UNSPSC 51285003: Piperacillin/tazobactam

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 AM113. This VA Drug Class (AM113) classifies this compound as belonging to the group EXTENDED SPECTRUM PENICILLINS.

UNSPSC 51285003 Piperacillin/tazobactam is a Commodity code that in practice captures a much broader range of pharmaceutical procurement than its specific antibiotic name suggests. Recent state and local solicitations tagged to this code show purchasing of naloxone and drug deactivation systems, emergency medical and first-aid supplies, generic multi-source pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter products, and direct-to-manufacturer prescription fulfillment programs. The issuing bodies span county health departments (Seminole County, Florida), municipal fire and rescue services (City of Tampa), state health and human services agencies (Texas HHS Commission), and multistate cooperative purchasing alliances (Minnesota Multistate Cooperative Purchasing Alliance serving state and local facilities across multiple states including Oregon). The code sees activity from both procurement offices managing specific commodity acquisitions and from strategic planning entities conducting market research on future pharmacy benefit program restructuring.

Recent opportunities include Seminole County's IFB for 1,900 units of naloxone and 800 safe drug deactivation systems annually (due July 26, 2023), the City of Tampa's IFB for 169 line items of medical and first aid supplies for the Fire Department Rescue Division with an estimated contract value of $700,000.00 (due March 13, 2026, designated as a sheltered market for certified Small Local Business Enterprises with a 5 percent bid discount), the Minnesota Multistate Cooperative Purchasing Alliance's RFP for generic multi-source pharmaceuticals and OTC products distributed across state and local facilities with proposals due March 26, 2026, and the Texas HHS Commission's RFI on direct-to-manufacturer prescription programs (deadline April 3, 2026). Activity concentrates in Florida, Texas, Minnesota, and the multistate cooperative network, with geographic spread extending to Oregon through the MMCAP vehicle. The mismatch between the code's nominal scope (a single antibiotic) and the breadth of actual pharmaceutical and medical supply procurement suggests the code functions as a catch-all for diverse health-related consumables rather than a precise classifier.