Illinois iBid website to auction heavy construction equipment

CMS is offering more than 550 pieces of equipment for bids on March 17

[March 11, 2014]  SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Central Management Services announced last week that it will conduct its largest Web-based auction of surplus heavy equipment ever through the state's iBid website. The state's equivalent of eBay, iBid has sold more than $10 million worth of surplus property and equipment since 2003. The site has sold everything from agricultural equipment to motor vehicles but has never featured the Illinois Department of Transportation's heavy equipment sale before.

"IBid is an innovative tool that state government has pioneered to increase revenues that we earn from the sale of surplus property and make it easier for buyers to participate in the process," said Simone McNeil, acting CMS director. "Bidders no longer have to drive to Springfield or spend hours on the auction floor. They can follow the auction from their office or home, night or day, on their computers or other devices, instantly bidding on items no longer needed by state government."

The state announced that on March 17 it will start taking bids exclusively on the Internet on more than 550 pieces of equipment deemed surplus by the Illinois Department of Transportation for sale to the highest bidder. These include various types of off-road equipment, heavy trucks, tractors and other vehicles. The bidding will end at 4 p.m. March 28. Interested bidders may register and preview the equipment online at http://ibid.illinois.gov/.

Auction terms and conditions, pickup times, methods of payment, and photos and descriptions are available online. No on-site previews will be permitted.

Winners are notified immediately upon closing of the sale and may pay for items online via MasterCard, Visa, certified check or money order.

CMS conducted its last in-person auctions at its Springfield warehouse last year.

The move to all online sales has saved the state $60,000 annually in banking, security and other associated expenses typically required for on-site warehouse public sales, while increasing revenues from online sales by nearly $1 million in fiscal 2013.

CMS provides a broad range of programs and services to state agencies and the public. These include human resources and employee benefits, information technology and telecommunications, property and facilities management, procurement and business diversity, vehicle fleet management, and media and marketing.

For more information about CMS, go to http://www2.illinois.gov/cms/Pages/default.aspx.

[Text from Illinois Department of Central Management Services file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]