NIGP Code™ Release Notes
Issued: January 1, 2016
NIGP Code Services
Periscope Holdings, Inc.
211 East 7th St., Ste. 1100
Austin, TX 78701
NIGP Code™ is the copyrighted material of The National
Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.
©Copyright 2016
NIGP Code Release Notes
Table of Contents
Table ofContents. ...................................................................................................................................... 2
Overview of the NIGP Code™. ................................................................................................................. 3
Your download file .................................................................................................................................... 4
Using the files........................................................................................................................................... 5
Key Commodity Code Changes and Impacts
Need more help?. ..................................................................................................................................... 5
Appendix A -
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NIGP Code Release Notes
Overview of the NIGP Code™
The NIGP Commodity/Services Code is a solution that, when combined with procurement technology
will bring order and efficiency to your overall procurement program. The NIGP Code is a standardized
coding structure, commonly used to classify products and services procured by governmental entities
at all levels. It provides an essential tracking tool to improve the business processes of registering and
maintaining supplier files, capturing purchase history, generating key business indicator reports,
tracking inventory, and creating cooperative purchasing opportunities. The NIGP Code coupled with
the customized code support services offered by Periscope results in success through greater control,
and intelligence of your procurement process.
3-Digit Class Code
The 3-Digit class Code provides a brief general description. This level contains 218 Commodity
(Product) Classes and 64 Service Classes totaling 282 Classes. The 3-Digit Code is primarily used to
generate periodic expenditure history by department for fiscal planning, budget execution, and
accounting.
5-Digit Class-Item Code
The 5-Digit class-item Code is an expanded version of the 3-Digit class Code. Currently, it contains
over 9100 descriptions. This level may be used to categorize suppliers by class-item to allow your
procurement software to automate supplier selection, create supplier response reports, supplier
performance reports, and minority, woman, veteran, and small business and HUB reports by Code.
Purchase history can be captured at this level as well.
7-Digit Class-Item-Group Code
The 7-Digit Code provides an additional level of purchase description. It contains over 30.000
descriptions. It can be used to develop a specification file or contract items for use in solicitation
development and to capture contract purchase history.
Digit Class-Item-Group-Detail Code
The 11-Digit Code is generally used to create, manage, and maintain detailed line-items and to
identify stock items in your inventory. This level of the Code currently contains over 25,800
descriptions which provide a great amount of flexibility when creating contracts or managing
inventory.
The 7 and 11-Digit Code may be used with your procurement software to capture detailed purchase
history. This history can then be used to create periodic management reports stating how much was
spent during the period for what, whom, and from whom. The NIGP Code is the tool to make this
possible. It is only limited by the capability of the procurement software utilized.
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NIGP Code Release Notes
THE NIGP CODE STRUCTURE
CODE STRUCTURE
SAMPLE CODE
DESCRIPTION
3-digit (class)
620
Office Supplies: Erasers, Inks, Leads, Pens, Pencils, Etc.
5-digit (class-item)
620-80
Pens (General Writing Types): ball Point, Nylon Tip, Etc.
7-digit (class-item-group)
620-80-21
Pens: Ball Point, Retractable, Refillable, All Plastic Barrel w/Metal
Pocket Clip
11-digit (class-item-group-detail)
620-80-21-035-4
Fine Point, Black Ink, 12/Box
620-80-21-045-3
Fine Point, Blue Ink, 12/Box
620-80-21-065-1
Fine Point, Green Ink, 12/Box
620-80-21-075-0
Fine Point, Red Ink, 12/Box
620-80-21-095-8
Medium Point, Black Ink, 12/Box
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NIGP Code Release Notes
Access to the Code – based on Code License
The NIGP Code is accessed by downloading a zip file from the NIGP.com website. The downloaded contains the NIGP
Code which is saved in two primary formatted files:
• Tab delimited file format (.tab) and
• Fixed length format (.seq)
Depending on your NIGP license level, the following files will available:
~ 5 Digit NIGP license holders
• Class
o claslist.tab
o claslist.seq
• Class Item
o clasitem.tab
o clasitem.seq
o clasiidx.tab (alternate)
o calsiidx.seq (alternate)
~ 7 Digit NIGP license holders
• The 5 digit files, plus
• Group
o groups.tab
o groups.seq
~ 11 Digit license holders
• The 5 and 7 digit files, plus
• Detail
o nigp11.tab
o nigp11.seq
Additional files
• Category (a super set used by some cataloging functions, but not part of the official codeset)
o category.tab
• Category/class cross reference (a super set used by some cataloging functions, but not part of the official codeset)
o category_xref.tab
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NIGP Code Release Notes
Using the files
After downloading and saving the zip file, you can unzip the files and begin using them. The files can be
opened and saved as an Excel, Word, Wordpad or text file. Using the data management tools within Excel or
Word, you can manipulate the data to convert the tab or fixed width formats into tables or separate columns.
The files can be used to import into your database by using the base table as the import source and executing
sql commands to import the data into your database.
If additional assistance is needed in uploading the files into your database, please call the NIGP Code
customer support line at 800-757-6064 or e-mail [email protected]
Key Commodity Code Changes and Impacts
During 2015 a significant update to the NIGP Code was undertaken with the assistance of public procurement
practitioners and industry representatives. Through this effort, 3081 revisions have been applied for punctuation and
description language enhancements. Beyond these enhancements, 39 5-digit codes have been inactivated based on
current public procurement practices and industry standards. Additionally, 202 codes have been inactivated and
combined with other established codes within the taxonomy. A “note” has been provided that identifies the
effective date (January 1, 2016) of the change along with the “new” appropriate code for future use and reference.
Further, to ensure all needs are captured in the taxonomy, 14 new 5-digits codes have been added to the taxonomy;
these include such items as: Photo Identification Software, Orthopedic Veterinary Devices, Soap Making Materials
and Supplies, Disposable Shoes and Sandals, Night Vision Devices, and Athletic Field Groomers and Equipment.
Appendix A provides a list of the 14 new 5-digit codes, a list of the 39 5-digit codes that have been inactivated, and a
list of the 202 5-digits codes that have been inactivated and combined with other established codes in the taxonomy.
Additionally, all 7 and 11-digit codes corresponding to the 5-digit inactivated codes have been inactivated and all 7-11
digit codes corresponding to the 5-digit inactivated and combined with other established codes within the taxonomy
have also been inactivated and combined.
A detailed audit report of all changes and updates made to the NIGP Code is available on the NIGP.com website.
Need more help?
Periscope offers a broad range of services related to the NIGP Code, including:
• Training – Our staff of NIGP Code professionals can lead your team through training on the Code either
through webinars or on-site workshops
•
•
NIGP Strategic Code Assessment - is an exploration and in-depth analysis of a procurement
organization’s current utilization of the NIGP Commodity/Service Code (NIGP Code). This
consultation will incorporate a 2 day on-site visit that integrates an overview of classification
structure essentials and practices found in “best-of-breed” procurement operations.
NIGP Coding Services – Our team can take supplier, contract or inventory files and assign the
appropriate NIGP Code to help your procurement or inventory processes be more efficient and to
enable better visibility into procurement spend or inventory data.
For more information, please call the NIGP Code Services team at 800-757-6064, or e-mail at
[email protected] .
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