NIGP 44543: Hoes, Leaf Loaders, Rakes, Council Tools, Weed Cutters, etc.

NIGP 44543 Hoes, Leaf Loaders, Rakes, Council Tools, Weed Cutters, Etc., an Item code, covers hand and powered tools for grounds maintenance, landscaping, and vegetation management that state and local governments procure both as standalone equipment and as part of larger grounds-care service contracts. Recent solicitations show state and local buyers purchasing agricultural and lawn equipment through statewide term contracts, acquiring battery-powered landscaping tools, soliciting weed control services for canal and ditch systems, and conducting forestry fuel reduction work requiring specialized cutting and clearing equipment. Issuing bodies include state procurement offices (Florida Department of Management Services, Massachusetts Operational Services Division), counties (Orange County, Florida), municipalities (Park City Municipal Corporation, Town of Franklin), and specialized district agencies (Maryland Environmental Service). The Florida Department of Management Services has established itself as a repeat statewide buyer, managing a large-scale agriculture and lawn equipment term contract with reported average annual spending of $4,807,230.

Geographic activity centers on Florida and Massachusetts, with secondary activity in Utah and Maryland. The Florida Department of Management Services posted an ITB for agriculture and lawn equipment on July 7, 2026, with responses due September 1, 2026, covering 20 product groups spanning all-terrain vehicles, utility vehicles, mowers, tractors, forestry equipment, parts, and accessories with Florida-vendor preference and mandatory service-station presence within the state. The Massachusetts Operational Services Division issued an RFI on June 25, 2026 (responses due July 13, 2026) seeking vendor input on battery-powered landscaping equipment capabilities and market offerings, signaling future procurement under a statewide lawns and grounds equipment contract (LND001) with proposals due October 2, 2026. Orange County, Florida solicited weed control services for secondary canals and ditches with a June 30, 2026 deadline, and Park City Municipal Corporation, Utah released an RFP on May 7, 2026 (due May 29, 2026) for forest health and fuels program implementation across 162 acres using various cutting, chipping, and burning methodologies.