U.S. General Services Administration
Selling Personal Property: Breaking World Records, Building America, and Caring for Rescued Animals
By: Javier Fernandez
Are you in the market for a preowned forklift, pickup truck, laboratory-grade centrifuge, or a 500-kilowatt diesel generator? If so, you are in luck because these are just a few of the thousands of personal property items currently up for auction at the GSA Auctions website.
Personal property on the GSA Auctions website runs the gamut from high-priced, exotic items to more everyday items that can generate respectable revenue for the listing agency. "Several years ago, our Washington, DC office had a large number of watches reported under the Foreign Gifts and Decorations program," said Bonnie Powell, Sales Contracting Officer. "These watches were distributed to all of the regions, which gave us the chance to gain experience conducting sales of Rolexes and other expensive watches received by federal officials from foreign governments."
Despite experiencing rare logistical challenges, most auction sales are routine affairs. However, the auction items sold by GSA are anything but routine! Here's a look at some of the more interesting pieces of property sold in our zonal office.
U.S. Coast Guard Response Boats
Vehicles are always a hot commodity on the GSA Auctions website. Many buyers are attracted to them because they are well maintained and can be used for commercial purposes. GSA Pacific Rim Zone sold six 25 foot-long response boats and trailers on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Safety and Security team for a total of $373,826. The Coast Guard uses response boats to serve a wide range of missions, from enforcing boating safety to search and rescue missions to marine environmental protection operations. A Swiss dentist purchased one of the boats as part of his decade-long attempt to break the world record for kite surfing the Bering Strait.
Black Stallion
Not everything the PPM office sells at auctions is machinery; some sales occasionally include live animals! Before GSA’s Animals Center of Expertise was established, the zonal group was tasked with selling a Black Beauty of a stallion abandoned on federal lands. Owning and caring for a horse can be an expensive proposition, and the high cost of hay that year may have contributed to the stallion’s abandonment. Luckily, the Sales Contracting Specialists ensured that the horse was sold to a responsible person who would care for such a majestic animal.
Modern Yurt
A 20-foot diameter modern yurt was reported by the Oregon Caves National Monument, Cave Junction, and was sold for $7,203. The yurt was older but completely new, which is rare for personal property sold at auction. Some bidders may have been surprised to learn that the yurt didn’t come with flooring as yurts traditionally don't have flooring and are built directly on the ground.
John Deere Motor Grader
Heavy construction equipment is another hot commodity on the auctions website. In fact, the Region 9 Personal Property Management (PPM) helps federal agencies dispose of vehicles, construction equipment, and other related items. This 2009 motor grader fetched $71,075 at auction for the USDA, Forest Service. Other types of heavy construction equipment sold by GSA include boom and scissor lifts, forklifts, bulldozers, tractor loaders, excavators, and articulated haulers.
"Our program plays an important role in helping federal agencies dispose of excess property in a responsible and environmentally sustainable manner," said Sindi Nishimura, Pacific Rim Zone Personal Property Management Zonal Deputy Director. "It keeps these items out of landfills and allows winning bidders to give them a new lease in life as they pursue their hobbies or employ them in their business."
Want to learn more about GSA’s Office of Personal Property Management and their role in disposing of excess federal property? Read the first half of this series: GSA: The Federal Government's Main Procurement AND Disposal Agency.