UNSPSC 50524439: Non GMO sunburst mandarin oranges

The variety of non GMO mandarin oranges and tangerines known as non GMO sunburst mandarin oranges. This means that they are produced without the use of methods that genetically modify organisms by means that are not possible under natural conditions. Such methods include cell fusion, microencapsulation and macro-encapsulation, and recombinant DNA technology (including gene deletion, gene doubling, introducing a foreign gene, and changing the positions of genes when achieved by recombinant DNA technology).

Traditional methods of breeding, conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, in vitro fertilization, or tissue culture are considered to be non-GMO.

UNSPSC 50524439 Non GMO sunburst mandarin oranges is a Commodity code that covers fresh citrus fruit procurement for school nutrition programs, though recent solicitations show that state and local governments are buying fresh produce across a much broader range of items — bananas, apples, berries, broccoli, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, and eggs — rather than mandarin oranges specifically. School districts dominate the issuing bodies soliciting under or near this code, with activity concentrated in Georgia (Douglas County, Hancock County, Glynn County, Liberty County, Muscogee County, Savannah-Chatham County, Bulloch County) and Texas (McAllen, Austin), alongside Florida (Hillsborough County) and Wisconsin (Madison Metropolitan). A representative recent solicitation is Madison Metropolitan School District's RFB 4162 for petite bananas, due July 29, 2026, with estimated annual contract value of $78,000 and weekly delivery to a single distribution center; another is Douglas County School System's RFP SN 26-004 through the GEC Buying Cooperative for fresh produce and eggs serving 30 districts across two Georgia regions, with estimated annual spending of approximately $4.4 million for Area One and $1.1 million for Area Two, due March 4, 2026.

School districts procure produce through RFPs, RFQs, IFBs, and ITBs with response dates typically in the March-to-May window for contracts commencing July 1 each year. Solicitations universally require HACCP plans, Buy American compliance (domestic commodities or 51 percent domestic agricultural content in processed items), compliance certifications including debarment and E-Verify authorization, and commercial general liability insurance ranging from $500,000 to $2,000,000. Many districts impose geographic preferences or local-sourcing requirements — Bartow County and Bulloch County favor produce grown within 400 and 200 miles respectively — and evaluate proposals on cost (typically 30–50 points), vendor qualifications and experience (15–20 points), product quality and availability (15–30 points), and past performance or references (10–15 points). Districts frequently award to multiple vendors on a line-item basis and include renewal options for up to four additional one-year terms. Pricing typically remains firm for the contract year with prospective redetermination in January or based on USDA Agricultural Marketing Service or Consumer Price Index data; price increases exceeding 3 percent may trigger sourcing from alternative suppliers. No set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises appear in recent solicitations, though some districts encourage small and minority-owned business participation or provide diversity-owned business scoring preferences.