UNSPSC 50404103: Borage

The variety of herbs known as borage

UNSPSC 50404103 Borage (Commodity) captures a narrow botanical ingredient line, yet the recent state and local opportunities tagged under this code predominantly solicit broad-spectrum food and consumable supply contracts for institutional food service—not borage specifically. The mismatch signals that the code's application in state and local procurement does not align with its nominal scope. Government buyers under this classification are sourcing weekly grocery fulfillment, cafeteria entrees, fresh produce, dairy, proteins, condiments, and food-service consumables (gloves, containers) for schools, correctional facilities, health and human services centers, and state hospitals. Issuing bodies span state departments (Texas HHSC, Texas TDCJ, Georgia, Illinois), county school districts (Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, Rockwood R-VI in Missouri, Douglas County in Georgia), and special-purpose districts via cooperative purchasing vehicles (GEC Buying Cooperative in Georgia). The breadth of institutional food-service demand—driven by daily meal volumes across dozens to hundreds of locations—creates recurring, high-value contract opportunities year-round.

Recent activity clusters in Texas, Georgia, Virginia, and Missouri, with secondary presence in Illinois. Representative solicitations include the Texas HHSC's IFB HHS0017449 (El Paso State Supported Living Center food and consumables, due July 13, 2026, with prior-period value of $1.5 million and potential three-year exposure up to $4.5 million), the Douglas County School System's RFP 26-003 (food supply and distribution for 32 schools serving 25,500 students, approximately $9 million annually, sealed proposals due February 18, 2026), and Fairfax County Public Schools' Master Grocery K-12 IFB 2000004323 (weekly deliveries to 45 schools plus seven distribution kitchens, bids due April 27, 2026). Texas HHSC and TDCJ appear as repeat buyers across multiple quarters and product categories. Bidders must meet firm fixed pricing, delivery timelines (typically 7–30 days), USDA compliance, product-specification and temperature requirements, insurance minimums of $1–2 million, and in some cases three-to-five years of prior institutional food-service experience. No explicit disadvantaged-enterprise set-asides appear in the available documentation, though school districts and state agencies routinely request business-classification forms (SBE, MBE, WBE) for preference tracking.