Attachment A -SM SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS

SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS

Brand Name or Equal Commercial Mowing Equipment

General Requirement
The equipment characteristics listed below are required to support the Veteran’s approved self-employment lawn-care operation. Equipment shall be heavy duty commercial-grade equipment designed and warranted for sustained professional lawn-maintenance use. The following characteristics identify the minimum functional, structural, performance, durability, serviceability, and safety requirements necessary for the intended application.

Brand Name or Equal: A proposed equal product must meet or exceed all material salient characteristics listed below. Minor differences in manufacturer design are acceptable provided the proposed equipment provides equivalent or greater capability, durability, performance, and intended commercial functionality.

ITEM 1: COMMERCIAL ZERO-TURN RIDING MOWER

Brand Name or Equal: Scag Turf Tiger II, 61-inch configuration

1. Cutting Width

Cutting width equal to 61 inches.
Equipment shall be configured as a commercial zero-turn riding mower suitable for high-production lawn maintenance.

2. Commercial Construction

Machine shall be specifically designed and manufactured for commercial lawn-care use and sustained daily operation. Residential or light-duty consumer equipment shall not be considered.

3. Cutter Deck Construction

Cutter deck shall utilize a multi-plate fabricated steel construction. Total structural steel thickness shall be approximately ½ inch or greater, or demonstrate equivalent structural strength and durability. Deck shall incorporate additional structural reinforcement at spindle mounting locations.

4. Cutter Deck Drive

Cutter deck shall utilize a mechanically driven deck system incorporating a driveshaft or equivalent direct mechanical power-transfer system, rather than exclusively relying upon a long engine-to-deck belt. The system shall provide reliable power transmission during sustained commercial mowing and reduce dependence on a conventional long deck drive belt.

5. Spindle Construction

Cutter spindles shall utilize heavy-duty cast-metal housings and tapered roller bearings, or demonstrably equivalent heavy-duty bearing construction. Bearings shall be designed for sustained commercial operation and serviceability.

6. Cutting Height

Minimal adjustable cutting-height range of approximately 1.5 inches through 6 inches. Adjustment shall be available in increments no greater than ¼ inch.

7. Hydrostatic Drive System

Machine shall utilize an independent dual-pump/dual-wheel-motor hydrostatic drive system.