ODOC John Deere Zero Turn Mowers (Z970R & accessories)

The Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of the State Fire Marshal (DSFM) is soliciting sealed bids for the procurement of two John Deere Z970R ZTrak zero turn mowers with comprehensive accessories and delivery included. The procurement serves Franklin County and Remington CDP jurisdictions, with a bid submission deadline of April 22, 2026, and a posted date of April 3, 2026. Each mower must be equipped with a 35-horsepower, 61 cubic inch vertical-shaft air-cooled engine; an 11.5-gallon fuel capacity; dual hydrostatic wheel drive with Tufftorq heavy duty ground drive capable of 12 mph travel speed; internal wet disk parking brakes; electric PTO clutch with 12-volt regulated charge system; digital hour meter and fuel gauge instrumentation; dual lever direction/speed control steering; and a 72-inch 7Iron PRO deck with side discharge featuring 7-gauge forged steel construction, 8-inch cast iron spindle housing, rear anti-scalp wheels, and adjustable cutting heights from 1.0 to 5.5 inches in 0.25-inch increments. Required optional accessories include a steel channel frame, quick-service removeable foot platform, operator presence system, folding 2-post ROPS with seat belt, rear bumper, fully adjustable suspension seat with armrests and 24-inch high back, beacon light kit with powered switch installation (though DSFM will install ODOT-style safety lights in-house), trash receptacle kit, and string trimmer mount. The mowers are intended as gradual replacements for aging 2019 and 2021 John Deere 970 models that have reached their typical 8-year end-of-life cycle, and delivery is required to DSFM's facility at 8895 East Main Street in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, attention Michael Sands.

The procurement documentation does not specify any set-aside designations, restrictions on organizational types, or designations for disadvantaged enterprises; however, the document indicates that DSFM currently operates a fleet of three zero-turn mowers, including one 2023 Altoz track mower and the two John Deere 970 models targeted for replacement. The new equipment will initially remain in the working rotation with existing machinery to provide backup capacity during planned and unplanned maintenance, eventually being integrated into DSFM's grounds maintenance operations that encompass approximately 50 acres requiring weekly mowing during the growing season with equipment operating 7+ hours per day during peak periods. The procurement document does not specify pricing, budget ranges, award values, contract award dates, or any incumbent vendor information. Additionally, no evaluation criteria, pricing schedules, site visit requirements, or bidders' meetings are detailed in the available documentation, and once the current equipment is fully phased out, the mowers will eventually be transferred to the Department of Administrative Services for salvage removal.