UNSPSC 47131823: Deicers or defrosters

UNSPSC 47131823 Deicers or defrosters is a Commodity code describing chemical products state and local governments procure for winter road and facility maintenance—primarily liquid magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and calcium magnesium acetate solutions, as well as treated and untreated rock salt, bagged ice melt, and de-icing additives. State transportation departments and municipalities are the primary buyers, along with school districts, county public works agencies, and airport authorities. Recent solicitations show substantial activity across product categories: the State of Oregon is seeking corrosion-inhibited liquid magnesium chloride for 104 highway storage sites statewide under an ITB due October 30, 2026, while Cleveland Metropolitan School District is requesting snow and ice removal services (including de-icing materials) across 60 facilities under an RFP due October 16, 2026. The Illinois Department of Transportation has executed de-icer contracts for Districts 2-7 and is rebidding similar scope under IFB B-53737 with bids due September 22, 2026, specifying de-icer solutions meeting freeze-point and specific-gravity standards. Michigan Department of Transportation has issued multiple RFPs for non-chloride liquid deicer and CMA solid deicer, though several procurement attempts have been canceled or discontinued when bidders' products failed to meet technical specifications. The code also captures municipal and county rock salt procurements: Louisville Metro, Bergen County (New Jersey), Walworth County (Wisconsin), and the City of Fort Worth have all posted recent solicitations for bulk rock salt or treated product, typically on unit-price or blanket-purchase-order bases for seasonal on-call supply.

Geographic activity spans multiple regions with concentrated focus on cold-climate states and northern municipalities. Oregon, Illinois, Michigan, and New Jersey show the most recent solicitation density, with additional activity in Texas, Kentucky, South Dakota, Connecticut, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio (Cleveland), and Wisconsin. Award structures vary: Oregon anticipates a single price agreement but reserves the right to make multiple awards by district; Bergen County and other New Jersey entities are using cooperative purchasing vehicles to establish unit pricing for multiple authorized users; and most municipal and county rock salt procurements allow multiple awards or split awards to ensure service reliability. Contract terms typically run 12 to 36 months for road-salt supply with renewal options, often to a maximum of 10 years across all periods; snow-removal and de-icing service contracts (which may include chemical supply) frequently span 36 to 48 months. Evaluation criteria emphasize responsiveness (delivery within 24–72 hours or specified lead times), product compliance with ASTM or Clear Roads standards, pricing, and contractor experience managing multisite operations. Set-asides and preferences appear selectively: Oregon applies its Supplies and Services preferences (10% for Oregon-fabricated goods, additional 10% for public benefit companies); Texas jurisdictions apply local-vendor preferences under state law; and Illinois snow-removal solicitations are frequently designated Small Business Set-Aside. Insurance requirements are standard (general liability $1 million per occurrence, auto liability $1 million, workers' compensation per statute) and prevailing wage applies to service contracts in Illinois. Product specifications are strict and testing-backed: magnesium chloride solutions must meet Clear Roads Qualified Product List status with 28–32% concentration; calcium chloride must meet AASHTO M 144; rock salt must meet ASTM D632 with 93–95% sodium chloride and specified moisture, bulk density, and gradation; and non-chloride deicers face performance and mercury/PFAS restrictions. Liquidated damages provisions are common, ranging from $250 per load to $1,000 base plus $500 per day for failures to deliver within specified timeframes.