| Title: | Surplus Property Policy and Procedures |
|---|---|
| Policy Owner: | University Business Services, Surplus Department |
| Applies to: | Faculty, Staff |
| Campus Applicability: | All campuses except UConn Health |
| Effective Date: | June 7, 2021 |
| For More Information, Contact | UConn Surplus Department |
| Contact Information: | (860) 486-3094 |
| Official Website: | http://www.surplus.ubs.uconn.edu/ |
PURPOSE
To establish the authority of the Surplus Department to administer the University’s property distribution program for the disposition of assets deemed surplus to operating needs in accordance with Federal Uniform Guidance regulations and Connecticut State statutes. This includes the authority to establish and maintain processes and procedures for the proper inventory control of the University’s tagged assets.
APPLIES TO
Faculty and staff of the University of Connecticut, Storrs and Regional Campuses. This policy does not apply to the deaccession of objects held by University Collections.
BACKGROUND
Proper disposition of State of Connecticut assets is required pursuant to Section 4a-57a of the Connecticut General Statutes. The University of Connecticut has the authority to disposition surplus, unused and/or unserviceable equipment and supplies in compliance with C.G.S. 4a-57a. The University of Connecticut Surplus Department (“the Surplus Department”) is responsible for administering the University’s Surplus Program and is authorized to make the determination regarding the disposition of items that are no longer utilized by University departments.
Effective July 1, 2018, Uniform Guidance (2 CFR §200) regulations apply to both the purchase and disposal of assets purchased by Principal Investigators (“PI’s”) using federal grant funds. Pursuant to the Guidelines for Surplus & Equipment Share Opportunities, the terms and conditions of grants may set forth specific requirements for the acquisition of equipment . Further, 2 CFR OMB part 200 Uniform Guidance 200.318 lays out the requirements for equipment purchases with federal funds. The rationale for these regulations is that shared use of existing equipment promotes availability of equipment on university campuses, reduces unnecessary duplication of equipment, and frees up federal funds to further the aims and objectives of the award. For more information, download Guidelines for Surplus & Equipment Share Opportunities.
DEFINITIONS
Assets: Items or equipment that are deemed either Capital, Controllable, or Non-controllable and owned by the University. Assets can be tangible including cash, investments, etc.
Capital Equipment: Tangible, non-expendable, personal property having an anticipated life of one year or more with a unit acquisition cost of $5,000 or greater. Equipment is capitalized and depreciated on the University’s financial statements. Capital equipment includes, but is not limited to, lab and scientific equipment, furniture, tools and machinery, office and IT equipment, motor vehicles and boats, musical instruments, audio-visual equipment, athletic/fitness equipment and artwork.
Controllable Property Assets: Have a unit acquisition cost under $5,000 and are sensitive, portable, and theft-prone nature. This includes ALL computers (desktops, laptops, iPads, and Notebooks) and cell phones and may also include other types of equipment such as audiovisual equipment, televisions, projectors, communication equipment, data processing equipment, computer peripherals, scanners, and cameras.
Non-Controllable Assets: Non-electronic and electronic items with a cost under $5,000 that are not tagged or tracked as controllable property. When a department is ready to surplus non-controllable assets, which may include items such as office chairs or desks, they must enter the items into the asset tracking software to be processed by the Surplus Department.
POLICY STATEMENT
The Surplus Department shall make determinations regarding the best disposition of items based on condition and whether the item(s) may be reissued to another department, transferred to another state agency, placed in the Public Surplus Store, or donated to a nonprofit organization. Under no circumstances shall University property be discarded without proper disposition through the University’s inventory control and disposition software program.
The disposition of items acquired with grant funds must be performed in accordance with applicable federal regulations, sponsor requirements, and University policies. The Principal Investigator (PI) is responsible for assuring compliance with the specific requirements set forth by the sponsoring agency, federal regulations, and university policies.
ENFORCEMENT
Violations of this policy or associated procedures may result in appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with University By-Laws, General Rules of Conduct for All University Employees, and applicable collective bargaining agreements.
PROCEDURES/FORMS
The Surplus Department uses the Asset Panda software program to streamline the surplus process and track all the University’s tagged assets. Departments declaring items as surplus must move the items from “active” to surplus within the Asset Panda Software. Items that are not in the Asset Panda Software require the departments to add the surplus items into the software prior to submission as surplus. The Asset Panda software then transmits the information to the Surplus Department for review and processing.
University departments shall comply with the following procedures in order to properly send items to the Surplus Department (by category):
• COMPUTERS: CERTIFICATION OF DATA INACCESSIBILITY: Due to increased vulnerability to the potential misuse of personal information stored electronically, before sending computers/electronic media to Surplus, all stored electronic data must be permanently destroyed. Departments must complete a Certification of Data Inaccessibility Form stating this process has been completed. The completion of the certification form is necessary to comply with confidentiality and copyright laws. Both steps must be completed before the Surplus Department can remove computers/electronic media.
Employees/Departments may not purchase computers/laptops/electronics directly from university departments. This includes cell phones and wireless devices. All computers/laptops/electronics must be processed through Surplus when an individual/department no longer needs the item.
• REFRIGERATION UNITS: Before sending refrigeration units to the Surplus Department, departments must enter a work order with Facilities Operations for removing refrigerants from the unit(s). The removal is required per state and federal environmental regulations and ensures the safety of ground water and the ozone. Departments must forward proof of the work order number with the entered item before the Surplus Department will schedule pickup.
• MOTORS: Before sending motors to the Surplus Department, departments must submit a work order to Facilities Operations for removing oils from the motors. The removal is required per state and federal environmental regulations and ensures the safety of ground water. Departments must forward proof of the completed removal with the entered item before the Surplus Department will schedule pickup.
The Surplus Department will attempt to remove those items intended for transfer to the Surplus Department items within two (2) weeks from the receipt of the Asset Panda entry. Departments wishing to remove their own items for Surplus must schedule an appointment with the Surplus Department. Under no circumstances can any item of property belonging to the University of Connecticut be scrapped or destroyed without approval by the Associate Director of Supply Chain or the Manager of the Surplus Department.
The Surplus Department will determine whether those item(s) sent to them will be recycled or made available to faculty, staff, or other state agencies through the surplus program.
Most items made available for use by other University departments may be inspected at the Surplus Showroom, located at 6 Ahern Lane, Mansfield Depot, CT. Showroom hours are posted on the Surplus Department website. Employee identification must be shown in order to obtain surplus items.
University departments may obtain surplus property and must provide their 7-digit Kuali (KFS) number for the items to be transferred to their respective department. The Surplus Department will deliver transferred items, if necessary, to University departments within two (2) weeks from the transfer date.
After 30 days, surplus items not transferred to other departments are eligible for alternate disposition methods as determined by the Surplus Department:
A. Public Sale Items: May be offered for public sale through the auction process or at a storefront location.
B. Other State Agencies: Representatives from other agencies of the State of Connecticut may visit the Surplus Property Showroom or the storefront location to obtain University surplus items. Payment can be made with a State of Connecticut Transfer Invoice, Form CO-608. Other State agencies are responsible for transportation of transferred property.
C. Scrap Items: May be scrapped, either through the existing University recycling program, or by other processes. Items designated as scrap may not be given away to any University employee or to any other interested party.
REFERENCES
Code of Federal Regulations Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200
Connecticut General Statutes § 4a-57a. (Distribution of surplus state property)
Surplus Department Contact & Showroom Hours
University Policy: Sponsored Award Closeout
University Guidelines for Surplus & Equipment Share Opportunities
Asset Panda Request and Training
POLICY HISTORY
Policy created effective: 2004
Revisions: 2014; June 7, 2021 [Approved by President’s Cabinet]; editorial revisions July 26, 2021