NIGP 43075: Recycled Gases and Containers

NIGP Item 43075, Recycled Gases and Containers, names products and services that state and local governments actually buy across a range of industrial and operational use cases: welding gases and materials for vocational and technical programs, specialty industrial gases for forensic laboratories, and shipping containers for county emergency services and operational logistics. The code encompasses both consumable gases and reusable or disposable containment and transport equipment. Community colleges and county government agencies are the dominant issuing bodies in recent activity, with school districts procuring welding supplies for instructional programs and counties sourcing containers and gases for specialized operational needs. Issuing bodies weight purchase price heavily in evaluation—typically 35 percent of award criteria—but also value references, quality, vendor relationships, and total cost of ownership across multi-year contracts.

Recent solicitations show activity concentrated in Texas and Florida. Collin College issued two separate ITBs (FY2024-ITB-020 and FY2024-ITB-024) for three-year welding materials and equipment contracts each valued at approximately $400,000 annually, both on a multi-vendor basis with response deadlines in March and April 2024. Harris County Institute of Forensic Science posted an ITB for specialty chemicals and industrial gases with a one-year term beginning October 1, 2026, and bids due July 20, 2026, though specific scope details were not disclosed. Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners issued ITB-26-00247 for shipping containers—20-foot and 40-foot Conex units, including office-configured containers—valued at $146,685.00 over two years, with bid submission by May 15, 2026. All solicitations were structured as ITBs with award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder; no set-aside restrictions were applied across these opportunities.