UNSPSC 12164505: Excipient

An inactive substance used as a carrier for the active ingredients of a medication.

UNSPSC 12164505 Excipient, a Commodity code, encompasses chemical inputs and treatment agents that state and local water and wastewater utilities purchase as components of their treatment processes, including calcium oxide (lime), sodium hypochlorite, hydrochloric acid, aluminum sulfate, and ancillary treatment chemicals. Recent solicitations reveal that "excipient" here maps to water-treatment-specific chemistry: municipal water treatment plants are sourcing NSF-certified treatment chemicals, swimming pool operators are procuring pool-maintenance compounds, and water resource recovery districts are buying bulk lime and acid for plant operations. Cities and water departments dominate the issuing-body mix, with smaller representation from school districts (pool chemicals) and special-purpose districts such as water resource recovery authorities; the City of St. Petersburg, City of Phoenix Water Services, and City of Cartersville appear across multiple recent opportunities. Geographic activity spans Florida heavily (City of St. Petersburg, City of Holly Hill, City of Cocoa, Sarasota County, City of Jackson), Georgia (Gwinnett County, City of Valdosta, City of Cartersville, City of Griffin), with secondary activity in Arizona (City of Phoenix), Connecticut (City of Meriden), Oregon (Clean Water Services), and broader representation across the Southeast and Southwest.

Recent opportunities demonstrate steady, recurring procurement: the City of St. Petersburg posted IFB-26-344 for calcium oxide (lime) delivery to its COSME Water Treatment Plant with bids due October 29, 2026, requiring NSF/AWWA compliance, three-year initial term, and Business Enterprise participation (SBE/MBE/WBE); the School Board of Pinellas County issued RFQ 25AM018 for swimming pool chemicals across five school locations with firm pricing and February 11, 2026 submission deadline; the City of Cocoa posted ITB B2617COC for liquid sodium hypochlorite under ANSI/AWWA B300 standards with a 5 percent local preference and bids due September 23, 2026; the City of Phoenix Water Services Department solicited IFB-26-0104 for hydrochloric and citric acid with a non-mandatory pre-offer conference October 7, 2025, and bids due October 16, 2025 for a five-year contract with mandatory DBE/small-business participation reporting; and the City of Cartersville Water Department requested bids on multiple line-item water treatment chemicals for delivery to two facilities with bids due October 30, 2026. Sole-source notices from the City of Holly Hill for Chemco Systems lime-slaking components and Andritz Separation equipment parts reflect equipment-specific purchasing tied to proprietary systems. Most contracts run one to three years with firm pricing for the initial twelve months and indexed adjustment clauses thereafter; bonds (typically 5–10 percent) and NSF or AWWA certification are standard requirements across jurisdictions.