State launches first-ever live and online auction of surplus property

SPRINGFIELD - Access to government surplus property will increase exponentially as the State of Illinois hosts its first simultaneous live and Internet-based auction on Wednesday, September 20.   Bidders from across the country and around the world will be able to purchase the state's liquidated property from their home or office when they log in to www.bidspotter.com; bids will also be accepted in person at the State Surplus Property Warehouse, as has been customary for years. 

The simultaneous live and web-based auction is managed by the Department of Central Management Services (CMS), which sells items no longer used by Illinois government.   Only a handful of other states offer online auctions for surplus property, and Illinois is the first state in the nation to combine a traditional live auction with an online auction.

"As we look for innovative ways to run government more efficiently, it only makes sense to deliver top-dollar for surplus items by selling them over the Internet.  Adding an online component to our traditional live auctions can increase revenues for state government as we increase access to bidders throughout the world," said CMS Director Paul Campbell.

More than 100 items will be auctioned both online and live at the warehouse, including "Superman"-style phone booths, microscopes, cars and boats, a boa constrictor cage, a tennis ball thrower, a microwave oven, an office weight scale, a laminating machine, a diesel tractor, laptop and desktop computers and monitors and software, and a large Korean War-era battle painting by R. Korn.

The inaugural auction will test capabilities and potentially increase revenues by expanding the number of potential buyers.  The state has regularly hosted auctions in Springfield, with bidders generally coming from Central Illinois, and a handful of regular bidders from beyond the state's borders. 

The auction will begin at 8 a.m. with registration beginning at 6 a.m.; the online component of the auction will begin at 11 a.m.  The Surplus Property Warehouse is located at 1924 South 10 ½ Street in Springfield.  Items can be previewed online through the next week, or inspected at the warehouse on Monday, September 18, and Tuesday, September 19, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day.

The items being auctioned online may be viewed at www.bidspotter.com.  Bidders must pre-register, and on auction day, will be able to bid in real time, or place absentee bids by entering a ‘maximum bid amount.'  While 100-plus items will be sold online on September 20, more than 1,000 additional items will be sold under the traditional auction method and the State intends to increase the number of items auctioned online in the future.

Items being sold at the traditional warehouse-only auction include:

International 444 utility tractor with loader and 3-point blade
45" moving van research trailer, ¼ ton Army trailer
800 Megahertz servers, Palm Pilots, numerous software packages including Print Shop and Quicken
Boat trailers, Johnson 175 horsepower outboard motor, Shop Smith, pallet racks
Rockwell Radial Arm Saw, Rockwell 10" unisaw, Powermatic jigsaw, Powermatic jointer, electric motors and pumps, a lathe, electronic air cleaners
Electric kiln, potters wheels, stainless steel oven, stove, and deep fryer, stainless steel high output exhaust fan
Lawn mowers, 7' 3-point blades, high pressure sodium lights
Telephone booths, pianos, bicycles, boa constrictor glass case
Computer equipment including laptops, desks, filing cabinets, chairs, books, typewriters, copy machines, various office machines, and other miscellaneous items of equipment and furniture

Bidders may pay for purchases with cash, MasterCard or Visa, as well as with cashiers check, money order, or traveler's checks in increments of $100 or less.  Business or personal checks are also accepted if supported by two types of identification and a letter of credit from a financial institution, which must be approved prior to the sale.  The State reserves the right to reject any payment or identification of a bidder if it appears it may not be in the best interest of the State of Illinois.  All buyers must take possession of property purchased immediately upon conclusion of the auction.  The State of Illinois is not responsible for accidents or loss. All sales are final. 

The September 20 auction builds on the State's ongoing web-based auctions launched in August 2004, which are hosted each week at www.ibid.illinois.gov. To learn more about the state's Surplus Property Program, visit www.cms.illinois.gov or call 1-217-782-7786.

About Central Management Services
In 2003, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich instructed CMS to streamline the state's operations, share resources and save taxpayer money while improving the business services of state government.  By bringing private-sector discipline to its public-sector mission, the department leads the cost-effective administration of purchasing, property management, information technology, telecommunications, internal audit and outside legal services for the state's executive agencies, personnel and benefits for all state employees and retirees, and the state's employee and vendor diversity programs. 

Deloitte Consulting recently validated that CMS achieved $529 million in savings - through its efforts in FY04 and FY05 alone - as it implemented new technologies, reduced waste and rethought many of the administrative operations of the state.