UNSPSC 24131514: Precooling and cold storage unit

Storage unit for precooling, which is processing of cooling of products to prescribed temperature prior to refrigeration or freezing in order to maintain freshness after harvesting fruits or vegetables.

UNSPSC 24131514 Precooling and cold storage unit is a Commodity code representing walk-in freezers, modular refrigerated containers, and related cold-storage equipment that state and local governments procure for food service, evidence storage, institutional kitchens, and detention facilities. State and local buyers are purchasing installed freezer units (complete with condensing and evaporator components), brand-specific replacement doors and panels, prefabricated modular walk-in systems, and rental of portable refrigerated containers, often bundled with delivery, assembly, and startup services. Issuing bodies span state departments (Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, California), county purchasing offices (Gwinnett County, Pinellas County, Sacramento County, Richmond County), city procurement bureaus (City of Austin), school districts (Houghton Lake Community Schools, Life School, Hephzibah Middle School), and special-purpose entities (Sourcewell cooperative purchasing). Repeat procurement by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice across multiple unit facilities (Bell, Kyle, Willacy County State Jail, Lindsey State Jail, Bridgeport) signals sustained institutional demand for cold storage at correctional facilities.

Geographic activity concentrates in Texas (TDCJ, Life School, Texas Workforce Commission, Texas A&M University System, and HHSC), Georgia (Gwinnett County, Richmond County), and California (State of California, Sacramento County, City of Austin), with secondary activity in Florida (Pinellas County) and Michigan (Houghton Lake Community Schools). Recent solicitations include the California State Procurement Department's RFB IS_27200112 for brand-specific freezer-door procurement and installation (due September 15, 2026); Gwinnett County's IWQ 137909 for kitchen equipment including a full-height stainless steel freezer at Lenora Park Community Center (RFQ, due September 9, 2026); the City of Austin's IFB 9000 ACA1011REBID for rental of portable refrigerated containers for forensic DNA evidence storage (IFB, bids due September 15, 2026, with 5% local small business discount); Life School's RFP 2026-01 for kitchen equipment including cold-storage units (RFP, proposals due September 28, 2026, funded through federal School Nutrition Program); Houghton Lake Community Schools' walk-in freezer replacement RFP in Michigan (proposals due May 22, 2026); and multiple Texas Department of Criminal Justice unit-level refrigerated-container procurements (July and June 2026 closing dates via Bonfire electronic portal). Set-asides and preferences appear in Austin (local small business discount), California (CBE form requirement), and Pinellas County (5% SBE price preference for certified small business enterprises). Contract values range from equipment rental arrangements to build-and-install scopes with performance bonds, liquidated damages, and extended warranty provisions; most solicitations require firm, fixed pricing with freight prepaid and delivery to site.