How Does the SWAP Offer to Sell Process Work?

SWAP (Surplus With A Purpose)/Purchasing processes the disposition of all surplus equipment generated by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While over 99% of the surplus equipment leaving the campus is collected and sold through the SWAP Shop, more expensive or specialized equipment is sold through a bidding process coordinated between SWAP and Purchasing.

SWAP and Purchasing Services work with campus departments to write and distribute Offers to Sell. The revenue sharing rates document provides information about departmental credits.

SWAP/Purchasing can also assist other Wisconsin State Agencies by posting the availability of their surplus equipment on this web server. Departments wishing to advertise their equipment here, should contact Tim Sell.

How can I find out what's available through the Offer to Sell process?

Offers to sell are posted on this web server (based on the priority for offering University property to University of Wisconsin departments, Wisconsin State Agencies, and other Wisconsin tax-exempt/non-profit organizations, and to the general public):

1. University of Wisconsin-Madison departments, Wisconsin State Agencies, and other Wisconsin tax-exempt/non-profit organizations
2. General public

How can I make an offer on equipment?

Items available through the Offer to Sell (OTS) process are posted on our general OTS web page.

How can a department sell an item through the OTS process?

You must contact SWAP, and complete, and submit to SWAP a surplus property transaction form first. The SWAP Business Manager and a Purchasing agent will assess the best means for selling your property. SWAP will look for the quickest way to offer the greatest return on your goods. If an Offer to Sell is most appropriate, you will work with the Purchasing Agent to complete a Surplus Equipment Evaluation form. This form provides information needed as we post the availablility of your equipment. The rest of the process follows this timeline:

1. Week 1: Offer to Sell is posted on UW-Madison and Tax-Supported Agency Offer to Sell List web page. If an accepted, fair offer is submitted, the item is sold to that department or agency.
2. Week 2: Offer to Sell is posted on General Public Offer to Sell List web page, is distributed to people on Swap/Purchasing's OTS mailing list, and is available in hard copy from Swap. To get on the OTS mailing list or to request hard copies of Offers, contact Kathy Beaudot.

If SWAP is unable to sell your item by OTS, we will either bring your equipment to the SWAP Shop for sale like other surplus equipment, or the material may be disposed in some other fashion. All sales transactions for items purchased by OTS are handled by SWAP and the department which sells an item this way will have their account credited by SWAP.

For questions about the Offer to Sell process, please contact Kathy Beaudot.