UNSPSC 10170000: Fertilizers and plant nutrients and herbicides

UNSPSC 10170000 Fertilizers and plant nutrients and herbicides is a Family code covering herbicides, plant growth regulators, and soil amendments that state and local governments procure for grounds maintenance, right-of-way vegetation control, and infrastructure support. Recent state and local solicitations under this code show substantial activity in herbicide procurement for transportation departments and grounds maintenance across multiple jurisdictions. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) issued IFB Solicitation #UDOT270012CN in September 2026 seeking selective, non-selective, bareground, and preemergent herbicides with related adjuvants for right-of-way and non-crop applications statewide, with bids due September 14, 2026. Sacramento County solicited grounds maintenance chemicals and seeds through RFB #2023-RFB-0171, covering approximately 80 line items of herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, and seeds for the Department of Transportation, Department of Water Resources, Department of Airports, Department of Parks and Recreation, and Regional Parks' Golf Courses, with responses due June 1, 2023 on the ProcureNow platform. Parkway School District in Missouri requested bids for hardwood mulch and engineered wood fiber on a blanket purchase-order basis with estimated annual spend of approximately $50,000 and proposals due September 17, 2026.

Issuing bodies span state departments of transportation, county governments, school districts, and municipal parks departments across agricultural and urban maintenance functions. Geographic activity concentrates in western and mid-Atlantic states—Utah, California, Missouri, Arizona, and New Jersey show recent solicitations—with secondary activity across the South and Midwest. Sacramento County and UDOT appear as repeat buyers under this code. Procurement structures favor standing agreements and blanket purchase orders to manage as-needed chemical supply for seasonal grounds work and road maintenance. Set-asides and preferences vary by jurisdiction; California emphasizes prevailing wage compliance and certified payroll; Utah requires E-Verify and workers' compensation verification. Vendors typically must hold pesticide dealer licenses, EPA product registration, and proof of hazardous materials transportation compliance. Price guarantees generally hold for one year from award, with adjustment mechanisms tied to market analysis or documented cost increases.