UNSPSC 60131444: Timpanies

It is composed of a hemispheric copper bowl with the diameter of 560 to 800mm which is covered with cowhide or other synthetic leather. It is generally played in pairs by mallets. Its tone can be adjusted by the tension of leather by tightening and loosening tension rods.

UNSPSC 60131444 Timpanies (Commodity) covers percussion instruments — specifically timpani and related percussion equipment — that state and local school districts source for music education programs. In practice, state and local procurement under this code acquires timpani as part of broader band and orchestra instrument procurement, where timpani appear alongside other percussion instruments (marimbas, xylophones, snare drums, bass drums, cymbals), woodwinds, brass, and strings in multi-item solicitations. Timpani are not typically purchased in isolation; instead, they anchor percussion sections within comprehensive musical instrument supply contracts that also include cases, stands, and storage equipment. Issuing bodies are school districts at the county level, ranging from small rural districts to large metropolitan systems, supplemented occasionally by county government purchasing on behalf of school systems. Recent solicitations show school districts reserving the right to award to single or multiple vendors and requiring unit pricing for each line item, with contracts typically running one to three years and subject to automatic renewal provisions.

Recent activity concentrates in Georgia and Maryland, with activity also present in Virginia. Muscogee County School District posted ITB 27-002 for Purchase of Musical Instruments on August 7, 2026, with sealed bids due September 9, 2026, spanning over 600 line items including timpani, marimbas, and other percussion alongside woodwinds, brass, and strings from manufacturers such as Yamaha, Selmer, and Jupiter; the contract runs October 20, 2026 through October 19, 2027 with automatic renewal options. Wicomico County Public Schools (Maryland) issued IFB 58000-261 on May 8, 2026, with bids due June 5, 2026, for 85 line items including timpani, cymbals, drums, and other percussion instruments, running July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 with two optional one-year renewals and one-year full replacement warranty required. Forsyth County Schools (Georgia) posted band equipment solicitations in mid-July 2026 with July 30 response deadlines, and Fairfax County Public Schools and Fairfax County Government (Virginia) solicited term contracts for musical instruments at MSRP discount on July 2, 2026, with proposals due August 6, 2026.