Illinois Central management Services announces 2023 Surplus Summit to outline surplus inventory program available to Veteran-owned businesses

[April 17, 2023]   The Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) announced the 2023 Surplus Summit, a virtual conference taking place on April 20, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This inaugural conference, cosponsored by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), is designed to inform and engage Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) about the availability of Federal Surplus property that is available for free or low cost.

The GSA Federal Surplus Property Program is administered by the Illinois State Agency for Surplus Property (ILSASP), a division of CMS, and governed by regulations of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). The Federal Property and Administrative Services Act authorizes the donation of federal surplus property to qualified entities. This includes a wide range of items, such as: Vehicles, Tractors, Trailers, Boats, Heavy Equipment, ATV’s, Shop Equipment, Drones, Field Kitchens, and 3D Printers. To date, nearly 60 different (VOSBs) from throughout all of Illinois have participated in the program and have acquired over 5,200 items valued at over $15 million.

“The skills and experience our veterans gained while bravely serving our country make them uniquely positioned to be able to start and run successful businesses in the State of Illinois,” said CMS Acting Director Raven A. DeVaughn, “CMS is honored to administer a program that will help provide additional resources to veteran-owned small businesses.”

In an effort to reach the broadest audience of veterans throughout Illinois, the 2023 Surplus Summit will be hosted virtually on WebEx.

The agenda for this half day conference will provide an overview of the program, surplus property available and offer a review of the registration, request, and compliance processes. Specifically, the agenda will feature:

*Welcome from Senator Tammy Duckworth

*Overview of the GSA Role & Engagement with the State of Illinois and VOSBs

*VOSB Certification Process and Assistance through Procurement Technical Assistance Centers

*Introduction of the CMS Surplus Team and Navigating the Surplus Process

*Types and location of property available

In addition, the conference will feature a discussion with VOSBs from a cross section of industries who have benefitted from the program and will share their stories about its impact.

CMS also administers additional surplus programs that are available to certain nonfederal organizations to obtain personal property that the federal government no longer needs. Eligible organizations may include: Non-Profit and Public Programs for the Elderly, Public Agencies (Police, Fire, Public Works, Schools, etc., of any County, City, Village), Non-Profit, Tax-Exempt Health or Educational Organizations (Libraries, Schools, Museums, etc.) and Programs for the Homeless, among others.

For more about information about the Surplus Program and to register for the 2023 Surplus Summit, visit www.illinois.gov/fedsurplus

[Illinois Office of Communication and Information]