UNSPSC 42261508: Postmortem needles

In this classification, this commodity indicates a product that is a hollow needle commonly used with a syringe to inject or extract substances or fluids associated with a procedure. Most nations, for tariff and trade purposes, schedule these products under HS 901832.

UNSPSC 42261508 Postmortem needles is a Commodity code that encompasses forensic and crime scene collection supplies, including evidence tubes, sterile swabs, DNA collection kits, sharps containers, fingerprint collection equipment, and related consumables used by law enforcement and medical examiner offices. State and local governments procure these items primarily through county sheriff's offices, municipal police departments, and special forensic units; purchasing occurs both as direct buys and through cooperative purchasing vehicles that aggregate demand across multiple jurisdictions. The scope of work under this code reflects active procurement for crime scene response capabilities, with items typically ordered on an as-needed basis to replenish evidence collection inventory and maintain forensic laboratory operations.

Law enforcement and forensic procurement activity under this code concentrates in Texas and the Upper Midwest. Harris County, Texas issued an Invitation to Bid (ITB) in May 2026 for Crime Scene Supplies and Related Items for the Harris County Sheriff's Office, establishing a one-year contract beginning June 1, 2026 with renewal options, requiring firm pricing across multiple forensic supply categories and strict compliance with insurance, tax, and bonding requirements. The City of Dallas solicited bids for forensic equipment in June 2026 (IFB IFSDPDB2600026, due June 26, 2026) through its Bonfire portal for the Dallas Police Department Crime Scene Response unit, with delivery to 1400 Botham Jean Boulevard. The University of Wisconsin-Madison posted a bid request in July 2026 for Implied Consent Blood Draw Kits (RFB 2027-UWMSN-01386, closed August 7, 2026) through ShopUW+. Sourcewell, a Minnesota local government cooperative, issued RFP 061626 in May 2026 for Law Enforcement Equipment (due June 16, 2026) to establish a multi-jurisdictional contracting vehicle spanning Washington state counties and broader participating entities. A separate Sourcewell RFP 26RFP102026 solicited proposals for Physical Health Products and Related Services (due October 20, 2026), which appears tangentially related to the postmortem needles classification but lacks specific product detail in available documentation.