UNSPSC 11101522: Activated carbon

UNSPSC 11101522 Activated carbon is a Commodity code under which state and local water utilities procure granular activated carbon (GAC) and related services for water and wastewater treatment plants. The work solicited includes virgin and reactivated carbon media supply, removal and replacement of spent carbon from filtration vessels, reactivation and blending services, and full logistical support including collection, transport, testing, installation, and disposal. Issuing bodies span municipal water authorities, county water departments, and city utilities. The City of Tucson Environmental Services, Macon Water Authority, Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority, West Travis County Public Utility Agency, the City of Rio Rancho, DeKalb County Government, the City of Lewisville, the City of Griffin, and similar jurisdictions across the country are active solicitors. Work scopes frequently include PFAS remediation and compliance-driven capital improvements tied to EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) deadlines, particularly the October 2029 PFAS compliance target. Contracts typically run one to three years with renewal options, and evaluation criteria commonly prioritize method of approach and qualifications alongside price.

Recent activity concentrates in the Southeast and Texas. The City of Tucson (Arizona) posted solicitation 270137 on September 24, 2026 for an annual requirements contract with multiple firms to supply activated carbon for groundwater and soil vapor remediation systems, with proposals due September 23, 2026 via the City's online bidding system; the City currently operates vessels ranging from 1,000 to 20,000 pounds and requires virgin coconut shell carbon, bituminous coal carbon, and vapor-phase reactivated carbon, with the 20,000-pound vessels changed out approximately three times annually. Macon Water Authority (Georgia) issued an IFB for underdrain replacement in its GAC filter system on September 11, 2026 with bids due October 27, 2026 and a mandatory pre-bid meeting on October 13, 2026. Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority (Georgia) solicited sealed bids for custom reactivated GAC services on September 11, 2026 due October 1, 2026, encompassing complete collection, reactivation using NSF 61 certified facilities, blending, and transport to its Acworth facility. The City of Lewisville (Texas) posted a competitive sealed-bid request on May 16, 2026 for annual supply of water-grade activated carbon in 30-pound bags with estimated annual quantity of 40 tons, pricing FOB destination with no escalation, and required product samples by June 8, 2026; the City established both primary and secondary contractor positions to ensure supply continuity. DeKalb County Government (Georgia) issued ITB 2026-064 on June 15, 2026 for filter media replacement at the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant as a compliance-driven capital improvement tied to EPA PFAS MCL attainment by October 2029.