UNSPSC 12164200: Retarders

UNSPSC 12164200 Retarders, a Class code, covers chemical additives and treatment compounds that state and local water and wastewater utilities procure to control hydrogen sulfide corrosion, manage odor, reduce residual chlorine, and balance nutrient cycling in treatment systems. Recent solicitations show municipalities and water authorities purchasing specific retarders and related control chemicals: magnesium hydroxide slurry for hydrogen sulfide and corrosion control, sodium bisulfite solution for dechlorination, hydrogen peroxide for odor control, and liquid ammonium sulfate for water treatment. Issuing bodies span municipal water departments (City of Austin, City of Tallahassee, Macon Water Authority, City of Cartersville), municipal wastewater treatment (City of Lubbock for land application consulting, City of Orlando for lift-station hydrogen sulfide control), independent school districts (Dallas Independent School District for district-wide water treatment services), and city water utilities (City of Griffin, City of Temple, City of Meriden). Award patterns show line-item bidding structures where suppliers compete on individual chemicals, with prices firm for initial contract terms and deliveries required within 48 to 72 hours of order placement to specified facilities during business hours.

Recent activity concentrates in the Southeast and South-Central regions. Georgia municipalities (City of Cartersville, Gwinnett County, City of Griffin, Macon Water Authority) and Florida jurisdictions (City of Tallahassee, City of Orlando) posted multiple solicitations; Texas utilities (City of Austin, City of Temple, City of Lubbock, Dallas ISD) and Connecticut (City of Meriden) rounded out geographic reach. Representative opportunities include the City of Cartersville Water Department's IFB for 16 line items of water treatment chemicals including aluminum sulfate, liquid lime, chlorine, and sodium hypochlorite with bids due October 30, 2026; the City of Tallahassee's IFB 067-26-CPW for magnesium hydroxide slurry supply on a five-year firm-fixed-price requirements contract with sealed bids due June 16, 2026 and questions due May 22, 2026; the City of Austin's IFB 2200 BYS1051REBID for 38% sodium bisulfite solution delivery to wastewater treatment plants with bids due June 9, 2026; and the City of Temple's ITB for liquid ammonium sulfate to supply two water treatment plants with bids due June 10, 2026 and an anticipated October 2026 award. NSF Standard 60 certification and AWWA or ASTM compliance are standard requirements. Several solicitations apply local vendor preferences or historically underutilized business evaluation weights.