UNSPSC 50192600: Prepared side dishes

UNSPSC 50192600 Prepared side dishes (Class) covers shelf-stable, frozen, and fresh meal components and complete prepared meals that state and local governments purchase for congregate dining programs, senior services, correctional facilities, school food service, and emergency nutrition assistance. Recent solicitations show state and local buyers acquiring shelf-stable entrees with rice and protein bases, frozen prepared items such as breakfast sandwiches and pizza products, prepackaged halal meals meeting religious dietary requirements, unitized breakfast kits with cereals and proteins, and complete home-delivered meal services. The issuing bodies span county departments of community services and aging, state correctional systems, state health and human services commissions, county boards of commissioners, school districts, and city boards of education.

Recent activity is concentrated in Georgia, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico. Gwinnett County, Georgia posted an informal written quote for approximately 1,062 cases of shelf-stable food items including peanut butter, jelly, canned proteins, rice, pasta, soups, and vegetables with a response date of October 19, 2026. The Illinois Department of Corrections awarded an emergency contract for certified prepackaged halal meals to Performance Food Group (Vistar) in June 2026 and extended it through January 31, 2027 at an estimated cost of $1.6 million. Hillsborough County, Florida issued a competitive sealed bid (ITB-26-00289) for senior meal preparation and delivery services at 14 dining centers and senior centers with an estimated three-year contract value of $17.8 million and a June 25, 2026 response date. The City of New Haven and Board of Education requested proposals for unitized breakfast items for approximately 182-190 school days with a 25% MWBE participation goal and a June 23, 2026 response date. Clayton County, Georgia and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania both solicited home-delivered meals contracts through RFPs with June response dates. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission requested bids for frozen food and canteen supplies for Rusk State Hospital with an August 10, 2026 response date and an estimated annual historical spend of $75,000.