Grasshopper, AGCO awarded national U.S. Communities contracts

On June 6, The Grasshopper Company and AGCO Corporation announced they have been awarded multi-year contracts with the U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance. The U.S. Communities program is a national government purchasing alliance that aggregates the purchasing power of public agencies nationwide.

Grasshopper received an exclusive, multi-year contract to supply mowing equipment, implements, parts and service to registered participants in the U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance, while AGCO Corporation, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, was awarded a three-year cooperative contract with two additional one-year renewal options with the U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance.

Through this contract, all Grasshopper zero-turn mowers, implements and accessories are put in front of more than 55,000 public sector entities such as state agencies, local governments, special districts, school districts, higher education institutions and non-profit organizations.

“These public-sector entities are now able to take advantage of the best overall government pricing on turf equipment without having to go through the time-wasting and tedious RFP process, thanks to the exclusive cooperative buying agreement offered through U.S. Communities,” said Brent Dobson, director of government sales at Grasshopper.

Grasshopper products are only sold through a nationwide network of authorized dealers. They include a wide selection of grounds maintenance solutions for mowing, turf renovation, debris management and snow removal solutions. Use of Grasshopper implements are more cost effective than purchasing and maintaining separate, stand-alone implements with separate engines to maintain. When mounted on a zero-turn power unit, productivity increases sometimes four-fold versus walk-behind implements.

“We are pleased to make this award to Grasshopper,” said Bill Thomas, general purchasing supervisor, Cobb County, Ga. “And, we are confident all agencies utilizing U.S. Communities will benefit from having access to this nationwide contract.”

For AGCO Corporation, the award covers the Massey Ferguson and Challenger tractors, and includes the complete AGCO catalog. AGCO was selected for the U.S.-based contract due in part to its high brand recognition for the Massey Ferguson and Challenger product lines, competitive pricing, and reputable national dealer coverage.

“This contract means AGCO will be able to provide value to more than 70,000 public and non-profit agencies at the state and local level, such as school districts and universities, or city, municipal and county governments,” said Korey Maryland, the North American government sales manager at AGCO. “These entities will not only benefit from streamlined, efficient access to reliable equipment, but also cost savings, convenience and maximum production levels.”

The U.S. Communities’ competitive solicitation process uses a lead public agency model, which enables agencies to purchase through U.S. Communities’ contracts without going out to bid. The no-fee program typically results in time and money savings for the agency.

“AGCO’s team looks forward to improving communities across the country as part of this contract,” Maryland said. “We are honored to provide superior service and products to meet the growing needs of departments. This contract allows us to efficiently and effectively support needed infrastructure updates and maintenance on everything from parks and recreation to streets and road sides. Together, we can better communities nationwide and strengthen quality of life for people in those communities.”