UNSPSC 51173206: Bisacodyl/castor oil

This classification denotes a combination drug defined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in its (VA's) National Drug File (NDF), which falls under VA Drug Class GA209. This VA Drug Class (GA209) classifies this compound as belonging to the group LAXATIVES, OTHER.

UNSPSC 51173206 Bisacodyl/castor oil is a Commodity code that encompasses pharmaceutical products—primarily laxatives and cathartics—procured by state and local health and human services agencies, correctional systems, and cooperative purchasing alliances. Recent solicitations show state and local governments buying generic multi-source pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter products through wholesaler networks, with demand driven by institutional healthcare delivery, community supervision programs, and employee health plans. Issuing bodies include state health and human services departments, county correctional and community supervision agencies, and multistate cooperative purchasing vehicles serving participating government jurisdictions. The code captures both direct pharmaceutical procurement and pharmacy benefit program administration, where states source active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished goods through authorized distribution channels.

Recent activity concentrates in Texas and Minnesota. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission issued RFI HHS0017013 on April 3, 2026, seeking vendor capabilities for a Therapeutic Pharmacy Initiative Direct-to-Manufacturer Prescriptions program to explore direct contracting models outside traditional pharmacy benefit manager and group purchasing organization arrangements. Collin County Community Supervision and Corrections Department posted RFP 2026-327 on July 9, 2026, for offender specimen collection and drug testing services with a response deadline of July 23, 2026 and an estimated contract value of $600,000 over two years with three optional one-year renewals; the scope includes immunoassay screening, confirmation testing via LC/MS/MS or GC/MS, and ancillary testing covering approximately 25,031 tests annually. The Minnesota Multistate Cooperative Purchasing Alliance (MMCAP), administered by the Minnesota Department of Administration, issued RFP S1070000015802 on January 20, 2026, for generic multi-source pharmaceuticals and OTC products with a response deadline of March 26, 2026, requiring vendors to supply through three authorized wholesalers—AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation (Cencora), Cardinal Health 110 and 112, and Morris & Dickson Co., LLC—with awarded contracts effective July 1, 2026, and extending through June 30, 2028.