NIGP 89521: Arc Welders, Wire, Self-Feeder

NIGP 89521 Arc Welders, Wire, Self-Feeder is an Item code covering self-feeding wire welding equipment and consumables purchased by state and local educational institutions. Recent solicitations show that state and local governments buy welding materials, supplies, and equipment — including welding rods, tungsten electrodes, flat bars, sheets, tubes, and pipes in steel, stainless steel, and aluminum — primarily through educational institutions' vocational and technical programs. Collin College has issued two separate three-year ITBs for welding materials and supplies, indicating sustained demand from community colleges and technical districts. Evaluation criteria across these opportunities emphasize purchase price (35 percent) alongside references, quality, vendor historical relationship, total cost of ownership, and Texas vendor status, with multi-vendor awards anticipated to support program continuity and flexibility.

Recent activity concentrates in Texas, where Collin College Community College District posted two overlapping solicitations for welding materials and supplies in 2024. The first ITB (FY2024ITB020) closed March 19, 2024, with an estimated annual procurement volume of approximately $400,000 and a three-year contract term from May 1, 2024, through April 30, 2027. The second ITB (FY2024ITB024), also from Collin College, closed April 19, 2024, with a similar $400,000 annual volume and contract term from June 1, 2024, through May 31, 2027. Both solicitations required vendors to provide percentage discounts off manufacturer's list prices and assign account representatives for product recommendations and problem-solving. The college actively encourages participation from small, minority, veteran, and female-owned businesses and evaluates vendors on a holistic basis, indicating opportunity for diverse suppliers willing to service educational institutions' welding programs over multi-year commitments.