NIGP 94868: Optician/Optometrical Services (Non-Physician)

NIGP 94868 Optician/Optometrical Services (Non-Physician), an Item code, encompasses on-site and retail vision care delivery to state and local populations, including comprehensive eye examinations, vision screening, eyeglass and contact lens dispensing, frame adjustments and repairs, and emergency eye care. Recent solicitations show state and local governments contracting for optometry services primarily in juvenile justice and health system settings, where providers deliver care at multiple facilities or through temporary staffing models. Services are billed on per-visit, daily-rate, or per-juvenile bases depending on the issuing body's operational structure and patient volume.

The code draws activity from state agencies and counties. Kentucky's Department of Juvenile Justice has issued two separate RFPs for optometry services at juvenile facilities statewide—one posted October 16, 2026 due October 30, 2026, covering 22 facilities serving approximately 649 unique patients monthly, and another posted September 16, 2026 due October 14, 2026 covering 13 detention and development facilities. Harris County solicited optical retail and dispensing services via RFO posted September 11, 2026 due October 2, 2026. The County of Santa Clara Health System established a temporary health professional staffing qualified vendor pool due October 7, 2026 that includes Ophthalmology Services as one of thirteen eligible ancillary clinical categories. Cooperative purchasing vehicles and regional councils also engage the code—Region 7 Purchasing Cooperative (Kilgore, Texas) issued a multi-vendor catalog discount bid for special education supplies due October 1, 2026, and H-GAC (Houston-Galveston Area Council) issued a vision, hearing, and dental health maintenance procurement due July 29, 2027. Recent activity concentrates in Kentucky and Texas, with secondary activity in California and the broader cooperative purchasing network. Kentucky's KYDJJ RFPs require optometrist licensure, commercial general liability and professional liability insurance, and evaluate proposals on technical qualifications including correctional-setting experience and professional references, cost, and optional oral presentations totaling 240 points.