South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 19 - STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD
Article 4 - OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES
Section 19-445.2150 - Surplus Property Management

Surplus property is all State-owned supplies and equipment, not in actual public use, with remaining useful life and available for disposal. This definition and the ensuing regulations exclude the disposal of solid and hazardous wastes as defined by any federal, state or local statutes and regulations. Property so defined as solid or hazardous waste shall not be relocated, nor title assumed under the authority of these regulations.

The disposition of all surplus property shall be conducted by the General Service Division's Surplus Property Management Office (SPMO) at such places and in such manner determined most advantageous to the State, except as defined in Section 11-35-1580 of the Procurement Code. All government bodies must identify surplus items and declare them as such, and report them in writing to the SPMO within one hundred and eighty (180) days from the date they become surplus. The SPMO shall deposit the proceeds from such disposition, less expense of the disposition, in the State's General Fund unless a government body makes a written request to retain such proceeds, less cost of disposition, for the purchase of like kind property and the SPMO, or his designee, approves such request.

The primary mission of the Surplus Property Management Office shall be to receive, warehouse and dispose of the State's surplus property in the best interest of the State. The central warehousing of State surplus property will allow all State governmental bodies and other political subdivisions one location to acquire needed property.

The purpose of this program is to provide the following:

Within one hundred eighty (1 80) days from the date property becomes surplus, it must be reported to the SPMO on a turn-in document (TID) designed by the SPMO. The description, model or serial number, acquisition cost, date of purchase and agency ID number shall be listed for each item.

Upon receipt of the TID, the SPMO will screen the property to determine whether it is surplus or junk as defined in these regulations.

Surplus property reported shall be scheduled for relocation to the SPMO, Boston Avenue, West Columbia; or, upon consultation and agreement with the generating governmental body, remain at the governmental body's site if deemed by the SPMO to be a more cost-effective method for disposal.

At such time as property is officially received by the SPMO, title will pass to the General Services' Division and shall be accounted for as described herein. Governmental bodies shall delete insurance coverage on such property. The SPMO shall carry sufficient insurance to ensure these assets are safeguarded against loss. Governmental bodies shall delete such property from their fixed asset records at this point of transfer.

Upon disposal of the property, the proceeds, less cost of disposition, will be returned to the authorized revenue center if so requested and authorized in accordance with these regulations.

If determined to be junk, disposal will be the responsibility of the generating governmental body in accordance with Section 11-35-4020 of the Procurement Code.

The SPMO's primary role shall be to relocate surplus property to eligible Donees which includes governmental bodies, political subdivisions and nonprofit health and educational institutions.

The term governmental bodies means any State government department, commission, council, board, bureau, committee, institution, college, university, technical school, legislative body, agency government corporation, or other establishment or official of the executive, judicial, or legislative branches of the State. The term political subdivisions includes counties, municipalities, school districts or public service or special purpose districts. The term eligible nonprofit health or educational institutions means tax-exempt entities, duly incorporated as such by the State. SPMO shall be responsible for determining an applicant's eligibility prior to any transfer of property.

The SPMO will maintain sufficient records to support the eligibility status of these entities.

The sale price for all items will be established by the Manager of Surplus Property or the Manager's designee. The Manager or the Manager's designee shall have the final authority to accept or reject bids received via public sale. The following categories and methods will be used:

For any purchases made under this subsection, the purchasing entity will certify that all items acquired will be for the sole benefit of the buying institution and that no personal use will be involved. This certification will be formalized by the agreement signed at the time eligibility is established. The following terms and conditions will be set forth therein:

An appropriate cycle methodology as determined in the SPMO's sole discretion shall be used for the disposal process of surplus property. Governmental bodies, political subdivisions and nonprofit health and educational institutions, and any other qualifying donees will be given priority over the general public to acquire the property.

Special items and heavy equipment, will generally follow the same disposal procedures as other property. When vehicles are the items in question, they will be held for two weeks to allow State agencies purchasing priority. However, the SPMO shall have the authority to deviate from these procedures in circumstances where cost avoidance, space requirements, market conditions, accessibility and manpower are considerations. The SPMO must document that such procedure is advantageous to the State.

Upon completion of the Donee sales cycle, the remaining items shall be made available to the public. Donees and the general public may purchase in this period, but without priority. This period has no minimum or maximum length and is determined by warehouse space and scheduled incoming property. There will also be times when property will not be made available for a Public Cycle Sale.

When surplus property is sold via the competitive sealed bid process, notification of such sale shall be given through a Notice of Sale to be posted at the SPMO at least fifteen (1 5) days prior to the bid opening date. The sale shall also be announced through advertisement in newspapers of general circulation, the South Carolina Business Opportunities publication and such electronic or other media as deemed appropriate by the SPMO. The Notice of Sale shall list the supplies or property offered for sale; designate the location and how property may be inspected; and state the terms and conditions of sale and instructions to bidders including the place, date, and time set for bid opening. Bids shall be opened publicly.

Award shall be made in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Notice of Sale and to the highest responsive and responsible bidder provided that the price offered by such bidder is deemed reasonable by the SPMO or his designee. Where such price is not deemed reasonable, the bids may be rejected in whole, or in part, and the sale negotiated beginning with the highest bidder provided the negotiated sale price is higher than the highest responsive and responsible bid. In the event of a tie bid the award will be made in accordance with the tie bid procedure set forth in Section 11-35-1520(9) of the Consolidated Procurement Code.

Property may also be sold at a public auction by an experienced auctioneer. The Notice of Sale shall include, at a minimum, all terms and conditions of the sale and a statement clarifying the authority of the SPMO, or his designee, to reject any and all bids. These auctions will be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation or on the radio, or both.

Some types and classes of items can be sold or disposed of more economically by some other means of disposal including barter, appraisal, electric commerce and web based sales. In such cases, and also where the nature of the supply or unusual circumstances necessitate its sale to be restricted or controlled, the SPMO may employ such other means provided the SPMO makes a written determination that such procedure is advantageous to the State.

Upon written determination by the SPMO that surplus property items are needed to comply with programs authorized by the legislature or by executive order of the governor exercising his statutory authority, the SPMO may designate surplus property items for disposal in order to comply with the program requirements. The SPMO will develop and implement internal guidelines and procedures for the disposal of surplus property items designated as necessary to comply with the program requirements established by the legislature or the governor.

Turn-in documents designed by the SPMO shall be used by all governmental bodies for reporting surplus property to the SPMO. It shall be the responsibility of the generating governmental body to obtain these forms and to furnish all information required on the form. Items received by the SPMO shall be physically checked by the SPMO against the turn-in document and a signed receipt issued to the governmental body.

Items received by the SPMO shall be assigned an inventory number and data including generating governmental body, description of property, quantity, original acquisition cost, and other relevant information entered into an automated inventory system. Inventory tags listing all necessary information shall be attached to each item.

Items shall be displayed in locations with other like commodities to allow for easy viewing.

All items sold by the SPMO to governmental bodies, political subdivisions and nonprofit health or educational institutions shall be recorded on a Bill of Sale and all required information shall be listed on the document. The Bill of Sale must be signed by the signatory authority of the governmental body, political subdivision or nonprofit health or educational institution as defined in Subsection C, Item 1 of these regulations. At the time of sale, the eligible entity shall receive a copy of the Bill of Sale.

Invoices shall be generated and mailed to the acquiring agency. All cash and accounts receivable transaction records shall be properly maintained. All transfers of funds to various accounts will be performed in accordance with these regulations.

Items shall be deleted from the SPMO's inventory simultaneously with the invoicing process or by written justification from the Surplus Property Management Officer or his designee.

Transactions shall be documented by a Bill of Sale enumerating all conditions of the sale i.e., "as is, where is," etc. and must be signed by the purchaser. Personal checks with proper identification, certified checks, or money orders made payable to the State of South Carolina or cash or credit cards shall be accepted as a form of payment. A copy of the Bill of Sale shall be presented to the purchaser as a receipt.

In all cases, the head of the disposing agency shall prepare a written determination describing the facts and circumstances surrounding the act, corrective action being taken to prevent recurrence, and action taken against the individual committing the act and shall report the matter in writing to the SPMO within ten (10) days after the determination.