UNSPSC 42211918: Talking food scales for the physically challenged

In this classification, this commodity indicates a product used as talking food scales for the physically challenged. Most nations, for tariff and trade purposes, schedule these products under HS 901811.

UNSPSC 42211918 Talking food scales for the physically challenged is a Commodity code covering specialized assistive devices and adaptive aids for individuals with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments. State and local governments procure these items through cooperative purchasing agreements and targeted vocational rehabilitation programs serving disabled populations. The actual scope extends beyond talking scales to encompass a broader range of adaptive cooking, housekeeping, orientation, navigation, and mobility aids designed for people with disabilities. Issuing bodies include state workforce agencies, regional purchasing cooperatives, and special education service centers that aggregate demand across multiple member organizations. Procurement typically uses fixed-price catalog-discount structures where vendors provide percentage discounts off list pricing, with net pricing including statewide delivery and no additional fuel or handling surcharges permitted.

Activity centers in Texas, where the Texas Workforce Commission's Vocational Rehabilitation Division and Region 7 Purchasing Cooperative (Kilgore, Texas) represent the two most recent solicitations. The Texas Workforce Commission issued IFB No. 3202600146 for rehabilitation supplies in June 2026, with bids due June 3, 2026, covering eight product categories including talking aids, orientation devices, mobility equipment, and training materials, with an anticipated contract value of approximately $350,000 annually and a potential five-year term. Region 7 Purchasing Cooperative released a multi-vendor catalog discount bid (SPE2628) in August 2026 with an October 1, 2026 response deadline, estimated at $2,713,541 over two years and anticipating multiple awardees from a prior field of 99 vendors. Both procurements carry mandatory state preferences and subcontracting requirements; the TWC IFB includes a 5.28 percent Veteran HUB utilization goal and mandatory VetHUB subcontracting plan submission.