UNSPSC 50131801: Natural cheese

UNSPSC 50131801 Natural cheese (Commodity) covers shredded blend cheese, sliced low-sodium cheese, and specialty cheese products supplied to correctional facilities, state-supported living centers, school districts, and child care programs. State and local buyers source this code primarily for institutional food service operations where cheese serves as a protein component in meal preparation, with recent solicitations emphasizing low-sodium formulations, specific blend ratios (minimum 40% mozzarella in blends), gluten-free certification, and compliance with HACCP and FDA/USDA standards. Issuing bodies span state corrections departments, state health and human services agencies, county and municipal school districts, Head Start programs, and county school systems, with the Oregon Department of Corrections and Texas agencies appearing as repeat buyers in the past four months. Solicitation volumes are substantial—ranging from 40,000 pounds to 120,000 pounds per award—and cheese is routinely bundled with broader grocery or food-service contracts rather than procured in isolation.

Geographic activity concentrates in the Southeast and Pacific Northwest. Oregon Department of Corrections posted three shredded blend cheese ITBs between April and July 2026 (IFB S2910000016600 due April 24, 2026; ITB S2910000017160 due June 22, 2026; and ITB S2910000017434 due July 23, 2026), with historical pricing at $1.15–$1.89 per pound and incumbent vendor LA Foods. Texas Health and Human Services Commission and Texas Department of Criminal Justice solicited cheese as a line item within broader supplemental food and cafeteria food procurements (IFB HHS0016792 and 304T-26-300CF). School districts in Connecticut (Bridgeport Board of Education, BNB053266 due June 26, 2026), Georgia (Henry County Schools, DeKalb County School District, and Douglas County School System), Florida (Pinellas County Schools, 26JG021 due June 11, 2026, valued at approximately $22.5 million across dairy and juice products), and Virginia (Fairfax County Public Schools, IFB 2000004323 due April 27, 2026) included cheese within master grocery or food-item contracts. Oregon applies a 5–10 percent state-of-origin preference for qualifying bidders. Most awards go to lowest responsive, responsible bidders; pricing remains firm for 12-month initial terms. Lead times for first delivery typically run 30–45 days post-award, with subsequent shipments on 30-day intervals.