UNSPSC 50192902: Shelf stable plain pasta or noodles

UNSPSC 50192902 Shelf stable plain pasta or noodles is a Commodity code covering dried pasta products—elbow macaroni, rotini, spaghetti, fettuccine, egg noodles, and related shapes—purchased by state and local food service operations to supply institutional meals. State and local governments buy this commodity primarily through school districts, state departments of corrections, state health and human services agencies operating state-supported living centers and hospitals, and county government nutrition programs. Solicitations regularly specify enriched or whole-wheat formulations, USDA grade compliance, FDA labeling requirements, minimum shelf life (typically 90–120 days), and delivery in cases or bulk units meeting weight and packaging standards. Purchase volumes are modest to substantial—ranging from 1,062 cases in a county senior services procurement to 335,400 pounds annually in a statewide mandate—and prices are typically firm fixed with no fuel or freight surcharges permitted by the buyer, though contractors must absorb all transportation and handling costs under FOB Destination terms.

Recent activity appears across California, Georgia, Oregon, and Texas. The California Department of General Services issued a statewide pasta IFB (S2910000017454) in July 2026 for approximately 335,400 pounds across five product lines, with award on an all-or-none basis to the lowest-cost bidder and optional small business and DVBE preferences applied. The Oregon Department of Corrections solicited 40,000 pounds of rotini pasta (ITB S-29100-00017454) in July 2026 with a 10 percent Oregon-preference incentive and delivery to the Central Distribution Center in Salem. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, through the Comptroller's Statewide Procurement Division, procured cafeteria food products including pasta across five geographic warehouse zones (IFB 304T-26-300CF, response due May 4, 2026). Georgia school districts—Ben Hill County Schools (IFB #26271, due June 15, 2026) and Burke County Public Schools (sealed bids due June 5, 2026)—both solicited comprehensive food procurements that encompassed pasta and dry goods alongside proteins, produce, and dairy. The City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, requested grocery items including pasta for the Board of Education Food & Nutrition Services (BNB052266, due June 30, 2026) under Buy American requirements. Gwinnett County, Georgia, sought 1,062 cases of shelf-stable food items including pasta under an informal written quote process (IWQ 140229, due October 19, 2026). The Texas Health and Human Services Commission issued multiple IFBs for state-supported living center food service (HHS0017798, HHS0017799, HHS0017449, and HHS0016792V2 covering canteen and food service groceries) that include pasta and related dry goods. Contracts typically run one year (July–June or September–August fiscal cycles) with one to two renewal or extension options at the buyer's discretion, and award is made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder unless best-value evaluation language is explicit.