GSA Bulletin FPMR H-77
Utilization And Disposal

TO: Heads of Federal Agencies 

SUBJECT: Personal property sales rates

1. Purpose. This bulletin provides information on General Services Administration (GSA) rates for the sale of surplus and exchange/sale personal property.

2. Effective date. This bulletin is effective October 1, 1999.

3. Expiration date. This bulletin contains information of a continuing nature and will remain in effect until canceled or revised.

4. Background. Section 7 of Pub. L. 103-123, enacted October 28, 1993, amended section 204 of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, to provide that the Administrator of General Services may retain from the proceeds of sales of personal property conducted by the GSA amounts necessary to recover, to the extent practicable, costs incurred by GSA (or its agent) in conducting such sales. Accordingly, the GSA personal property sales function is no longer an appropriated activity.

5. General.

a. On an annual basis, GSA will establish rates for services provided in personal property sales. Although the rates connote that GSA will bill agencies for the services, GSA will recover its costs by deducting its service charges from the proceeds of sale. This will preclude agencies from having to establish separate systems for certification and payment of bills and ensure that agency operating budgets will not be affected.

b. For sales proceeds that are reimbursable to the holding agency under the Property Act, proceeds (sales proceeds less GSA's direct and indirect costs) will be distributed to the agency via the on-line payment and accounting contract (OPAC) system.

c. A substantial portion of proceeds from the sale of nonreimbursable surplus property will also be retained by GSA to cover its direct and indirect costs in recognition of the low dollar value and labor intensive nature of those sales. Agencies are not affected by the retention of any portion of those proceeds since, as in the past, the net proceeds will continue to be deposited to miscellaneous receipts of the Treasury.

6. Services and rates provided. The basic services and rates are shown in attachment A. Rates for accessorial services, namely, transportation, storage, maintenance, and reconditioning of property prior to sale, and sales- conducted by contractors will vary according to local market conditions and will be published in GSA regional bulletins available from the servicing GSA region.

7. Consultation with agencies. Agencies will be consulted to determine the best method of sale and their requirements for accessorial services.

8. Property resale. Property for which the sale contract is terminated for default will be resold at no cost to the holding agency. Property for which the sale contract is terminated for cause, e.g., misdescription of the property, will be resold at the holding agency's cost if the cause is attributable to the holding agency.

9. Cancellation. GSA Bulletin FPMR H-74 is canceled.

By delegation of the Commissioner,
Federal Supply Service

Personal Property Sales

Services and Rates

1. Basic services.

a. Auction sales. The following services are covered under the basic rate.

(1) Property cataloging.

(6) Auctioneer.

(7) Onsite contracting officer.

(8) Award document preparation.

(9) Onsite collection of payments.

(10) Follow-on collection of late payments. 

(11) Security service.

(12) Deposit of proceeds.

(13) Distribution of proceeds.

(14) Financial and property line item accountability. 

(15) Contract administration.

b. Sealed bid sales. The following services are covered under the basic rate.

(1) Property cataloging.

(2) Maintenance of mailing list.

(3) Printing and distribution of invitation for bids to bidders on mailing list. 

(4)Bid opening.

(5) Contract awards.

(6) Preparation of award documents.

(7) Financial and property line item accountability. 

(8) Contract administration.

(9) Collection and deposit of proceeds.

(10) Distribution of proceeds.

2.Basic service rates.

a. GSA vehicle sales - exchange/sale and other reimbursable sales (FSC 23).

Auction/Spot bid/Fixed price/
Sealed bid/Negotiated                  $200 per vehicle
Commercial Contractor                 $125 per vehicle plus cost of contract

b.Vehicles sold resulting from Seized and Forfeited Laws.  Fee negotiated

c.Commodities other than vehicles- exchange/sale and other reimbursable sales.