UNSPSC 12161913: Spray adjuvant

An ingredient added to a spray that reduces the surface tension of the water on the surface of the spray drop and reduces the interfacial tension between the spray drop and surface of the sprayed object, thus improving spray effectiveness. It is generally not inflamable and is harmless to the human body.

UNSPSC 12161913 Spray adjuvant, a Commodity code, describes chemical additives mixed with herbicides and other vegetation management products to improve their effectiveness and coverage in weed control applications. State and local governments procure spray adjuvants as part of broader vegetation management programs operated by highway departments, parks agencies, forestry services, municipalities, and special-purpose districts managing roadsides, city streets, turf areas, and ornamental plantings. The products are typically acquired through competitive solicitations establishing statewide or regional contract vehicles, often bundled with related herbicides, surfactants, and ornamental products. Issuing bodies include state transportation and natural resources departments, counties, cities, and special districts, with purchasing decisions driven by seasonal demand and the scale of vegetation control operations across highway systems and municipal grounds.

The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services posted a significant vegetation management RFP (solicitation 12225RFP, due August 20, 2026) that explicitly includes spray adjuvants alongside liquid and dry herbicides, aquatic herbicides, surfactants, and ornamental products. The contract vehicle targets spending of $914,419 to $3.87 million annually across state agencies (45.33% of historical volume), counties (45.11%), and special districts (9.64%), with a four-year cumulative value of approximately $7.77 million. The solicitation organizes bids into three categories—WSDOT-tested products, related vegetation management products, and utility vegetation control products—with successful bidders required to hold Washington State Department of Agriculture Pesticide Dealer Licenses. Awards will include up to four Main Awards and one Reserved Award (restricted to Washington Small Businesses and Certified Veteran-Owned Businesses) per category, with contract terms of up to sixty months. A virtual pre-bid conference is scheduled for July 15, 2026, and apparent successful bidders will be announced September 16, 2026. A second opportunity, DeKalb County's ITB for tennis center reconstruction (due July 13, 2026), appears unrelated to spray adjuvant procurement and does not reflect relevant activity under this code.