UNSPSC 12162800: Friction reducers

UNSPSC 12162800 Friction reducers is a Class code that encompasses chemical additives and products used to reduce friction, corrosion, and odor in industrial and municipal infrastructure — principally ferrous salts, aquatic and terrestrial herbicides, adjuvants, and surfactants deployed in wastewater systems, highway maintenance, and vegetation management. State and local governments procure these products through a mix of issuing bodies: state departments (notably the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Washington State Department of Enterprise Services), cities (Dallas Water Utilities), counties, and special-purpose districts managing wastewater, transportation, and land stewardship. The work centers on purchasing chemical products for operational use rather than providing applied services, though some solicitations bundle chemical supply with application or injection services.

Recent activity appears concentrated in Texas and Washington, with the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services conducting the most detailed procurement on record — a statewide RFP for vegetation management and related products posted July 7, 2026, with responses due August 20, 2026, targeting up to four Main Awards and one Reserved Award per category (WSDOT Tested Products, Related Vegetation Management Products, and Utility Vegetation Control Products) with historical annual spending ranging from $914,419 to $3.87 million. The City of Dallas issued an IFB for sewer odor and corrosion control services on May 21, 2026, due June 26, 2026, with an estimated contract value of $10 million over thirty-six months for liquid ferrous salt and ferrous chloride injection into the wastewater system; this solicitation carries mandatory SBE participation goals and a local preference. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice posted two parallel chemical solicitations (IW254710 due July 15, 2026, and IW254710A due July 29, 2026) with minimal scope detail. The code shows modest recent activity weighted toward regional state and municipal buyers rather than fragmented jurisdictions.