UNSPSC 12142111: Liquid nitrogen

Liquid nitrogen is a cryogenic fluid, nitrogen in a liquid state at an extremely low temperature.

UNSPSC 12142111 Liquid nitrogen, a Commodity code, encompasses the supply and delivery of cryogenic gases—primarily liquid oxygen and compressed gas cylinders—to state and local water treatment plants, fish hatcheries, wastewater facilities, and municipal infrastructure. The recent solicitations show that state and local governments are buying bulk liquid oxygen for water production and treatment, with strict purity and compliance specifications (commonly 99.0–99.5% oxygen content, NSF/ANSI Standard 60 certification, and dew-point requirements), as well as compressed oxygen and argon cylinders for fish stocking operations. Issuing bodies include city departments (water production, public works, utilities), state natural-resources or wildlife agencies, county purchasing divisions, and water districts. The work centers on negotiating annual or multi-year supply contracts with firm or escalating pricing, managing delivery schedules with tight turnaround requirements (48 to 72 hours), and meeting hazmat, insurance, and prevailing-wage obligations where applicable.

Recent activity spans Florida, Texas, Oregon, Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Kansas, and Illinois. The City of Winter Park, Florida issued IFB26-13 in September 2026 for purchase and delivery of liquid oxygen to three water treatment plants (approximately 1,500 tons annually, 99.5% purity, response due April 2, 2026), while the City of Sanford, Florida solicited bulk liquid oxygen on an as-needed basis with 48-hour and 8-hour emergency delivery windows (IFB, April 9, 2026 deadline). Tualatin Valley Water District (Oregon) sought approximately 400,000 pounds of liquid oxygen annually for its Sherwood water treatment plant (RFQ due May 20, 2026). The State of Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services solicited liquid oxygen for eight statewide fish hatcheries under a Master Agreement (RFQ 09A 260615-313, quotations due July 7, 2026). The State of Colorado, Division of Parks and Wildlife issued two near-identical procurements for bottled compressed oxygen and argon cylinders for fish stocking at the Chalk Cliffs Rearing Unit (both due May 19, 2026). The City of Waco, Texas and City of Wichita, Kansas each bid liquid oxygen supply and delivery for municipal water production (RFBs September 15 and May 22, 2026 respectively). Contract terms typically run one to three years with renewal options extending to five years total; pricing is quoted per unit (gallon, pound, or cylinder) FOB destination, with firm rates for the initial term and CPI-indexed or documented-increase adjustments thereafter. Vendors must carry $1 million to $10 million liability and pollution/environmental coverage, meet prevailing-wage and compliance requirements in public-work contexts, and demonstrate prior experience servicing similar-sized accounts.