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Auctions and Sales

The Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) has the statutory responsibility for the disposition of surplus personal property items from state agencies. The Commission delegates a portion of their authority to larger agencies in order to accelerate the state's disposal efforts. Currently, TxDOT holds delegated authority to conduct local sales and dispose of salvage materials.

Disposal Process

TxDOT's surplus property must first be offered to other state agencies, political subdivisions and assistance organizations during a 10-day advertisement period (see Advertisement to Public Entities). The Department may sell its surplus items to a public entity during this period through a direct transfer. Once the advertisement period is complete, unsold items can then be offered to the general public through one of the following competitive bidding methods:

Online Auctions

Miscellaneous property, such as office and shop equipment that did not sell during the 10-day advertisement period may be disposed of through an online auction open to the general public.
TFC oversees all aspects of the online auction process. Visit the Auctioneer's Internet Site for current online auctions.

Local Sales

The department handles all aspects of the local sale process. The procedure for conducting local sales parallels the Texas Facilities Commission's (TFC) sealed bid process. Individuals interested in bidding for department surplus items must contact the district office in their area and register on the district's local sale bidder's list.

The districts must coordinate all local sale activities through the General Services Division (GSD) Property Management Section. Once a district receives approval from GSD Property Management to conduct a local sale, the district mails a bid invitation to each individual registered under the commodity being offered. The district opens the bids at the prescribed date and time, and awards the sale to the highest bidder upon GSD Property Management concurrence.

TxDOT conducts two types of local sales:

A regular local sale is a "one-time" sales contract. Wrecked vehicles and equipment items and various quantities of miscellaneous salvage items are generally sold through this sale method. Once an award is made and payment is received, the buyer is given approval to retrieve the item. The sales transaction is complete.
An extended local sale is a multiple sales contract and generally involves items that are sold on a recurring basis over a specified period of time (i.e., usually one year with provisions to renew annually). Scrap metal, used paint drums, wastepaper, etc., are ideal candidates for an extended local sale contract. During the contract period, the vendor receives/picks up the contract item and submits payment based on the contracted price. This process is repeated throughout the duration of the contract period.

Direct Sales

Items that did not sell to a public entity during the 10-day advertisement period may be sold through a direct sale to the general public.

TxDOT now has the option to move surplus property to a TFC Storefront location for immediate sale to the general public instead of waiting for the next scheduled public auction.

Generally, only property and equipment items that are located in close proximity to a TFC Storefront will be moved to a storefront site.

See the TFC Storefront locations links below for more information and obtain phone numbers, point-of-contact persons and maps to each of the five storefront locations in the state of Texas.

Related Links:

Public Auctions

The state of Texas auction is conducted quarterly by a private auction company at the:

Brown Heatly Building
4900 N. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, Texas

Visit the Auctioneer's Internet Site for upcoming auction dates along with auction terms and conditions.

Since it is not economically feasible for TxDOT to bring vehicles and equipment in from around the state to a central auction site, TxDOT sells their auction units through a slide presentation. The auctioneer displays a digital photo of the front and rear view of the vehicle or equipment item to be sold, starts the bidding process, and sells the item to the highest bidder. This process is repeated until all items have been sold.

Generally two to three weeks before the scheduled auction date, interested buyers can visit the Auctioneer's Internet Site to view TxDOT vehicles and equipment that will be sold the day of the auction.

All potential bidders are strongly encouraged to personally examine the vehicle(s) or equipment item(s) they may be interested in purchasing prior to the scheduled auction.

Please call the District Equipment Administrator (as shown on the auctioneer's internet site under TxDOT Vehicles) to arrange a date and time to examine auction vehicles and equipment items located in each district.

The district's preferred viewing times for auction vehicles and equipment begins two weeks prior to the auction on Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Please note that in the future the preferred viewing times may become mandatory.

If you are interested in receiving auction pamphlets or brochures on a regular basis, you can contact the auctioneer and request to be placed on their mailing list.

You must pay in cash, cashier's check, certified check, bank or postal money order or checks with ORIGINAL Bank Letter of Guarantee.

ALL SALES ARE FINAL. NO REFUNDS ARE ALLOWED.

Texas Facilities Commission Surplus Property Public Sales

Important Facts to Know:

All surplus property is sold "as is, where is" with no expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of merchantability.
Each sale contains specific terms and conditions which must be followed closely.
Except for direct transfers to a public entity, a 6.5 percent purchaser's fee is collected on all surplus sale transactions.
In addition to the purchaser's fee, a buyer must pay any applicable state sales and use tax unless the buyer provides a resale or tax-exempt certificate.
Failure to abide by the terms and conditions of the sale or retrieve any surplus property you purchased may result in the forfeiture of your funds and the item(s) reverting back to the state of Texas. This action may negatively impact your ability to receive any future TxDOT surplus property items.
The department does not offer computers or computer-related equipment items to the general public for sale. In accordance with state law, these items are transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Computer Recovery Program where they are refurbished and offered to charter schools and independent school districts in the state of Texas.
TxDOT policy prohibits department employees from buying the Department's surplus property. However, this restriction does not extend to surplus property sold by other state agencies or political subdivisions.

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