UNSPSC 11171601: Stainless steel alloy 304

A type of stainless steel alloy with the following main characteristics: Cr 17,00 to 19,00 percent, Ni 8,00 to 10,00 percent, balance equals Fe + minor metallurgical pollutions. This commodity is probably the most common stainless steel used in industries to protect parts from moist corrosion

UNSPSC 11171601 Stainless steel alloy 304, a Commodity code, nominally describes specialty metal alloys but shows little relevant recent state and local procurement activity under its stated scope. The three recent opportunities posted under this code involve coiled aluminum for license plate manufacturing and pallet rack wire decking — neither of which align with stainless steel alloy 304 specification or use. The Colorado Department of Corrections, through its Correctional Industries division, has issued two separate Invitations for Bid (IFB) for 3105H21 aluminum alloy coil stock in 21-gauge thickness for production of automobile license plates at the CCi Tag Plant in Canon City, with monthly delivery of approximately 37,000 pounds each. The Los Angeles Superior Court, meanwhile, solicited pallet rack wire decking units unrelated to either stainless steel or aluminum specialty metals. State and local jurisdictions issuing under this code span correctional facility operations and court administration, though the mismatch between the code's nominal scope and the actual goods being bought suggests either miscoding at the source or minimal relevant procurement volume under the true stainless steel alloy 304 category.

The Colorado Department of Corrections represents the only buyer with multiple recent postings under this code. The first IFB (IFB1CFAA20260001792) was posted May 19, 2026, with a bid due date of May 23, 2026 and public bid opening scheduled for May 26, 2026; the second IFB (IFB1CFAA20260001791) was posted May 5, 2026, with a bid due date of May 20, 2026 and bid opening May 19, 2026. Both solicitations require coiled aluminum to meet stringent mechanical properties and conversion coating specifications per ASTM B-449-Class 2, with delivery on a freight-prepaid, FOB Destination basis. Bidders must submit pricing on a per-pound basis through bidnetdirect.com and are evaluated on lowest-cost basis provided they are responsive and responsible; Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) offerors receive a 5% preference on pricing. Contract personnel accessing correctional facilities must pass criminal background checks, sign consent-to-search forms, and complete PREA and defensive tactics training. Geographic activity is concentrated in Colorado, with secondary activity in California. The code shows no relevant recent procurement in stainless steel alloy 304 itself and warrants close attention to source coding accuracy before resource allocation.