UNSPSC 50131803: Imitation cheese

UNSPSC 50131803 Imitation cheese, a Commodity code, covers natural and pasteurized process cheese products that state and local governments procure for institutional food service—primarily correctional facilities, schools, child care programs, and health and human services agencies. The code captures shredded blend cheese with specified mozzarella percentages, sliced low-sodium varieties, and cheese components in broader grocery procurements, all subject to FDA and USDA compliance, HACCP standards, sodium content limits, gluten-free designations, and minimum shelf-life requirements. Issuing bodies include state departments of corrections, departments of criminal justice, state health and human services commissions, school districts of varying sizes, Head Start programs, and county school systems. The Oregon Department of Corrections and Texas Department of Criminal Justice appear as repeat buyers, with Oregon posting multiple ITBs for shredded blend cheese in recent months.

Recent opportunities span Oregon, Texas, Georgia, Missouri, Connecticut, Illinois, and Florida. The Oregon Department of Corrections issued ITB S-29100-00017434 on July 9, 2026, requesting approximately 80,000 pounds of shredded blend cheese with bids due July 23, 2026, and applied a 5% Oregon-goods preference; historical pricing stood at $1.15 per pound. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice issued IFB 304T-26-300CF on May 4, 2026, for approximately 382 line items across multiple food categories including American sliced and Colby Jack cheese for multiple warehouse locations, with firm fixed unit pricing on FOB Destination terms and delivery expected within 30 days of order. Fairfax County Public Schools issued IFB 2000004323 on April 6, 2026, for a Master Grocery K-12 contract covering delivery to 45 schools plus distribution kitchens, with sealed bids due April 27, 2026, and a July 1, 2026 contract start; the district required bidders to respond on at least 76 items and maintain nine-month minimum shelf life. The Pinellas County School District solicited sealed bids for Milk, Dairy & Juice Products on May 13, 2026, with bids due June 11, 2026, for a two-year initial contract valued at approximately $22.5 million covering approximately 117 district facilities. State and local procurement under this code emphasizes Buy American compliance, nutritional standards aligned with child nutrition regulations, firm fixed pricing over extended contract terms, and weekly or twice-weekly delivery to central distribution points and school sites with strict temperature and handling requirements.