UNSPSC 31242205: Optical retarders

UNSPSC 31242205 Optical retarders is a Commodity code covering specialized optical components and accessories used in laboratory, microscopy, and scientific instrumentation applications. State and local governments procure these items primarily through cooperative purchasing vehicles and educational supply agreements supporting university laboratories, community college science programs, and agency-operated testing facilities. The work involves supplying optical retarders as part of broader microscope and optical equipment procurement packages, often bundled with complementary accessories and subject to warranty and technical compliance requirements.

Recent activity reflects a small volume of solicitations concentrated in state-level cooperative purchasing and agency laboratory acquisition. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts posted a cooperative purchasing vehicle (Solicitation 304T27490M2, due September 1, 2026) through the Texas Cooperative Purchasing Network to supply microscopes and accessories to multiple Texas state and local agencies, with firm fixed-price unit costs and 120-day option periods; the State of Michigan posted a Notice of Intent for RFP 250000002612 (July 31, 2026 deadline) for optical lenses and frames, though the underlying scope and evaluation details were not fully disclosed in available summary documents. Geographic activity is sparse and limited to Texas and Michigan within the recent opportunities block. Entities seeking to pursue this code should monitor cooperative purchasing vehicle renewals and state-agency laboratory equipment RFPs, as activity appears episodic rather than continuous.