UNSPSC 50151516: Margarine and similar preparations

Semi-solid butter substitute derived from vegetable oils

UNSPSC 50151516 Margarine and similar preparations is a Commodity code covering dairy spreads and butter substitutes procured by state agencies, state-supported living centers, correctional facilities, school districts, and child care programs. State and local governments buy margarine and oleo primarily as canteen stock, institutional food-service ingredients, and cafeteria supplies for inmate and patient populations. Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) are the primary repeat buyers in the recent record, issuing multiple IFBs for food and consumable products that explicitly include dairy spreads and oleo margarine among line items. The scope of work spans firm, fixed unit pricing on standardized pricing sheets covering institutional food procurement for state hospitals, state-supported living centers, correctional facilities, and school lunch programs. Bidders must meet 90 percent minimum line-item quotation thresholds, comply with USDA grade and specification requirements, guarantee products for a minimum of 90 days or per manufacturer's warranty (whichever is greater), and deliver on strict time windows—typically 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on specified dates, excluding 11:00 a.m. to noon. Contracts are generally one year in duration with optional one-year renewals at the buying agency's discretion, and pricing adjustments are permitted only upon agency approval and indexed to Consumer Price Index formulas.

Recent activity is concentrated in Texas, where HHSC has issued four separate IFBs between June and August 2026 for food and consumable products at Big Spring State Hospital, Mexia State Supported Living Center, and El Paso State Supported Living Center (HHS0017660V2, HHS0017799, HHS0017798, and HHS0017449, all with due dates in July or August 2026). TDCJ issued a margarine-specific solicitation (IW251320) with a May 29, 2026 deadline and a broader cafeteria food products IFB (304T26300CF) with response due May 4, 2026, covering oleo margarine and multiple TDCJ warehouse locations across five geographic areas. Outside Texas, activity includes Head Start of Greater Dallas, Inc.'s procurement for child care programs (IFB 26-GP, due June 24, 2026, with estimated value of $969,460.94) and Early County Board of Education in Georgia (due June 8, 2026). The Georgia state procurement office posted a food supplies solicitation (PE55645NONST2026000000009, due June 22, 2026) with details contained in an attached document. Geographic concentration remains in Texas; activity outside Texas is limited to isolated school district and nonprofit child care buys.