DAR File No. 38523

Administrative Services, Purchasing and General Services

Rule R33-26

State Surplus Property

Notice of Proposed Rule

(New Rule)

DAR File No.: 38523
Filed: 05/13/2014 02:49:18 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This rule set forth policies and procedures which govern the acquisition and disposition of state and federal surplus property, vehicles, and firearms. This rule is being renumbered and includes house keeping changes. The reason for the renumbering is because the Division of Purchasing and General Services is updating their rules to comply with the Utah Procurement Code, Title 63G, Chapter 6a, and to match recent legislation (S.B. 179 from the 2014 General Legislative Session, including S.B. 190 from the 2013 General Legislative Session, and S.B. 153 from the 2012 General Legislative Session).

Summary of the rule or change:

This rule set forth policies and procedures which govern the acquisition and disposition of state and federal surplus property, vehicles, and firearms. This rule is being renumbered and includes house keeping changes.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Title 63G, Chapter 2

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

The state's budget will not be affected, because this rule simply sets forth the policies and procedures which govern the acquisition and disposition of state and federal surplus property, vehicles, and firearms. If there is any impact, it is created by the statute. This rule merely implements the statute.

local governments:

Local governments' budgets will not be affected, because this rule simply sets forth the policies and procedures which govern the acquisition and disposition of state and federal surplus property, vehicles, and firearms. If there is any impact, it is created by the statute. This rule merely implements the statute.

small businesses:

Small businesses' budgets will not be affected, because this rule simply sets forth the policies and procedures which govern the acquisition and disposition of state and federal surplus property, vehicles, and firearms. If there is any impact, it is created by the statute. This rule merely implements the statute.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

No other person's budget will be affected, because this rule simply sets forth the policies and procedures which govern the acquisition and disposition of state and federal surplus property, vehicles, and firearms. If there is any impact, it is created by the statute. This rule merely implements the statute.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs for any person, because this rule simply sets forth the policies and procedures which govern the acquisition and disposition of state and federal surplus property, vehicles, and firearms. If there is any impact, it is created by the statute. This rule merely implements the statute.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

There is no fiscal impact on businesses. If there is any impact, it is created by the statute. This rule merely implements the statute.

Kimberly Hood, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Administrative Services
Purchasing and General Services
Room 3150 STATE OFFICE BLDG
450 N STATE ST
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84114-1201

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Alan Bachman at the above address, by phone at 801-538-3105, by FAX at 801-538-3313, or by Internet E-mail at abachman@utah.gov
• Paul Mash at the above address, by phone at 801-538-3138, by FAX at 801-538-3882, or by Internet E-mail at pmash@utah.gov
• Chiarina Bautista at the above address, by phone at 801-538-3240, by FAX at 801-538-3313, or by Internet E-mail at cgleed@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

07/01/2014

This rule may become effective on:

07/08/2014

Authorized by:

Kent Beers, Director

R33. Administrative Services, Purchasing and General Services.

R33-26. State Surplus Property.

R33-26-101. State Surplus Property - General.

This rule sets forth policies and procedures which govern the acquisition and disposition of state and federal surplus property, vehicles, and firearms. It applies to all state and local public agencies and eligible non-profit educational and health institutions when dealing with federal surplus property. It also applies to all state agencies unless specifically exempted by law and to the general public when dealing with state surplus property and the state surplus property contractor.

 

R33-26-102. Requirements.

Under the provisions of Section 63A, Chapter 2, Section 103, the division shall:

(1) Except when a state surplus property contractor administers the state's program for disposition of state surplus property operate, manage, and maintain the state surplus property program;

(2) When a state surplus property contractor administers the state's program for disposition of state surplus property, oversee the state surplus property contractor's administration of the state surplus property program.

(3) Manage the federal surplus property program as the Utah State Agency for Surplus Property and in compliance with 41 CFR 102-37 and Public Law 94-519 through a State Plan of Operation. The standards and procedures governing the contract between the state and the federal government are contained in the Plan of Operation.

(4) Manage the disposition of state owned vehicles.

(5) Control the sale or transfer of firearms from state agencies and participating local agencies, as authorized in Section 63A, Chapter 2, Section 4.

(6) Handheld devices/technology (not transferred from state agencies to public schools).

 

R33-26-103. Definitions.

(1) Terms used in the Surplus Property Rules are defined in Section 63A-2-101.5.

(2) In addition:

(a) "All-terrain type I vehicle" means any motor vehicle 52 inches or less in width, having an unladen dry weight of 1,500 pounds or less, traveling on three or more low pressure tires, having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator, and designed for or capable of travel over unimproved terrain;

(b) "All-terrain type II vehicle" means any other motor vehicle, not defined in Subsection (2), (11), or (22), designed for or capable of travel over unimproved terrain and includes a class A side-by-side vehicle. "All-terrain type II vehicle" does not include golf carts, any vehicle designed to carry a person with a disability, any vehicle not specifically designed for recreational use, or farm tractors as defined under Section 41-1a-102.

(3) "Aircraft" means any contrivance now known or in the future invented, used, or designed for navigation of or flight in the air.

(4) "Camper" means any structure designed, used, and maintained primarily to be mounted on or affixed to a motor vehicle that contains a floor and is designed to provide a mobile dwelling, sleeping place, commercial space, or facilities for human habitation or for camping.

(5) "Division" means the Division of Purchasing and General Services within the Department of Administrative Services created under Section 63A-2-101.

(6) "Farm tractor" means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily as a farm implement for drawing plows, mowing machines, and other implements of husbandry.

(7) "Firearm" means any state owned firearm, including any confiscated or seized firearm over which the state has disposal authority, and any firearm declared to be surplus property by a local subdivision.

(8) "Handgun" means any pistol or revolver.

(9) "Hunting or sporting rifle" means any long barreled shotgun or rifle manufactured for hunting or sporting purposes.

(10) "Licensed firearm dealer" means a firearms dealer licensed by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

(11) "Motorboat" means any vessel propelled by machinery, whether or not the machinery is the principal source of propulsion.

(12) "Motorcycle" means a motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground.

(13) "Motor vehicle" means a self-propelled vehicle intended primarily for use and operation on the highways.

(14) "Off-highway vehicle" means any snowmobile, all-terrain type I vehicle, all-terrain type II vehicle, or motorcycle.

(15) As used in this section "Personal handheld electronic device":

(a) means an electronic device that is designed for personal handheld use and permits the user to store or access information, the primary value of which is specific to the user of the device; and,

(b) includes a mobile phone, pocket personal computer, personal digital assistant, wireless, or similar device.

(16) "Personal Watercraft" means a motorboat that is:

(a) less than 16 feet in length;

(b) propelled by a water jet pump; and

(c) designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing or kneeling on the vessel, rather than sitting or standing inside the vessel.

(17)(a) "Pickup truck" means a two-axle motor vehicle with motive power manufactured, remanufactured, or materially altered to provide an open cargo area.

(b) "Pickup truck" includes motor vehicles with the open cargo area covered with a camper, camper shell, tarp, removable tarp, or similar structure.

(18) "Reconstructed vehicle" means every vehicle type required to be registered in this state that is materially altered from its original construction by the removal, addition, or substitution of essential parts, new or used.

(19)(a) "Recreational vehicle" means a vehicular unit other than a mobile home, primarily designed as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreational, or vacation use, that is either self-propelled or pulled by another vehicle.

(b) "Recreational vehicle" includes:

(i) a travel trailer;

(ii) a camping trailer;

(iii) a motor home;

(iv) a fifth wheel trailer; and

(v) a van.

(20) "Road tractor" means every motor vehicle designed and used for drawing other vehicles and constructed so it does not carry and load either independently or any part of the weight of a vehicle or load this is drawn.

(21) "Sailboat" means any vessel having one or more sails and propelled by wind.

(22) "Semitrailer" means every vehicle without motive power designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and constructed so that some part of its weight and its load rests or is carried by another vehicle.

(23)(a) "Special mobile equipment" means every vehicle:

(i) not designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons or property;

(ii) not designed to operate in traffic; and

(iii) only incidentally operated or moved over the highways.

(b) "special mobile equipment" includes:

(i) farm tractors;

(ii) on or off-road motorized construction or maintenance equipment including backhoes, bulldozers, compactors, graders, loaders, road rollers, tractors, and trenchers;

(iii) ditch-digging apparatus; and

(iv) forklifts, warehouse equipment, golf carts, electric carts, etc.

(24) "Trailer" means a vehicle without motive power designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and constructed so that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.

(25) "Travel trailer," "camping trailer," or "fifth wheel trailer" means a portable vehicle without motive power, designed as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreational, or vacation use that does not require a special highway movement permit when drawn by a self-propelled motor vehicle.

(26) "Truck tractor" means a motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not constructed to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load that is drawn.

(27) "USASP" means Utah State Agency for Surplus Property.

(28) "Vehicle" means the items identified and defined in Rule R33-26-103,except items (5), (7),(8), (9) (15), and (27), and includes all auxiliary equipment and components associated or attached to the vehicle and equipment used by the vehicle for its intended purpose. Examples of auxiliary equipment and components include snow plow blades, spreaders, sanders, vehicle fire extinguishers, emergency equipment, radios, truck bed racks and truck bed covers, generators, mounted welders, non-OEM, lights and light bars, etc.

(29) "Vessel" means every type of watercraft, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

 

R33-26-201. Non-vehicle Disposition Procedures.

(1) State-owned non-vehicle personal property shall not be destroyed, sold, transferred, traded-in, traded, discarded, donated or otherwise disposed of unless the procedures set forth in this Rule are followed. State-owned non-vehicle personal property shall not be processed by the division.

(2) This rule applies to and includes any residue that may be remaining from agency cannibalization of property.

(3) When a department or agency of state government determines that state-owned non-vehicle personal property is in excess to current needs, it will:

(a) transfer the non-vehicle surplus property directly to another department or agency of the state without involvement of the division; or

(b) notify the state surplus property contractor that the department or agency has surplus property.

 

R33-26-202. Information Technology Equipment.

(1) State-owned information technology equipment may be transferred directly to public institutions, such as schools and libraries, by the owning agency.

(2) Pursuant to the provisions of Section 63A-2-407, state-owned information technology equipment may be transferred directly to non-profit entities for distribution to, and use by, persons with a disability as defined in Subsection 62A-5-101(9). However, interagency transfers and sales of surplus property to state and local agencies shall have priority over transfers under this subsection.

(3) Prior to submitting information technology equipment to the state surplus property contractor, another department or agency, or donating it directly to public institutions or non-profit entities, agencies shall delete all information from all storage devices. Information shall be deleted in such a manner as to not be retrievable by data recovery technologies.

(4) Except as it relates to a vehicle or federal surplus property, the transfer of surplus property from one agency directly to another does not require approval by the division, the director of the division, or any other person.

 

R33-26-203. Federal Surplus Property.

(1) Federal Surplus Property is not available for sale to the general public. Donation of federal surplus property shall be administered in accordance with the procedures identified in the State Plan of Operation for the Federal Property Assistance Program.

(2) Public auctions of federal surplus property are authorized under certain circumstances and conditions. The division shall coordinate such auctions when deemed necessary or appropriate. Federal surplus property auctions are primarily conducted online, but are regulated and accomplished by the U.S. General Services Administration.

 

R33-26-204. Related Party Transactions.

(1) The division has a duty to the public to ensure that State-owned surplus property is disposed of in accordance with Section 63A-2. A conflict of interest may exist or appear to exist when a related party attempts to purchase surplus property.

(2) A related party is defined as someone who may fit into any of the following categories pertaining to the surplus property in question:

(a) has purchasing authority;

(b) has maintenance authority;

(c) has disposition or signature authority;

(d) has authority regarding the disposal price;

(e) has access to restricted information; and

(f) has perceived to be a related party using other criteria which may prohibit independence.

 

R33-26-205. Priorities.

(1) Public agencies are given priority for the purchase of state-owned surplus property.

(2) Property that is determined by the Division to be unique, in short supply or in high demand by public agencies may be held for a period of up to 30 days before being offered for sale to the general public through the state surplus property contractor.

(3) For this Rule, the entities listed below, in priority order, are considered to be public agencies:

(a) state Agencies;

(b) state Universities, Colleges, and Community Colleges;

(c) other tax supported educational agencies or political subdivisions in the State of Utah including cities, towns, counties and local law enforcement agencies;

(d) other tax supported educational entities; then

(e) non-profit health and educational institutions.

(4) State-owned personal property that is not purchased by or transferred to public agencies may be offered for public sale.

(5) The division shall make the determination as to whether property is subject to hold period. The decision shall consider the following:

(a) the cost to the state;

(b) the potential liability to the state;

(c) the overall best interest of the state.

 

R33-26-301. Accounting and Reimbursement Procedures.

(1) The division will record and maintain records of all transactions related to the acquisition and sale of all federal surplus property.

(2) The division will require regular and detailed accounting by the state surplus property contractor of:

(a) the receipt and sale of state surplus property;

(b) the receipt and payment of any and all funds; and

(c) ensure public transparency regarding the sale of state surplus property.

(3) The division may maintain a federal working capital reserve not to exceed one year's operating expenses. In the event the division accumulates funds in excess of the allowable working capital reserve, they will reduce the Retained Earnings balance accordingly. The only exception is where the division is accumulating excess funds in anticipation of the purchase of new facilities or capital items. Prior to the accumulation of excess funds, the division must obtain the written approval of the Executive Director of the Department of Administrative Services.

 

R33-26-302. Reimbursement.

(1) After paying the amount owed to the state surplus property contractor, the division shall transfer the remaining money to the agency that requested the sale of the particular item in accordance with Title 63J, Budgetary Procedures Act.

(2) Vehicle reimbursements to state agencies from the sale of their vehicles will be made through the Division of Finance on interagency transfers or warrant requests. The division is authorized to deduct operating costs from the selling price of all vehicles. In all cases property will be priced to sale for fair market value. Items that are not marketable for whatever reason may be discounted in price or disposed of by abandonment, donation, or sold as scrap.

(3) Payment for vehicles, information technology equipment, federal surplus property, personal handheld devices, and firearms shall be as follows:

(a) payment received from public purchasers may be in the form of cash and/or certified funds, authorized bank credit cards, and personal checks. Personal checks may not be accepted for amounts exceeding $200. Two-party checks shall not be accepted;

(b) payment received from governmental entities, school districts, special districts, and higher education institutions shall be in the form of agency or subdivision check or purchasing card;

(c) payment made by governmental entities, school districts, special districts, and higher education institutions shall be at the time of purchase and prior to removal of the property purchased; or

(d) the division director or designee may make exceptions to the payment provisions of this rule for good cause. A good cause exception requires a weighing of:

(i) the cost to the state;

(ii) the potential liability to the state; and

(iii) the overall best interest of the state.

(4) The division shall initiate formal collection procedures in the event that a check from the general public, state subdivisions, or other agencies is returned to the division for "insufficient funds":

(a) in the event that a check is returned to the division is returned for "insufficient fund," the division may:

(i) prohibit the debtor from making any future purchases from the division until the debt is paid in full; and

(ii) have the division accountant send a certified letter to the debtor stating that the debtor has 15 days to pay the full amount owed with cash or certified funds, including any and all additional fees associated with the collection process, such as returned check fees; and if the balance is not paid within the 15 day period, the matter will be referred to the Office of State Debt Collection for formal collection proceedings.

(b) debts for which payments have not been received in full within the 15 day period referred to above, shall be assigned to the Office of State Debt Collection in accordance with statute.

 

R33-26-401. Public Sale of State-Owned Vehicles.

(1) State-owned excess vehicles may be purchased at any time by the general public, subject to any holding period that may be assigned by the division and subject to the division's operating days and hours.

(2) Federal surplus property auctions to the general public may be accomplished on occasions and subject to the limitations as indicated previously.

(3) The frequency of public auctions, for either State-owned vehicles or federal surplus property will be regulated by current law as applicable, the volume of items held in inventory by the division, and the profitability of conducting auctions versus other approaches to disposing of surplus property.

(4) State-owned vehicles available for sale may not have any ancillary or component parts or equipment removed, destroyed, or detached, from the vehicle prior to sale without the approval of the division.

(5) State agencies are prohibited from removing ancillary or component parts or equipment from vehicles intended for surplus unless:

(a) the state agency intends on using the ancillary or component parts or equipment on other agency vehicles;

(b) the state agency in possession of the vehicle intends to transfer the ancillary or component parts or equipment to another state agency; or

(c) the state agency has obtained prior approval from the division to remove ancillary or component parts or equipment from the vehicle intended for surplus.

 

R33-26-501. Surplus Firearms.

This subsection sets forth policies and procedures for disposing of surplus firearms from state agencies and participating local agencies, as authorized in Section 63A-2-4. This rule governs the destruction, sale, transfer, or donation of surplus firearms to any agency or to the general public.

 

R33-26-502. Procedures.

(1) All state owned firearms shall be disposed of under the general provisions of this Rule.

(a) The sale of firearms directly to the general public by the division is prohibited.

(b) Hunting and sporting rifles meeting Federal Firearms regulations may be sold only to firearms dealers licensed by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

(c) Except as provided in this subsection (c), handguns shall be transferred to the Utah State Public Safety Crime Lab for use or to be destroyed.

(i) The owning agency may trade a handgun into a licensed firearm dealer for credit toward the current purchase of a new handgun.

(ii) The division may authorize the sale of a handgun to a legally constituted law enforcement agency.

(iii) The division may authorize the sale of a handgun to a POST certified individual if the owning agency submits a signed request that includes:

(A) the individual's name;

(B) the serial number of the handgun to be sold; and

(C) the signature of an authorized agent of the owning agency.

(2) All firearms retained by the division shall be in accordance with Federal Firearms regulations pursuant to Sections 921(a)(19) and 922(s) of Title 18, United States Code.

(a) Written certification that surplus firearms meet federal firearms regulations shall be provided by the owning agency or a qualified armorer.

(3) All firearms retained by the division shall be in good working condition.

(a) Written certification specifying the condition of surplus firearms shall be provided by the owning agency or a qualified armorer.

 

R33-26-601. Utah State Agency for Surplus Property Adjudicative Proceedings.

As required by the Utah Administrative Procedures Act, this Rule provides the procedures for adjudicating disputes brought before the division under the authority granted by Section 63A-2-401 and Section 63G-4, et seq.

 

R33-26-602. Proceedings to Be Informal.

All matters over which the division has jurisdiction including bid validity determination and sales issues, which are subject to Title 63G, Chapter 4, will be informal in nature for purposes of adjudication. The Director of the Division of Purchasing and General Services or his designee will be the presiding officer.

 

R33-26-603. Procedures Governing Informal Adjudicatory Proceedings.

(1) No response need be filed to the notice of agency action or request for agency action.

(2) The division may hold a hearing at the discretion of the director of the Division of Purchasing and General Services or his designee unless a hearing is required by statute. A request for hearing must be made within ten days after receipt of the notice of agency action or request for agency action.

(3) Only the parties named in the notice of agency action or request for agency action will be permitted to testify, present evidence and comment on the issues.

(4) A hearing will be held only after timely notice of the hearing has been given.

(5) No discovery, either compulsory or voluntary, will be permitted except that all parties to the action shall have access to information and materials not restricted by law.

(6) No person may intervene in an agency action unless federal statute or rule requires the agency to permit intervention.

(7) Any hearing held under this rule is open to all parties.

(8) Within thirty days after the close of any hearing, the director of the Division of Purchasing and General Services or his designee shall issue a written decision stating the decision, the reasons for the decision, time limits for filing an appeal with the director of the superior agency, notice of right of judicial review, and the time limits for filing an appeal to the appropriate district court.

(9) The decision rendered by the Director of the Division of Purchasing and General Services or his designee shall be based on the facts in the division file and if a hearing is held, the facts based on evidence presented at the hearing.

(10) The agency shall notify the parties of the agency order by promptly mailing a copy thereof to each at the address indicated in the file.

(11) Whether a hearing is held or not, an order issued under the provisions of this rule shall be the final order and then may be appealed to the appropriate district court.

 

R33-26-701. State Surplus Property Contractor.

(1) The state surplus contractor must be selected through a Request for Proposals that results in a term contract.

(2) The contractor may sell state surplus property by auction, bid or other manner designed to get the best price available for the state surplus property.

(3) The contractor may not engage in the sale of state surplus property in a manner that would constitute a conflict of interest.

(4) The contractor must submit regular and detailed accounting to the division of:

(a) the receipt and sale of state surplus property; and,

(b) the receipt and payment of funds by the contractor.

(5) The contractor must ensure public transparency regarding the sale of state surplus property and is required to:

(a) post online information related to a sale or attempted sale of state surplus property that includes:

(i) a detailed description of the item or items;

(ii) the name of the state agency that requested the sale;

(iii) the price at which the state surplus property was sold; and,

(iv) post the information within a period of time established by the division.

(6) The division may, through the contract with the state surplus contractor, require the state surplus contractor:

(a) to store the state surplus property; or,

(b) charge for the storage of state surplus property.

 

R33-26-801. Donation, Disposal, or Destruction of State Surplus Property.

(1) A state agency or department may donate to a charitable organization, destroy, or dispose of as waste any state surplus property that is worth less than $30.00 without involvement of the division or state surplus property contractor if:

(a) the state surplus property fails to sell at auction;

(b) the cost of selling the state surplus property is greater or equal to the value of the state surplus property;

(c) the state surplus property is no longer usable;

(d) the state surplus property is damaged and either cannot be repaired or the cost of repair is greater than or equal to the value of the state surplus property in a repaired state; or

(e) the state surplus property can be replaced for less than the cost of repairing the state surplus property.

 

KEY: state surplus property, federal surplus property, procurement procedures, public sales

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: 2014

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 63G-2