UNSPSC 50171700: Vinegars and cooking wines

UNSPSC 50171700 Vinegars and cooking wines is a Class code that in practice covers a much broader range of food products and grocery supply services than the code's narrow name suggests. State and local governments—primarily school districts but also state departments and correctional agencies—use this code to solicit comprehensive grocery and food service contracts encompassing proteins, dairy, grains, fresh produce, condiments, prepared entrees, and staple food items for cafeteria and nutrition service operations. The issuing bodies are predominantly K-12 school districts (Fairfax County Public Schools, Rockwood R-VI School District, Douglas County School System) alongside state agencies (Georgia, Texas Department of Criminal Justice) and special-purpose cooperative purchasing vehicles (GEC Buying Cooperative). School districts dominate the activity, using term contracts ranging from one to multiple years with renewal options to establish consistent supplier relationships for high-volume, ongoing food service delivery.

Recent activity concentrates in the Southeast, with Georgia and Texas showing the heaviest procurement volume. The Douglas County School System in Georgia has issued two major RFPs—one for fresh produce and eggs (estimated $5.5 million annually across 30 school districts through the GEC Buying Cooperative, due March 4, 2026) and another for food supply and distribution services (estimated $9 million annually for 32 schools, due February 18, 2026). The State of Georgia posted a broad food supplies solicitation (due June 22, 2026); the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, through the Comptroller of Public Accounts Statewide Procurement Division, issued an Invitation for Bid for cafeteria food products across five geographic areas with delivery to six TDCJ distribution points (due May 4, 2026). Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia solicited a Master Grocery K-12 term contract covering 45 schools and seven distribution kitchens (IFB 2000004323, due April 27, 2026), and Rockwood R-VI School District in Missouri solicited grocery items for over 900 line items across multiple categories serving approximately 6,900 lunch and 900 breakfast participants daily (due April 29, 2026). Contracts typically award on a lowest-responsive-bid or best-value basis, often with line-item awards allowing multiple vendors, and require firm fixed pricing, commercial general liability insurance ($1 million minimum), compliance with USDA and FDA standards, and Buy American Act adherence where applicable.