UNSPSC 50131802: Processed cheese

UNSPSC 50131802 Processed cheese is a Commodity code tracking shredded and sliced cheese products for institutional food service across state agencies, school districts, and social-service providers. Recent state and local procurement activity shows steady demand for pre-portioned and specialty formulations—shredded blends with fixed mozzarella minimums, low-sodium sliced varieties, and gluten-free specifications dominate current solicitations. Issuing bodies span state departments of corrections and health services, school nutrition departments serving K-12 and Head Start populations, and regional cooperative purchasing groups. Corrections facilities and school districts account for the largest share of recent opportunities; corrections in particular cycles cheese through central distribution hubs on quarterly or semi-annual schedules, while school districts typically consolidate purchases into annual grocery contracts covering multiple food lines alongside cheese. Most jurisdictions require firm pricing throughout the contract term, FOB Destination with transportation prepaid, compliance with HACCP and FDA/USDA standards, and minimum six-month shelf life at delivery.

Geographic activity concentrates in the South and Southwest—Texas, Georgia, and Oregon emerge as repeat buyers with multiple concurrent solicitations. Connecticut (Bridgeport) and Florida (Pinellas County Schools) show secondary presence. Representative opportunities include the Oregon Department of Corrections ITB for 80,000 pounds of shredded blend cheese (due July 23, 2026), the Texas Health and Human Services Commission IFB covering 210 food and consumable line items including cheese for state hospitals and supported living centers (due July 13, 2026 with prior award value of $1.5 million), and Fairfax County Public Schools' IFB for Master Grocery K-12 covering multiple product categories delivered weekly to 45+ facilities (due April 27, 2026). School nutrition contracts frequently embed cheese within broader grocery RFPs rather than standalone cheese solicitations, and cooperative purchasing vehicles such as Lighthouse Purchasing Co-op (34 Connecticut and Rhode Island school districts) and GEC Buying Cooperative (30 Georgia districts) layer economies of scale. Pricing benchmarks from recent Oregon awards range from $1.15 to $1.89 per pound depending on product specification and case size, and institutional buyers impose tight delivery windows—typically 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. weekdays—with backup stock and emergency-delivery expectations common among school districts.