Federal Surplus
Presents Opportunities

By Zanetta Doyle, Digest Editor

Is your organization in need of furniture, automobiles, computers, or even generators? If you lack the dollars to purchase new equipment, you may be able to acquire donated federal government surplus property.

The General Services Administration (GSA), through the National Association of State Agencies for Surplus Property (NASASP) oversees the Federal Surplus Property Program, which disseminates used federal property no longer need by any federal agency. Equipment is offered to other federal agencies first, but if no interest is expressed, the property becomes surplus and is made available to eligible organizations such as municipalities, fire departments, emergency management agencies, schools and other non-profit, tax-exempt organizations serving the public in the areas of health or education.

Office supplies and equipment are among some of the surplus federal government items that are available.

NASASP is comprised of 56 state member agencies, one from each state and US territory and the District of Columbia. Thousands of pieces of equipment are recycled each year through this program, saving American taxpayers billions of dollars.

The condition of the surplus varies, according to Mary Beth Enggren, Marketing Representative for the Department of General Services’ Pennsylvania SASP in Harrisburg, and Chair of NASASP’s Marketing Committee. “In most cases the condition of the property is very good and in many instances brand new items are available,” Enggren said.

How to Get It

Organizations must contact their SASP to obtain an application. The basic information that organizations must provide includes who they are, their location, what they do and proof of their tax-exempt status. Specific procedures and time frame for getting the equipment may vary from state to state.

Recipients of the donated items only have to pay a service charge – usually averaging less than 10 cents on the dollar for the value of the property. This charge covers the state’s cost of administering the program. SASPs search for property worldwide, even bringing equipment from overseas bases to meet the needs of the organizations within their state.

What is Available?

“When people ask us what’s available, we sometimes jokingly reply that we have everything from paper clips to battleships,” said Enggren. “Just about anything that you could imagine can become surplus.”

Enggren noted that the Pennsylvania SASP coordinated the donation of two yard patrol boats to Pittsburgh in 1997. The ships, originally built as naval training vessels, are now docked at the port of Pittsburgh where they house a science and navigation laboratory, computer workstations and resource material where students in grades five through 10 can learn about the ships, how to steer and safely navigate them and participate in water and aquatic life samples collection and testing. They also learn about economic development along the riverfront.

For More Information Contact: Mary Beth Enggren of the Department of General Services at 717/787-9725 extension 3207, or email menggren@state.pa.us; or visit www.nasasp.org and click on “Links to State Agencies for Federal Surplus Property (SASPs)” to locate state SASPs.

Items that can be acquired through the program include:

Heavy equipment

Trucks

Cars

Road maintenance equipment

Office furniture

Office equipment and supplies

Clothing

Kitchen equipment

Generators

Air compressors

Building materials

Shop and trade equipment

Vehicle parts and accessories

Band instruments

Food preparation equipment

Pumps

Medical equipment and

supplies

Athletic equipment

Computers

Printers

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