The NCR Personal Property Management Division is responsible for facilitating the disposal of excess and surplus government-owned personal property for GSA and other federal agencies throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
It is comprised of three branches:
- Utilization and Donation (U&D)
- Personal Property Center (PPC)
- Surplus Sales Center (SSC)
The Utilization and Donation branch is located in the regional office building and the other two branches operate out of the GSA warehouse in Springfield, Virginia. Each year, hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars are saved by managers who acquire excess property instead of purchasing new property. The professional staff assists customer agencies in complying with the Federal Management Regulation (FMR). The FMR mandates that excess property must be the first source of supply for Federal agencies. This ensures that property already paid for by taxpayers is used to its fullest extent and allows agencies to avoid the expense of new procurements.
Federal agencies that have excess property must report the property to GSA through the Personal Property Management System (PPMS), the online system used for recording, tracking, and controlling the worldwide inventory of federal excess, surplus, and exchange/sale property. Once property is posted online, other Federal agencies can view the items and request a transfer during a 21-day period. If excess property is not requested by any Federal agency, the property becomes “surplus” and can be offered to the State Agencies for Surplus Property for donation. Property that is not requested by either Federal or state agencies is available for public sale through GSA Auctions® for electronic bidding or through Surplus Personal Property Sales for non-electronic bidding.
Every piece of property that is re-used via Federal utilization, donation or sale is a piece of property not being added to millions of tons of waste generated every year. Reuse keeps products and supplies out of the waste stream and reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and distribution of new items. GSA set a goal to help agencies achieve a zero environmental footprint. GSA’s Personal Property Management Program plays an important role in that direction. GSA and its Personal Property Management Program was established to maximize reuse of the government’s personal property at its end of life. As such, you could say that the program was created as a “green” program.
Utilization & Donation (U&D)
The Utilization & Donation (U&D) Branch provides a wide array of services to federal agencies that need to dispose of and/or acquire excess and surplus personal property. They receive, review, and process reports of excess; approve and process transfers; provide training on the use of GSA’s reporting and screening tool (GSAXcess); collaborate with the Public Building Service on tenant moves; and conduct program promotion efforts through agency visits and participation in GSA events. The U&D Branch plays an integral role in donating surplus property to nonprofit organizations and public agencies. It approves the transfer of thousands of lines of property to state agencies for surplus property who in turn donate the properties to organizations such as public and nonprofit schools; public and nonprofit health institutions; and public safety and health entities. The U&D Branch also plays an important role in transferring computer equipment to schools via the Computers For Learning (CFL) program.
Personal Property Center (PPC)
The Personal Property Center (PPC) Branch is also responsible for performing a variety of utilization and donation functions. They serve as an excellent alternative for federal agencies facing property disposal dilemmas. The PPC acts as a repository for deliveries of unneeded property (mostly office furniture and office equipment) from federal agencies that are looking for green disposal solutions. For a nominal fee, the PPC takes full accountability and physical control of excess property and handles all of the details of the utilization and donation processes. It regularly offers the useable property to federal offices, military offices, state offices, and eligible non-profit groups at no cost. In addition to collaborating with its fellow GSA organization (PBS) on agency moves, the PPC provides warehouse equipment repair and maintenance services for a small number of federal clients. The PPC also plays a major role in transferring computer equipment to schools and allows schools to visit regularly to screen and select needed equipment. It also hosts an annual CFL event at its facility where area school officials can learn more about how they can take advantage of the program benefits. The NCR Personal Property Center serves customers throughout the East Coast, but is available to agencies nationwide.
Surplus Sales Center (SSC)
Personal property that is not transferred to another federal agency or transferred to a state agency for donation is deemed “surplus” and is offered for sale. The Surplus Sales Center (SSC) Branch is responsible to offering surplus personal property for sale to the general public. It regularly processes reports of surplus property for sale for property located at agency sites throughout the Washington, DC area as well as for surplus property being transported to the SSC warehouse. They create sales and post them to GSAAuctions® for on-line bidding in the majority of instances; conduct live auctions, fixed price sales, and sealed bid sales; make and administer sale contracts; and collect sale proceeds. The SSC Branch is also responsible for promoting the program through agency visits and customer training events.
U.S. General Services Administration