-year contract commencing July 1, 2026. Evaluation methodologies across these procurements emphasize relevant sector experience, technical approach and methodology, organizational qualifications and key personnel, and past performance, with pricing typically excluded from qualification-based selection or weighted at 15–40 percent depending on scope. Set-asides where identified include small business and DBE participation preferences or goals, and some procurements require GDOT prequalification or specialized certifications in relevant compliance frameworks.