UNSPSC 81171801: Agricultural science consultation service

Includes research and development on production techniques e.g., irrigation management, recommended nitrogen inputs, etc., improving agricultural productivity in terms of quantity and quality e.g., selection of drought-resistant crops and animals, develop

UNSPSC 81171801 Agricultural science consultation service is a Commodity code that encompasses dairy cost analysis, farm business planning, agricultural research, and related expert consulting work recently solicited by state departments and municipal governments. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry is conducting an RFP (RFP01A202606101, due July 30, 2026) for a dairy cost of production study covering fluid milk production costs across Maine commercial dairy farms using 2025 financial data, with the awardee required to deliver written reports, oral testimony, and expert witness services at regulatory hearings by March 15, 2027. The Oregon Department of Agriculture issued separate RFPs for technical assistance supporting its Farm Viability Business Program (RFP due May 11, 2026, with $80,000 budgeted) and a Food and Agriculture Final Mile/Scaled Distribution Project (RFP due April 28, 2026, with $68,000 budgeted) seeking consultants to provide business planning, farm succession planning workshops, market analysis, and supply chain research across multiple states including Oregon, Washington, Northern California, Idaho, and Montana. These procurement bodies—primarily state agriculture departments and regional economic development entities—are the core repeat buyers under this code. The work requires demonstrated expertise in agricultural economics, dairy farming operations, food system logistics, business planning, and research methodology, with qualifications typically including advanced degrees or five-plus years of specialized agricultural consulting experience.

Geographic spread centers on Maine, Oregon, and the Pacific Northwest and Northern California region, with recent activity concentrated among state-level agricultural departments. Representative recent opportunities show Maine's single-award dairy study spanning September 2026 through August 2027 with an optional renewal period, Oregon's nine-month Farm Viability Program technical assistance contract with renewal options to two years, and Oregon's nine-month Food and Agriculture Final Mile project with similar extension possibilities. Evaluation criteria across these procurements emphasize relevant agricultural expertise, producer engagement capability, and financial management knowledge, with cost proposals weighted at 20–45 points on 120-point scales. Proposal deadlines in the current cycle cluster in late April through July 2026, and state preference programs in Oregon (10% cost preference for services performed entirely in-state, encouragement of SBE, MBE, WBE, and service-disabled veteran-owned business participation) are present but not mandatory set-asides. Contract structures are typically fixed-price or firm fixed-price for the initial term, with price increases restricted to anniversary dates and subject to state approval.