# City of Chicago #70287,1

Bulk powdered activated carbon for Chicago water treatment

**Posted:** September 14, 2026
**Respond By:** November 20, 2026
**Identifier:** 70287,1
**NAICS:** 325194, 424690

The City of Chicago is seeking 417 tons of powdered activated carbon for municipal drinking-water treatment.
- **Government buyer:** City of Chicago, Department of Water Management; buyer contact listed as Melanie Polk-Stamps.
- **Product requested:** 417 tons of bulk, truck-delivered lignite coal-based powdered activated carbon, commodity part number **8850862**.
- **Product requirements:** Made from virgin lignite coal mined in the United States and compliant with AWWA B600-16 or its latest revision. Specifications include maximum 8% moisture and 40% ash, minimum 500 m²/g surface area and 500 mg/g iodine number, specified particle-size and pore-radius ranges, maximum tannin value of 350 mg/L or ppm, and no impurities that could harm properly treated drinking water.
- **Delivery use:** Water treatment at the Jardine and South Water Purification Plants; the carbon is used for taste and odor removal.
- **OEMs and vendors:** No manufacturer, OEM, or supplier is named in the opportunity.
- **Contract term:** 36-month initial term with an optional extension of up to 24 months.

### Description

The City of Chicago is soliciting bids for lignite coal-based powdered activated carbon, under Specification 1271795B. The commodity is required for the Department of Water Management. The contract term is 36 months, with an optional 24-month extension. Bids are due November 20, 2026, at 11:00 AM Central Time; the source also notes that Addendum No. 1 extended the bid opening date to November 20, 2026.

[View original listing](https://webapps1.chicago.gov/vcsearch/city/solicitationdetails/-78336eprocurement)