UNSPSC 41121520: Automated vial or tube decapper recapper

Automated system which utilizes a hands free torque technique to decap and recap tubes or vials while retaining reagent and sample integrity

UNSPSC 41121520 Automated vial or tube decapper recapper (Commodity) shows minimal alignment with recent state and local procurement activity. The code nominally describes laboratory equipment for automated sample processing, yet the three most recent opportunities tagged under it — emergency bridge replacement in Orange County, Florida; Rainin pipettes and spacers procurement by the State of California; and laboratory testing services from the City of Palm Bay, Florida — reflect infrastructure construction, consumable lab supplies, and analytical services contracting rather than automated decapping or recapping equipment. The Orange County bridge project (solicitation Y26742, IFB, bid due July 7, 2026, estimated cost $6,202,246.05) involved sealed competitive bidding for full bridge replacements with extensive design and permitting documents; the State of California RFB for Rainin pipettes (RFBIS26200929, due May 22, 2026) procured pipettes and spacers, not decapping equipment; and Palm Bay's laboratory testing ITB (19ITB26, originally due March 17, 2026) contracted for comprehensive analytical testing across water, wastewater, and groundwater programs from certified laboratories, with three bids ranging from $80,872 to $107,946 annually. None of these opportunities represent purchases of automated vial or tube decappers or recappers.

No state and local governments have posted recent solicitations for automated vial or tube decapping and recapping equipment. The code appears misapplied to the opportunities listed, suggesting either data tagging errors or a dormant procurement category at the state and local level. Firms seeking activity in lab automation equipment should monitor higher-tier UNSPSC families for laboratory apparatus and instrumentation, or verify whether this specific commodity code has been superseded or reallocated within their target jurisdictions' procurement classifications.