To: ALAUX
From: CHDIRAUX
Subj: An Auxiliary Guide to Requesting USCG Surplus Property -021/07

1. FYI:

Need a notebook computer for a boating safety class? How about a hand held maritime VHF radio?

When property no longer meets its operational needs, the Coast Guard declares property as "excess". If no other Federal agencies express an interest in the property, then it is categorized as "surplus." This allows State and local government, and non-profit organizations to compete for it.

While that notebook computer may not meet current USCG data transfer needs, it can still do a great job with Power Point presentations for your Flotilla's Boating Safety Courses.

How can I get this property?

Title 14 United States Code Section 641 allows the Coast Guard to give obsolete property to the Auxiliary and other eligible non-profits
organizations. Once a request is made for a specific item, the Coast Guard must first offer it for transfer to other federal agencies. If after 21 days of Federal screening, there are no "takers," then the property can be reclaimed by the Coast Guard for transfer to an Auxiliary unit.

An estimated 80% of items reported as excess survive the Federal screening process. Unfortunately for the Auxiliary, boats usually are claimed by other federal agencies or State and local government organizations.

How do Auxiliary units go about finding available property?

Each Coast Guard unit has a Property Officer who retains physical custody of excess property. For example, in the Baltimore, Maryland area, excess property can be found at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard, Sector Baltimore, and the Engineering Logistics Command, each of which has a designated Property Officer.

The following procedures have been established for Auxiliary units to acquire Coast Guard excess property.

1. Each Coast Guard unit designates an active duty member to serve as its Coast Guard Auxiliary Liaison (AUXLO). The AUXLO is the primary point of contact for the Auxiliary. The Auxiliary, in turn, appoints an Auxiliary
Unit Liaison (AUXULO) to coordinate with the AUXLO (at the Sector level, this person is known as the Auxiliary Sector Coordinator [ASC]).

2. When a Flotilla has a need for equipment, the Flotilla Commander should contact the AUXULO or AUXULOs in his or her area, who in turn will relay requests to their AUXLO counterpart.

3. If the AUXLO finds that needed equipment is becoming available, the unit Property Officer prepares an SF-120 (Report of Excess Personal Property)identifying the requesting Flotilla Commander's name and phone number at the
bottom of the form.

4. This form is forwarded to the DIRAUX who in turn forwards the form to Coast Guard Headquarters (CG-842). The property is then offered to other federal agencies for 21 calendar days. If there are no "takers," it is
"signed off" to your Flotilla.

AUXULOs are encouraged to proactively and routinely see what property may be becoming excess at their respective units and alert their respective Auxiliary Divisions and Flotillas of such.

Additionally, excess Coast Guard property worth $2,500 or more can be screened on-line at
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/elcbalt/docs/Excess/ExcessPropertylist.htm. This list is updated each Wednesday.

What happens to Defense Department excess?

The Defense Logistics Agency operates various Defense Reutilization and Marketing Offices (DRMOs) which house excess property available to the military services (including the Coast Guard), other federal agencies, State and local governments, and non-profit organizations.

To gain access to a DRMO, your Flotilla Commander should forward a request through your Division Captain to DIRAUX. The DIRAUX will issue a letter identifying you to the local active Coast Guard unit Property Officer and
the DRMO.

While this letter will give you access to the DRMO, you can only physically screen the excess property. An authorized active duty Coast Guard person must actually tag and obtain excess property at a DRMO.

The active duty Coast Guard unit can then "loan" the excess equipment to your Flotilla using a DD-1149 (Requisition and Invoice/Shipping Document).

When the Flotilla no longer needs the excess equipment, it must return the equipment to the active Coast Guard unit for disposition action.

More information can be found at http://www.drms.dla.mil/. The locations of
the "recycling control points" where you can view excess property are listed at http://www.drms.dla.mil/html/drmo_sites.html.

2. The purpose of this list is to keep Auxiliarists as well as all other
interested parties abreast of current developments, policies, manuals, etc.
All information contained herein and linked is OFFICIAL policy and information.

3. Internet Release and Distribution is Authorized.

4. CG-3PCX, sends

I hear Buffalo IS confusing!!

I agree with Peale that it makes no sense at all that the CG can't give stuff directly to its own Auxiliary, which it controls, without going through this process.

If nothing else, couldn't they give the boat to DIRAUX and let DIRAUX assign it to Aux use while still maintaining CG ownership?

Did you know, that the Aux can buy through the GSA?
"Appendix B. Other Eligible Users

The following have been determined to be eligible to use GSA sources of supply and services, in addition to the organizations listed in appendixes A and C. An asterisk indicates that special limitations apply. This list is not all-inclusive; other activities also may be eligible to use GSA sources. GSA will rule upon eligibility on a case-by-case basis in response to requests received (see par. 11).
Administrative Conference of the U.S.
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations
Advisory Committee on Federal Pay
American Printing House for the Blind
American Samoa, government of
Architect of the Capitol
Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
Bank for Cooperatives
Certain non-appropriated fund activities (generally, not for resale)
Coast Guard Auxiliary (through the U.S. Coast Guard)