UNSPSC 41114403: Precipitation or evaporation recorders

UNSPSC 41114403 Precipitation or evaporation recorders (Commodity) shows minimal recent activity aligned with its nominal scope; state and local governments are instead using this code to tag lightning detection, prediction, and protection systems—hardware, software, installation, and maintenance services that fall outside traditional meteorological instrumentation. The work being solicited includes lightning protection system installation at military facilities and county parks, proprietary lightning detection software and Sferic Weather Station maintenance, and specialized weather monitoring equipment procurement. Issuing bodies span state departments (Texas Military Department, Texas Water Development Board), county governments (Hillsborough County, Broward County), and municipal/airport authorities (City of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport). The code mismatch between its nominal definition and actual procurement activity suggests either systematic miscoding or a tag-as-catch-all for weather and lightning-related instrumentation.

Recent activity concentrates in Texas and Florida. The Texas Military Department issued IFB TMD26FMO0044558 on September 12, 2026 (bids due September 26, 2026) for lightning protection system installation at eight range-tower and covered-seating sites at Camp Swift in Bastrop, Texas, with mandatory pre-bid attendance and two- to five-years' installation experience required. Hillsborough County posted a sole-source procurement (SS2600405, due September 11, 2026) to Earth Networks, Inc. for lightning detection and severe weather monitoring hardware, software, licensing, and maintenance valued at $47,627.54 over two years. The Texas Water Development Board issued IFB ESBD_548214 on August 11, 2026 (bids due August 25, 2026) for temperature sensors, pyranometers, and related monitoring equipment with exact brand and model specifications. Broward County and the City of Fort Lauderdale jointly posted an RFI (BLD2131961F1, due May 18, 2026) regarding Thor Guard, Inc. TG-360 lightning prediction and detection systems for county parks and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, structured as a notice of intent to designate sole source.