UNSPSC 85171501: Grave digging

UNSPSC 85171501 Grave digging, a Commodity code, covers the pickup, transportation, cremation, and final disposition of deceased persons—particularly indigent, unclaimed, and otherwise indigent decedents—as well as support for mass fatality operations and mortuary emergency response. Recent state and local solicitations show the code encompasses a substantially broader operational scope than the code name alone suggests: vendors are expected to provide 24/7 transport services with rapid response times, maintain refrigerated storage, operate cremation facilities or coordinate with licensed crematories, handle administrative case management and eligibility determinations, and in several cases maintain trained personnel and equipment for emergency mass fatality response. Issuing bodies include county governments (Collin County, Texas; Sumter County, Georgia; Sarasota County, Florida; Clay County, Florida; Hays County, Texas; Pinellas County, Florida; Broward County, Florida), a state health agency (Texas Health and Human Services Commission, procuring on behalf of the Department of State Health Services), a state corrections department (Illinois Department of Corrections), and a university (Texas A&M University). Counties appear to be the dominant buyer base, with repeat solicitations from Collin County and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for emergency mass fatality mortuary trailers and strike-team personnel.

Activity is concentrated in Texas and Florida, with additional solicitations in Georgia and Illinois. Representative recent opportunities include Collin County Medical Examiner's Office seeking morgue transport services under IFB 2026-300 (bids due October 15, 2026; estimated annual value $130,000 based on 800 annual transports); the Texas Health and Human Services Commission requesting mortality resources and services—including maintenance and deployment of four 32-foot mortuary trailers and four strike teams of licensed funeral directors and support personnel—under IFB HHS0017352v3 (responses due October 28, 2026; historical spending $269,485.68 from October 2022 through June 2026); Sumter County, Georgia seeking indigent decedent pickup and cremation services under RFP 2026_009 (proposals due October 28, 2026); and Clay County, Florida soliciting administration of its Unclaimed Decedent Disposition Program under RFB 2526105 (bids due August 27, 2026; approximately 60 claimed and unclaimed remains annually). Vendors must typically hold state funeral service licenses, maintain commercial general liability insurance ($1 million to $2 million aggregate), provide workers' compensation and professional liability coverage, and demonstrate prior experience in similar services. Contract terms typically run one to three years with optional renewals.