UNSPSC 50121706: Frozen aquatic invertebrates

UNSPSC 50121706 Frozen aquatic invertebrates (Commodity) encompasses shellfish, shrimp, and other frozen seafood products that state and local governments procure primarily through school nutrition programs and institutional food service. Recent solicitations show that state and local buyers are acquiring frozen seafood as one line item within broader food-service packages rather than as standalone procurement focus — the code surfaces in composite food bids alongside fresh produce, proteins, dairy, and non-food supplies for school lunch and breakfast programs. Issuing bodies are predominantly school districts and boards of education, supplemented by state procurement offices coordinating multi-district buys through cooperative purchasing vehicles. School nutrition programs appear to be the dominant use case, with districts emphasizing domestic sourcing, product compliance with USDA nutrition standards, proper cold-chain management, and vendor capacity to deliver across multiple sites on fixed schedules.

Georgia school districts account for visible recent activity. The Douglas County School System issued RFP SN 26-004 through the GEC Buying Cooperative on February 4, 2026, with sealed proposals due March 4, 2026, for fresh produce and eggs across two geographic areas serving 30 school districts with estimated annual spending of $4.4 million (Area One) and $1.1 million (Area Two) — though this particular RFP emphasized produce and eggs rather than frozen aquatic invertebrates as the primary line items. Early County Board of Education posted an FY27 food bid on May 11, 2026, with bids due June 8, 2026, for approximately 300+ food items including seafood across three schools under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The State of Georgia posted a broader food and kitchen products solicitation (PE55645NONST2026000000009) on May 15, 2026, with bids due June 22, 2026; the detailed scope is contained in an attached document but the summary indicates composite food procurement rather than frozen-seafood-specific activity.