NIGP 97218: Food Services for Classes

NIGP 97218 Food Services for Classes, an Item code, encompasses food service management and meal delivery for school-based child nutrition programs serving K-12 and early-childhood populations. State and local governments procure under this code when they solicit vendor-operated meal preparation, service, and program management for National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Head Start, and related federally subsidized nutrition initiatives. The issuing bodies are predominantly independent school districts, county school food authorities, and specialized school entities operating across multiple states. Recent solicitations show school districts and food authorities contracting with Food Service Management Companies (FSMCs) for full operational responsibility—including meal planning, procurement, kitchen staffing, compliance with USDA commodity utilization and nutrition standards, and regulatory adherence—while the sponsoring agency retains control of menu development, facility ownership, equipment, and free-and-reduced-price meal eligibility determinations.

Recent activity concentrates in Georgia and Colorado. In Georgia, Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD) posted back-to-back restaurant, catering, and delivery services solicitations (due June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027), and multiple school food authorities—Movement School South Fulton Elementary (RFP due July 17, 2026, with estimated revenues of $291,107.08), DuBois Integrity Academy serving 1,200+ students across three locations (RFP due June 15, 2026), BIA Charter School in Norcross (RFP due June 15, 2026, total budgeted expenses $444,300.00), and Cobb County for an elementary school in Smyrna (RFP due June 1, 2026)—all issued RFPs for FSMC management during May and June 2026. In Colorado, Boulder County Community Service Head Start Program issued RFP-292-26 (due June 26, 2026) to serve approximately 110 children ages three to five with breakfast, lunch, and snack, with intention to establish a long-term partnership of up to five years. Evaluation criteria across these opportunities consistently weight cost and financial proposal at 30–35 points, service capability at 25 points, and experience, references, financial condition, and regulatory knowledge at the remainder of the 100-point scale.