GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

AUTHORIZATION:

Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, Section 203(j), Public Law 81-152, as amended, Public Law 94-519, 40 U.S.C. 484(j); Surplus Property Act of 1944, Section 13(g), as amended, 50 U.S.C. 1622(g); Older Americans Act of 1965, Section 213, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 3020d; Section 502, Public Law 100-77; Executive Order 12999 of April 17, 1996, Public Law 105-50.

OBJECTIVES:

To transfer surplus personal property to the States for donation to State and local public agencies for public purposes or to qualifying nonprofit, tax-exempt activities; to public airports; and to educational activities of special interest to our Nation's classrooms and to the armed services.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Sale, Exchange, or Donation of Property and Goods.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Surplus items are used by State and local public agencies for carrying out or promoting one or more public purposes, such as conservation, parks and recreation, education, public health, public safety, economic development and programs for older individuals; by certain nonprofit, tax-exempt activities for public health or educational purposes, including research for such purposes, and for use in programs for older individuals; or by public airports for airport development, operation or maintenance. Federal restrictions require that all surplus property be placed into use by the donee within 1 year of acquisition and be used at least for 1 year thereafter. Other restrictions, terms and conditions are imposed by GSA and the agencies determining eligibility (shown under Applicant Eligibility, section below). The following items are representative of those donated: office machines and supplies, furniture, hardware, textiles, special purpose motor vehicles, boats, airplanes, and construction equipment. Items not donated are made available for sale to the general public.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   (a) State participation is contingent upon the acceptance by the General Services Administration (GSA) of a State plan of operation as being in conformance with Public Law 94-519. This State plan must establish a State agency which is responsible for the distribution of Federal surplus personal property to eligible recipients within the State on a fair and equitable basis. Eligible donee categories for the distribution of property through the State Agencies for Surplus Property are defined as: (1) Public agencies which include any (i) State or department, agency, or instrumentality thereof; (ii) political subdivision of the State, including any unit of local government or economic development district, or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof; (iii) instrumentality created by compact or other agreement between State or political subdivisions; (iv) multijurisdictional sub-State district established by or pursuant to State law; and (v) Indian tribe, band, group, pueblo, or community located on a State reservation. Eligibility for public agencies is determined by the State Agency for Surplus Property. (2) Nonprofit, tax-exempt activities such as schools, colleges, universities, public libraries, schools for the mentally challenged or physically challenged, educational radio or TV stations, child care centers, museums, medical institutions, hospitals, clinics, health centers, drug abuse treatment centers, providers of assistance to the homeless, providers of assistance to the impoverished and programs for older individuals. Eligibility for nonprofit institutions and organizations is determined by the State Agency for Surplus Property. (b) Service educational activities, including the American Cadet Alliance, Inc., American Red Cross, Center for Excellence in Education, Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Camp Fire Incorporated, Girl Scouts of the United States of America, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, National Ski Patrol System, Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Operation Raleigh, United Service Organizations, United States Olympic Committee, Little League Baseball, National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, National Civilian Community Corps, Armed Services YMCA of the USA, Young Marines of the Marine Corps League, and schools with military-training programs. Eligibility is determined by the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (L/MDM). (c) Public airports. Eligibility is determined by the Federal Aviation Administration. (d) Non-eligible institutions and organizations include institutions such as animal hospitals, summer camps or playgrounds that are not part of a public agency or a school, Sunday schools, churches and nonprofit tax-exempt public health and education money-funding organizations that provide grants, scholarships and funds to support approved or accredited public health and educational institutions but do not themselves operate such programs.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   State and local public agencies; nonprofit educational or public health institutions or organizations, including providers of assistance to the homeless; nonprofit and public programs for the elderly; educational activities of special interest to the armed services; and public airports.

Credentials/Documentation:   Contact appropriate State or Federal agency shown under Applicant Eligibility section of this program.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:   (1) Public agencies, nonprofit educational and public health applicants, providers of assistance to the homeless, providers of assistance to the impoverished and programs for the elderly coordinate with the State Agency for Surplus Property. (2) Service Educational Activity schools and national organizations coordinate with their sponsoring military service or national headquarters. (3) Public airports coordinate with the regional Airports District Office of the Federal Aviation Administration. The coordinating agency which determines donee eligibility may request GSA to issue a screener's card to the donee which would authorize a designee to screen surplus property at specific location(s). This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Contact appropriate agency shown under Preapplication Coordination section of this program.

Award Procedure:   Upon determination of eligibility, applicant maintains contact with the appropriate agency shown under Preapplication Coordination section of this program.

Deadlines:   None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Not applicable.

Appeals:   Applicants participating through State agencies for surplus property may appeal a determination of ineligibility through the State agency for review by GSA.

Renewals:   Not applicable.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Not applicable.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Prescribed by agencies shown under Applicant Eligibility section of this program.

Audits:   Prescribed by agencies shown under Applicant Eligibility section of this program.

Records:   Prescribed by agencies shown under Applicant Eligibility section of this program.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   47-0110-0-1-804.

Obligations:   (Salaries and expenses) FY 99 $10,143,000; FY 00 est $10,370,000; and FY 01 est $10,746,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   Not applicable.

PROGAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

In fiscal year 1999, surplus personal property with an original government acquisition cost of $582.1 million was donated. In fiscal year 2000, it is estimated that property with an acquisition cost of $610.0 million will be donated. In fiscal year 2001, the estimate is $643.4 million.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

41 CFR 101-44, "Donation of Personal Property," available for purchase from Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Pamphlet, "Federal Surplus Personal Property Donation Programs," available from General Services Administration at no charge.

INFORMATION CONTACTS: