UNSPSC 50443902: Frozen bitter gourd

The variety of gourds known as bitter gourd that have been frozen for preservation.

UNSPSC 50443902 Frozen bitter gourd is a Commodity code that represents narrow, single-product procurement within the broader frozen-vegetable category—yet state and local solicitations tagged with this code overwhelmingly cover mixed frozen-vegetable blends, individual frozen-vegetable commodities such as carrots, corn, and assorted blends, and comprehensive food-service contracts spanning dozens of line items alongside other proteins, grains, and staples. The code name does not reflect actual buying patterns in recent state and local opportunities. Oregon Department of Corrections issues frequent, high-volume frozen-vegetable ITBs; Texas Health and Human Services Commission and Texas Department of Criminal Justice solicit institutional food supplies including frozen vegetables as part of large multi-category procurements; school districts across Georgia, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania issue annual food bids that incorporate frozen and fresh produce alongside broader grocery inventories. Issuing bodies span state correctional agencies, state health and human services departments, county and municipal school districts, county correctional facilities, and regional school cooperatives. No single jurisdiction dominates; Oregon's Department of Corrections and multiple Texas state agencies appear repeatedly, but the recent-opportunities block shows activity from at least fifteen states and dozens of individual school districts and county government entities.

Geographic spread reaches across the country, with concentrated recent activity in Texas (state agencies serving correctional and healthcare facilities, school districts in Dallas, Houston region), Oregon (Department of Corrections), Georgia (multiple school districts), Pennsylvania (Montgomery County Correctional Facility), Missouri (Rockwood School District), Connecticut (Bridgeport), Illinois (state-level procurement), New Jersey (Department of Human Services), and Virginia (Fairfax County Public Schools). Representative recent opportunities include Oregon Department of Corrections solicitation S2910000017451 for approximately 40,000 pounds of frozen sweet corn, ITB due July 24, 2026, at $0.498 per pound reference price from a prior award; Texas Health and Human Services Commission IFB HHS0017449 for food and consumable products at the El Paso State Supported Living Center, IFB due July 13, 2026, with historical annual value of $1.5 million; Ben Hill County Schools IFB #26271 for comprehensive food products across multiple categories due June 15, 2026; and Fairfax County Public Schools IFB 2000004323 for Master Grocery K-12 covering 45 elementary, middle, and high schools plus distribution kitchens, IFB due April 27, 2026. School-district food bids typically run annual cycles with July 1 contract start dates and 30- to 60-day award windows. Correctional facilities and institutional food-service operations emphasize per-unit FOB Destination pricing, minimum shelf-life requirements (typically six months to one year), FDA/USDA compliance, and bulk truckload quantities. Buy American provisions govern school-district procurements; Oregon applies 5–10 percent regional preferences for in-state processing or resident-headquartered bidders. Pricing structures vary: frozen vegetables in institutional settings trade at $0.30–$0.70 per pound depending on variety and case size, while school districts often use cost-plus-percentage or NOI (Net Off Invoice) models tied to USDA market data.