Multi-Agency Online Auction Services

The purpose of this RFP is to solicit Proposals for one Contractor to provide online auction services for the following entities: Department of Administrative (DAS), Department of Transportation (ODOT), State institutions of higher education, and properly registered members of the Cooperative Purchasing Program of the Department of Administrative Services. The State and Federal Surplus Services (DAS State Surplus) Program and the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Surplus Services Program (ODOT Surplus Services Program) exist to reduce the cost of government by facilitating the disposition of excess and surplus property (surplus property), which includes redistributing surplus property within government and attaining maximum return on investment for the surplus property that State agencies purchase through sales to the public and public auctions. In general, when a state of Ohio agency identifies surplus property, it is transported to the DAS State Surplus warehouse in Columbus, Ohio and “turned in.” Currently, DAS State Surplus property is received in lots (i.e. a pallet or grouping of property which often consists of various types of supplies and/or equipment comingled together). Once the property arrives, DAS State Surplus assumes responsibility of the property and the disposition process is completed. It is the desire of the State not to place any additional burden on State agencies for the disposal of surplus property. DAS State Surplus is anticipating estimated sales exceeding 2,000 pieces of surplus property per year but makes no guarantee about the number and value of sales to be completed under this Contract. Each of the ODOT’s 12 districts, along with their Central Office, is permitted to manage, submit, and perform their own auctions separate from DAS State Surplus. One method the ODOT Surplus Services Program uses to achieve its intended purposes is transferring or selling the property to other State agencies, public colleges and universities, local governments, and Ohio schools (Program Members). The ODOT Surplus Services Program provides a source of supply with prices considerably lower than what is available from other vendors, costing Program Members as much as 50% less than what it would cost to buy comparable items that are new. The ODOT Surplus Services Program averages sales of $100,000 per year to Program members. Another method of disposal used by the ODOT Surplus Services Program is sales of surplus property to the general public, whereby the ODOT Surplus Services Program prices property as it deems appropriate and sells to willing bidders and buyers (hereinafter referred to as “Buyers”). Generally speaking, property not disposed of via these means is sold to the general public at auction. The ODOT Surplus Services Program averages sales of $1.2 million per year to the general public. The following categories represent the types of miscellaneous surplus property typically received by the surplus programs: Office equipment and furniture Information technology equipment (e.g. personal computers, laptops, keyboards, telephones, cables and wiring, etc.) Maintenance materials Clothing Tires Office supplies Vehicles Heavy Equipment Surplus Consumable Inventory Highway Maintenance Equipment (e.g.. string trimmers, chainsaws etc.)