FAR 8.103—Information on available excess personal property.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 8.103 explains how federal buyers and other interested parties can find out whether excess personal property is available for reuse before looking elsewhere. It covers two specific information channels: reviewing and requesting property through GSAXcess® and making personal contact with GSA or the holding activity. The section exists to support the federal policy of maximizing reuse of government property, reducing unnecessary new purchases, and moving usable items to where they are needed. In practice, this means contracting personnel and requiring activities should check the excess property system early in the acquisition process when suitable property might satisfy the need. The section is short, but it is important because it points users to the official sources for locating available excess personal property and for confirming details directly with the custodian of the property.
Key Rules
Use GSAXcess® first
Users can review available excess personal property and submit requests through GSAXcess®. This is the primary electronic source identified in the section for identifying property that may be reused by another federal activity.
Contact GSA directly
Information may also be obtained through personal contact with GSA. This allows users to ask questions, clarify availability, and get help locating property that may not be obvious from the system alone.
Contact the holding activity
Users may also contact the activity that currently holds the property. Direct communication can confirm condition, location, timing, and any practical issues affecting transfer or use.
Availability is informational
This section does not itself create a right to receive property; it tells users where to obtain information about what is available. Actual transfer or assignment of property depends on applicable property management rules and the needs of the holding agency.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Check for available excess personal property when appropriate for the requirement, use GSAXcess® and/or contact GSA or the holding activity, and consider whether available property can meet the need before authorizing new procurement.
Requiring Activity / Program Office
Identify needs early enough to allow a search for excess property, provide accurate descriptions of required items, and coordinate with acquisition staff when reused property may be suitable.
GSA
Maintain or support access to information on available excess personal property and respond to inquiries from users seeking to locate, review, or request property.
Holding Activity
Provide information about property it holds, respond to direct inquiries, and coordinate availability details with interested federal users.
Contractor
If acting on behalf of the government under contract, follow the government’s instructions for locating or using excess property and do not assume availability without confirmation through the proper channels.
Practical Implications
This section encourages early screening for reusable government property, which can save money and shorten lead times if suitable items are already available.
GSAXcess® is the key starting point, but it may not answer every question; users often need follow-up with GSA or the holding activity to confirm condition, quantity, and transfer logistics.
A common pitfall is treating “available” as meaning immediately assignable or usable without further approval or coordination; the actual transfer process may involve additional property management steps.
Contracting and program staff should document their search efforts when excess property could reasonably satisfy the requirement, especially when justifying a new purchase.
Because the section is brief, users should read it together with the broader federal property management rules to understand how requests, transfers, and reuse decisions are handled.
Official Regulatory Text
Information regarding the availability of excess personal property can be obtained through—- (a) Reviewing and requesting available excess personal property in GSAXcess® (see https://gsaxcess.gov ); and (b) Personal contact with GSA or the activity holding the property.