UNSPSC 51461541: Cascara

This classification denotes a natural product which US FDA recognizes as an active ingredient or moiety under Unique Ingredient Identifier 4VBP01X99F, a partial distillation from the source product, which US FDA recognizes as an active ingredient or moiety under Unique Ingredient Identifier E9S376T0H5, the source of which the Integrated Taxonomic Information System classifies under Taxonomic Serial Number 28582 as a member of Kingdom Plantae, Subkingdom Viridaeplantae, Infrakingdom Streptophyta, Division Tracheophyta, Subdivision Spermatophytina, Infradivision Angiospermae, Class Magnoliopsida, Superorder Rosanae, Order Rosales, Family Rhamnaceae, Genus Rhamnus L. (buckthorn), Species Rhamnus purshiana, more commonly known as CASCARA BUCKTHORN, PURSH'S BUCKTHORN, or as here, CARSCARA.

UNSPSC 51461541 Cascara, a Commodity code, captures state and local government purchases of cascara and related botanical pharmaceuticals used primarily in institutional healthcare, correctional facilities, and public health programs. The Minnesota Multistate Cooperative Purchasing Alliance (MMCAP), administered by the Minnesota Department of Administration's Office of State Procurement, recently issued an RFP on January 20, 2026 to establish multiple contracts for generic multi-source pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter products distributed across participating state and local government facilities in Minnesota, Oregon, and other MMCAP member jurisdictions. The code reflects buying activity across state health departments, county facilities, municipal hospitals, and other public healthcare entities procuring pharmaceutical inputs through cooperative purchasing vehicles. Solicitations under this code emphasize compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), validated National Drug Codes (NDC), and supply chain authorization through approved wholesalers such as AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation (Cencora), Cardinal Health, and Morris & Dickson Co., LLC.

The MMCAP RFP, due March 26, 2026, targets manufacturers and authorized distributors capable of maintaining contractual relationships with at least two of the three named wholesalers and demonstrating flexible pricing options including flat price, net price formats, or WAC-minus structures. The procurement weights price competitiveness at 75 percent of the evaluation, with the remaining 25 percent distributed across fixed pricing, compliance with administrative fee requirements, EDI capability, and agreement to a 3 percent administrative fee on all contract purchases. Contract awards are effective July 1, 2026 for new responders under a two-year initial term with optional extensions, while incumbent vendors align with existing expiration dates through June 30, 2028. Vendors must maintain commercial general liability insurance of $5,000,000 per occurrence, network security and privacy liability of $2,000,000, and professional liability of $2,000,000, with products required to possess FDA compliance and expiration dates of at least one year from manufacture. Performance penalties range from $200 to $1,500 per violation for issues such as late reporting, missed onboarding timelines, or improper class-of-trade denials.