UNSPSC 51284503: Colistin

This classification denotes a polymyxin antibiotic with the molecular formula C52H98N16O13, a preparation that US FDA regulates as an active ingredient or moiety under Unique Ingredient Identifier Z67X93HJG1, more generally known as colistin. European Medicines Agency schedules colistin in its eXtended EudraVigilance Medicinal Product Dictionary or XEVMPD under Index SUB01429MIG. The term COLISTIN is an International Non-Proprietary Name or INN. COLISTIN is scheduled in the U.S. International Trade Commission's Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) Pharmaceutical Appendix.

UNSPSC 51284503 Colistin is a Commodity code that does not reflect what state and local governments are actually buying under opportunities recently tagged to it. The recent solicitations record naloxone and drug deactivation systems, medical and first aid supplies for emergency response, generic pharmaceuticals and OTC products, and direct-to-manufacturer prescription program information — none of which are colistin, an antibiotic used in human and veterinary medicine. The code appears to be a mislabeled commodity category, with the tagged opportunities representing broader pharmaceutical, medical supply, and pharmacy benefit procurement activity rather than purchases specific to colistin itself.

The issuing bodies in the recent opportunities include state health and human services agencies (Texas HHS Commission, Minnesota Department of Administration), counties (Seminole County, Florida), and municipalities (City of Tampa). The geographic spread covers Texas, Minnesota, Florida, and Oregon, with activity reflecting both individual-jurisdiction procurement and multistate cooperative purchasing vehicles such as MMCAP. Representative recent opportunities include Seminole County's IFB for naloxone and safe drug deactivation systems (due July 26, 2023), the City of Tampa's IFB for medical and first aid supplies for the Fire Department Rescue Division estimated at $700,000.00 (due March 13, 2026), and the Minnesota Multistate Cooperative Purchasing Alliance's RFP for generic multi-source pharmaceuticals and OTC products (due March 26, 2026). The Texas HHS Commission also posted an RFI in March 2026 seeking vendor capabilities for direct-to-manufacturer prescription programs. Because the tagged opportunities do not address colistin procurement specifically, evaluation of this code's market opportunity requires clarification of the actual commodity or service scope.