UNSPSC 50404613: Crisphead lettuces

The variety of lettuce known as crisphead lettuces

UNSPSC 50404613 Crisphead lettuces, a Commodity code, is solicited by state institutions, school districts, and regional public health authorities for recurring delivery to food-service operations, canteens, cafeterias, and correctional facilities. Recent opportunities show lettuce and bagged lettuce are purchased as components of broader fresh-produce contracts serving institutional meal programs rather than as standalone line items; state and local buyers bundle lettuce with carrots, tomatoes, peppers, onions, apples, bananas, and other produce in single RFPs or IFBs. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Illinois Department of Corrections, and Illinois Department of Mental Health are active repeat buyers. School districts in Texas (Madison Metropolitan), Georgia (Bartow County, Dougherty County, Bryan County, Early County), and other states also solicit fresh produce including lettuce under nutrition-program contracts. Issuing bodies include state facilities (mental health centers, correctional institutions, state-supported living centers), school nutrition programs, county and municipal park departments, and state correctional systems. Delivery is typically twice weekly or weekly, with produce arriving ready-to-eat or requiring facility-side preparation, and F.O.B. Destination pricing is standard. Quality standards mandate USDA compliance, freedom from mold or blemishes, appropriate temperature control during transit, and minimum shelf life (often 10–14 days from delivery). Vendors must carry commercial general liability insurance ($500,000 to $1 million per occurrence), maintain worker's compensation coverage, and comply with E-Verify, debarment certification, and food-safety regulations including HACCP and traceability documentation.

Recent activity concentrates in Texas and Georgia. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has issued multiple fresh-fruit-and-vegetable solicitations (IW267376 due October 19, 2026; IW267420 due October 14, 2026; IW267411 due October 14, 2026) for delivery to Snyder, Wynne, and Palestine warehouses serving prison food operations. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission solicited consumable foods and canteen groceries for Lufkin and Mexia State Supported Living Centers (IFB HHS0018082 due October 23, 2026; IFB HHS0017872 due August 25, 2026; IFB HHS0017798 and HHS0017799 due August 25, 2026, with historical FY25 values of $160,500 to $158,000). The Illinois Department of Corrections at Joliet Treatment Center requested fresh produce via small-business-set-aside RFQ (27426DOCJOLIEB53849 due September 3, 2026), specifying bag lettuce with minimum 2-week expiration from receipt, bi-weekly delivery, and prevailing wage compliance. School nutrition programs in Georgia (Bartow County PE55391NONST2026000000027 due June 22, 2026; Dougherty County PE64710NONST2027000000078 due June 16, 2026; Bryan County PE55308NONST2027000000012 due May 27, 2026; Early County PE55045NONST2027000000006 due June 8, 2026) and Wisconsin (Madison Metropolitan RFB 4163 due July 29, 2026, with 400-mile sourcing requirement and 5% diversity-owned-business preference) also procure fresh produce including lettuce on staggered fiscal-year cycles. Illinois Department of Mental Health (27444DHSMENTHB53608 due August 14, 2026) sought weekly produce deliveries including leafy greens for FY27. Collier County Board of County Commissioners in Florida issued an Invitation to Negotiate for food services at North Collier Regional Park (ITN 258360 due March 6, 2025), with a 10-point local-vendor preference and three-year initial term. Head Start of Greater Dallas (IFB 26-GP due June 24, 2026, estimated $969,460.94 value) sought groceries for child care including produce items meeting CACFP requirements.