UNSPSC 15101801: Biodiesel

A type of biofuel that is made with the ingredients in vegetable oil, such as soybean oil and it is most widely used along with bioethanol.

UNSPSC 15101801 Biodiesel, a Commodity code, covers bulk biodiesel fuel supply and delivery to state and local government fleets, transit systems, and public agencies. Recent solicitations show state and local governments procuring biodiesel as part of broader motor-fuel portfolios or as standalone fuel-group awards within multi-fuel contracts. The City of Austin, Texas solicited biodiesel (alongside unleaded gasoline, E10, E85, diesel, renewable diesel, and DEF) to fuel approximately 5 million gallons annually across 130 tank locations in an IFB with a response date of October 29, 2026. Madison County Mass Transit in Illinois is seeking B11 biodiesel supply on an indefinite-delivery requirements contract for 2027, with bids due October 20, 2026, and an estimated annual volume of approximately 720,000 gallons monthly. The City of Tucson, Sun Tran, Sun Van, and Pima County issued a joint RFP for six fuel groups including biodiesel under an annual requirements contract for approximately 9 million gallons total across all fuel types, with responses due in 2023 (now expired). Sarasota County has reissued a separate IFQ for marine fuel (primarily ethanol-free gasoline rather than biodiesel), but biodiesel appears infrequently in the recent stack relative to diesel and unleaded gasoline. The issuing bodies span regional transit authorities, county transit systems, city fleet operations, and school districts. Geographic activity concentrates in Texas (Austin), Illinois (Madison County), Arizona (Tucson/Pima County region), and Georgia (Cobb County School District), with scattered activity in California and Florida.

Biodiesel procurement under this code is typically framed as one component within broader bulk-fuel supply contracts rather than a standalone fuel line, reflecting operational diversity across fleet portfolios. When biodiesel appears as a distinct award group, it attracts suppliers capable of meeting ASTM or BQ-9000 specifications and handling delivery to multiple sites. Pricing methodologies rely on OPIS daily rack indices with fixed markups or markdowns, and contractors must demonstrate prior fuel-supply experience, maintain pollution liability insurance (commonly $2 million minimum), and deliver within 24 hours of order placement. Contract terms run one to three years with optional renewals. Activity remains moderate relative to broader motor-fuel procurement; biodiesel rarely drives a standalone solicitation and instead competes within competitive awards alongside diesel and renewable diesel. Suppliers should monitor regional transit authorities and multi-site fleet operations in Texas, Illinois, and the Southwest for near-term opportunities, though the absence of a standalone, high-volume biodiesel RFP in the past six months suggests supply consolidation favors generalist bulk-fuel vendors over biodiesel specialists.