UNSPSC 31201700: Sealants

A group of products used to close small openings that are difficult to shut with other materials, such as concrete, drywall, etc. Desirable properties of sealants include insolubility, corrosion resistance, and adhesion. Uses of sealants vary widely and sealants are used in many industries, for example, construction, automotive and aerospace industries. The main difference between adhesives and sealants is that sealants typically have lower strength and higher elongation than do adhesives.

Since the main objective of a sealant is to seal assemblies and joints, sealants need to have sufficient adhesion to the substrates and resistance to environmental conditions to remain bonded over the required life of the assembly. Sealants fall between higher-strength adhesives at one end and extremely low-strength putties and caulks at the other.

UNSPSC 31201700 Sealants is a Class code covering concrete, pavement, and joint-system sealers and their application at state and local facilities. State and local procurement activity under this code spans concrete-surface sealant services for transportation infrastructure, bridge-joint systems, and pavement-preservation materials. Issuing bodies include transportation authorities, state departments of transportation, cities, and counties. The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) appear as repeat buyers, with MoDOT seeking both bridging materials and pavement sealants through separate ongoing solicitations. Work currently being solicited includes concrete sealer application (penetrating, water-based acrylic, solvent-based acrylic, epoxy, and polyurethane types) with surface prep and waste disposal; engineered joint systems for bridge structures with specified temperature and working-range performance; and pavement sealers (CRAFCO Mastic One or equivalent) supplied with application equipment on an as-needed basis. Prevailing wage, Davis-Bacon labor compliance, and DBE participation goals are standard contract conditions.

Activity concentrates in California, Missouri, Texas, and Arizona. Representative recent opportunities include the Orange County Transportation Authority's IFB 250318 for concrete sealant services at OCTA facilities and platforms throughout Orange County, California, with bids due October 14, 2026, estimated contract value $250,000 for one year; the Missouri Department of Transportation – St. Louis IFB for an Open Cell Foam Joint System for bridge structures (closing October 20, 2026) establishing a Blanket Purchase Agreement for cooperative purchasing by Missouri counties and special districts; and the MoDOT Southwest District IFB (closed June 3, 2026) for CRAFCO sealants, Mastic One products, and application equipment rental on an as-needed basis through June 30, 2027, with four one-year renewal options. The City of Peoria, Arizona's Pavement Management Preservation IFB (due May 22, 2026) allocated $1.7 million annually for polymer-modified slurry seal delivery and application as part of a five-year contract. Pre-bid conferences, technical specifications tied to state air-quality or performance standards (SCAQMD VOC compliance, ASTM ratings), and firm-fixed or unit pricing are standard contract structures.