UNSPSC 23271808: Soldering flux

UNSPSC 23271808 Soldering flux, a Commodity code, covers welding consumables and related materials that state and local governments, particularly community colleges and school districts, procure for instructional and operational welding programs. The recent opportunities solicited under this code show that state and local buyers are acquiring a broader range of welding supplies than the code name alone suggests—including welding rods, tungsten electrodes, welding wire (MIG and TIG), gas consumables, safety equipment such as gloves and face shields, and flexible vent extraction systems for welding labs. These solicitations come primarily from Texas-based community colleges and independent school districts. Collin College and Collin County Community College District are repeat buyers, each issuing three-year multi-vendor contracts for welding materials and supplies with estimated annual volumes around $400,000. Northside Independent School District (NISD) in Bexar County, the fourth-largest public school system in Texas, solicited welding equipment and supplies on an as-needed basis across 147 facilities. Evaluation criteria across these opportunities emphasize purchase price (typically 35 percent), references, quality, total cost of ownership, and state-of-Texas vendor status, with some jurisdictions offering preference weight to small, minority, veteran, and female-owned businesses.

Activity under this code concentrates in Texas, with recent solicitations from Collin College (ITB FY2024-020, due March 19, 2024, and ITB FY2024-024, due April 19, 2024), Northside Independent School District in San Antonio (IFB 2026-054, due March 5, 2026), and Mt. San Antonio Community College District in California (Solicitation 2026067, due July 16, 2026, for forty-seven flexible vent extraction arms with a $150,000 Engineer's Base Bid Estimate). The California solicitation required a current California Contractor's License classification C-20, 3 percent DVBE participation goal, prevailing wage compliance, and performance and payment bonds. The Texas college and school district solicitations are open to all qualified vendors and award on best value or lowest responsive bid, with most seeking multi-vendor arrangements to ensure supply flexibility and competitive pricing over contract periods typically spanning one to three years.