NIGP Codes (National Institute of Governmental Purchasing)

NIGP Codes are the commodity and services coding system developed and maintained by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) for use by state and local government agencies across the United States and Canada. They are the dominant classification system at the sub-federal government level in North America.

What are NIGP Codes?

The NIGP Code system organises goods and services into a hierarchy of five-digit codes, where the first three digits identify the commodity class and the last two digits identify the specific item within that class. For example, class 450 covers Information Technology Hardware, and a five-digit code within that class would identify a specific type of server or storage device. The system covers both goods and services and is updated periodically by NIGP to reflect new procurement categories. Many US states and thousands of counties and municipalities use NIGP codes as the primary classification on their e-procurement portals, including Periscope S2G, DemandStar, and similar platforms.

Suppliers selling to US state and local governments register their NIGP codes in vendor portals so that agencies can identify qualified suppliers when issuing solicitations. This is the sub-federal equivalent of what unspsc does at the UN level or what cpv does at the EU level, but unlike those systems, NIGP is specifically designed for government purchasing rather than general commerce. At the federal level, the US uses psc (Product and Service Codes) and naics instead.

Why NIGP Codes matter for bidders

Suppliers targeting US state and local government contracts need correct NIGP code registration in the relevant state vendor portal. A mismatch between a firm's registered codes and the codes attached to a solicitation means the firm will not appear in the buyer's supplier search and may not receive automatic bid notifications. Because each state and city may run its own portal, firms working across multiple jurisdictions must register and maintain NIGP profiles in each system.

FAQ

Are NIGP codes used by the US federal government?

No. The US federal government uses naics to classify the industry and psc codes to classify specific products and services on SAM.gov. NIGP codes are a state and local government standard.

How many digits is a NIGP code?

Standard NIGP codes are five digits: three digits for the commodity class and two digits for the specific item. Some extended versions add additional digits for greater specificity.

How do I find the right NIGP codes for my business?

The NIGP code dictionary is available through NIGP and through most state procurement portals. Suppliers typically search by keyword description and map their products and services to the closest matching codes before completing vendor registration.