UNSPSC 41113034: pH test strips or papers

UNSPSC 41113034 pH test strips or papers (Commodity) encompasses laboratory and field chemical reagents used by state and local governments for water quality monitoring, environmental testing, and equipment calibration. The City of Austin, Texas recently solicited buffer solutions, pH reference solutions, and related calibration chemicals under this code to maintain hydrolab and field sondes that monitor drinking water and environmental quality. State and local procurement under this code centers on bulk chemical supplies—specifically pH buffers, conductivity standards, redox buffers, and ultra-pure deionized water—purchased by municipal water departments, environmental compliance agencies, and public health laboratories to support routine and regulatory testing. Purchasing bodies typically include city water utilities, county environmental departments, and state environmental quality agencies. Small business and local business preferences appear common; the Austin procurement applied both a Small Business Preference program and a Local Business Preference tied to the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Recent activity centers on Texas municipalities. The City of Austin issued IFB 6300BYS1059 on July 13, 2026, with a response date of August 13, 2026, soliciting eight specified chemical items under Category 1 (buffer solutions at pH 7.00, 10.00, and 4.01; conductivity standards; ultra-pure deionized water; pH reference solution; redox buffer; and sensor storage solution), with optional vendor-proposed additions in Category 3 at up to 25% markup. The procurement is as-needed rather than guaranteed volume and requires all-inclusive pricing covering administrative fees, overhead, shipping to the Austin area, and labor. Mandatory insurance includes Workers' Compensation and Commercial General Liability at $500,000 per occurrence. The contact is procurement specialist Brenita Wilkison.