November 16, 2010 — The federal government’s website for online auctions set a new record in fiscal 2010, generating more than $250 million, according to documents from GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service.

More than 225,000 people have signed up to use GSA Auctions, which has been described as the federal government’s eBay.

Federal agencies use the site to sell unused or unneeded property including boats, cars, animals, bowling alleys and even portable restrooms, Dave Robbins, Director of GSA’s Office of Personal Property Management, tells Federal News Radio.

The site was launched in 2001, as a “free electronic solution” for “revolutionizing and streamlining the management of surplus federal assets,” according to a GSA fact sheet. Since then, it has grown from selling 10,000 items to more than 200,000 in FY 2010.

If all goes according to plan, fiscal 2011 will bring changes that can help the government and buyers become eco-friendly.

GSA is adding a tool that will “identify the carbon footprint savings for reusing an item as opposed to…having to buy a replacement item,” said Robbins.

For more on what lies ahead for GSA Auctions, listen to the full interview.

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