GSA Sells $1.5 Million in Surplus Goods Through E-Auction

The General Services Administration has raised more than $1.5 million and registered more than 19,000 online bidders in the first two months its new electronic commerce site, www.GSAAuctions.gov. has been online.


The site is hosted by Government Services Inc., a subsidiary of WAM!NET Inc., Eagan, Minn.


The GSA's Federal Supply Service, which uses the site to sell surplus government property, expects the new auction site service to grow rapidly, because it is not limited by regional merchandising efforts.

Items such as vehicles, jewelry, furniture and office equipment are offered for sale at the online site. Bidders view pictures of each item and make their bid. Offers are collected and winners are notified online.


"The Federal Supply Service has a rich history of being on the cutting edge of technology, streamlining processes and doing more with less," said Donna Bennett, commissioner of the FSS. "Establishing the site ... is an outgrowth of our culture. We are bringing the power of the Internet and the excitement of personal property auctions to the personal computer on [a] 24x7 basis."


WAM!NET launched its effort to market and sell its network, storage and hosted application and infrastructure services to the government marketplace in June 2000, following the company's approval by the GSA to sell on the agency's schedule for electronic commerce services.