GovAssets4Sale going live
- By Matt Caterinicchia
- Jul 04, 2002
With more than 25 government organizations signed up, GovAssets4Sale officially
goes live next week as an online marketplace in which government agencies
can sell or trade surplus and seized assets via the Internet.
Owned by Clearwater, Fla.-based Government Surplus Assets Inc., GovAssets4Sale
(www.govassets4sale.com) is an online service
that assists sellers at all levels of government in disposing of surplus
assets using auctions, sealed bids, or transfers and exchanges. Buyers can
be from government, nonprofit organizations or the general public.
"By allowing each local government to put assets online, we believe
that a smaller government agency will choose to buy that asset," said Len
Russek, president of GovAssets4Sale. "We have created a platform for trading.
Many law enforcement agencies will swap vehicles with other agencies to
save money."
Unlike eBay where an amount of money must be offered to the seller, GovAssets4Sale allows government agencies and non-profit organizations to bid zero. "We designed the site so buyers
could bid $0 because sometimes agencies are looking to get rid of equipment
and are not looking to make any money," Russek said.
Assets listed on GovAssets4Sale include:
* Specialty vehicles.
* Heavy equipment.
* Police and fire equipment, including helicopters.
* Computer and communications equipment.
* Hospital and medical equipment.
* Water management and forestry management equipment.
* Utility equipment.
* Airport and marine port equipment.
* Boats, trailers and diving equipment.
Most of the assets are available to the general public, however, some
items are restricted to specified agencies.
Gary Perkins, executive director of the Florida Sheriff's Association,
said that the site has a lot of potential. "My job was to pull a committee
together in Florida from multiple agencies to give feedback and input to
[Russek] in order to structure the site," he said. "We want to work as an
organization to raise the awareness to all agencies throughout the states."
GovAssets4Sale has been developing during the past eight months. A limited
number of items are listed on the site now, but Russek said, "We'll be making
a nationwide announcement on July 8, looking to create a global marketplace
for state and local governments."