2015 Garfield County offers new online auction portal

Eight vehicles to be auctioned starting January 22

PRESS RELEASE
January 21, 2015

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Garfield County will now use new online bidding software to offer surplus county vehicles, office equipment, and other surplus items of value for sale, providing citizens with greater access to these items. The first public auction begins January 22. Eight county vehicles will be posted for sale to the public. Bidding for these vehicles will be open for two weeks, and the county will accept the highest bids above the reserve price.

Public Surplus operates the auction website, and the portal is available online at the Garfield County website at www.garfield-county.com/procurement. Garfield County’s Procurement Code directs that surplus assets be made available to the community when the county has any to sell.

Starting January 22, Garfield County will list three Ford F150 pickup trucks, two full-size vans, one mini-van, one Ford Explorer, and one Ford Freestyle on the online auction portal. They will be available to anyone in the public to bid on for purchase.

The new online auction service is funded through a ten percent buyer’s premium applied at time of bid to all listed items, so no county tax funds are expended beyond staff time. The online portal is hosted by Public Surplus, an entity strictly for sale of public service assets by public entities, such as governments and schools.

“We chose this entity for selling Garfield County surplus because of its implementation by other governmental agencies locally,” said Jamaica Watts, Garfield County Chief Procurement Officer. “We can provide access to anyone in our county through the new online portal over a wider time period than an on-site auction, and online bidders who have already registered for auctions from other agencies can view and bid in our auctions.”

In the past, Garfield County has stored surplus items for lengthy time periods. When enough accumulated, the county held a live public auction. The new system will allow departments to retain the surplus, and list items as they become available on the online portal for the public to view and bid on. This removes the need for staffing, hauling and storage of surplus items.

Buyers also will pay sales tax, at the rate assessed where the items are located, whether in unincorporated Garfield County or in a municipality. Sales tax is not charged on vehicles at point of sale, it is paid when vehicles are registered, so it will not be charged online.

The auctions will provide as needed disposal of surplus assets. “From a chair to a vehicle, to equipment, tools, lumber or any surplus, it can be listed on the portal,” said Ryan Peskuski, Garfield County senior purchasing agent. “Our sales will be sporadic, based on when items are available.” Once users register online, they can receive sale notifications on any upcoming auction via email. Updates can be filtered by either the selling public entity or by the type of item.

Items may be listed with a reserve price, and the site allows proxy bids up to the amount a bidder chooses. Bidders may ask questions about the item of the department staff who listed it. Bidders are encouraged to inspect listed items prior to bidding, and may make appointments to view them. Payment is required five business days after the auction closes. All items are sold as is where is, and successful buyers must pick up the item within ten business days after notification of receiving the award.

Payments are made to Public Processing, L.L.C., which securely manages online payments, and is PCI Security Standards compliant.