The GovDeals auction system is a convenient way for potential bidders to buy surplus and confiscated assets from governmental agencies posted to the GovDeals Web site. Registered bidders are offered full range of services, starting with initial New Member Registration and continuing through High Bidder Notification on a client asset that has attained 'Sold on Auction' status. Services available on GovDeals are as follows:
New User Login
A potential bidder desiring to use GovDeals may enter a GovDeals registration request. Upon successful registration and registration validation, a 'Welcome to GovDeals' e-mail notification will be sent to the new bidder. This e-mail will include a temporary password to be used by the bidder to gain access to GovDeals for update of the login password and continued processing.
Buyer Login
A registered member (buyer) may login to GovDeals. Go to www.govdeals.com. The GovDeals home page will be opened for login entry of User Name and Password. Additionally, this page provides various search processes for locating assets currently on auction (i.e., word find, browse by category, advanced search, latest online, and closing within).
Bidders Agreement
A potential bidder or registered buyer will read and accept or decline the current version on the GovDeals Bidders Agreement. Clicking 'I Decline' will result in denial of new member registration or rejection of an existing buyer's registration. Clicking 'I Accept' will allow continuation of new member registration processing or update of a registered buyer's GovDeals Bidders Agreement version number, as applicable.
Login to GovDeals
Security is provided whereby a user of GovDeals must enter a valid User Name and Password in order to gain access to the GovDeals auction system.
Buyer's Home Page
The Buyer's Home Page is a page existing in GovDeals whereby a registered buyer may perform all of the allowed GovDeals processes, as follows:
Review/Maintain Buyer Information
Search for an Asset on the Auction
The Buyer's Home Page also provides display of all assets for BidWatch, LatestOnline, and "ClosingWithin:".
BidWatch - Display of assets bid on by the Buyer and selected for 'Add to my BidWatch.'
LatestOnline - Display of posted assets matching the buyer's identified favorites.
ClosingWithin: - "Closing Within" provides for display of assets closing within 1 Hour, 24 Hours, and 48 Hours.
1 Hour: Display of posted assets matching the buyer's identified favorites for which the auction closing date/time is within 1 hour of current system date/time.
24 Hours: Display of posted assets matching the buyer's identified favorites for which the auction closing date/time is within 24 hours of current system date/time.
48 Hours: Display of posted assets matching the buyer's identified favorites for which the auction closing date/time is within 48 hours of current system date/time.
A valid GovDeals user may review and update their buyer (registration) information. Buyer Information is established through the initial registration process. Information contained, but not all inclusive, is First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name, Address 1 and 2, City, Country, Zip Code, State, Email Address, etc.
A valid GovDeals user may change their login password at any time.
A valid GovDeals buyer may select up to three asset categories to monitor. The buyer may add or remove a maximum of three (3) categories with the Modify Favorites feature. Each day, if a new item is added to a category the buyer has selected, the buyer will receive a single email notification. When a favorite has posted assets an 'Assets Currently Available' link will be displayed on the page. To view the items in their favorites, buyers may click the 'Assets Currently Available' link. Selected favorites can be modified at any time.
A valid GovDeals buyer may view all posted assets for categories selected for monitoring by the Modify Favorites process. The 'Assets Currently Available' link is accessible on the Buyer's Modify Favorites page.
A valid GovDeals buyer may create a Tiers profile of up to ten selected organizations (State agency that you represent) from which they are authorized to bid on and purchase assets. The buyer may add or remove "Sellers Using Tiers" (organizations) with the Modify Tiers process at any time. It should be noted that to complete purchase transactions, the seller may require verification of the buyer's purchasing authority.
A valid GovDeals buyer may view posted assets for sellers (organizations) selected by the Modify Tiers process. Tier Sellers (organizations) can be viewed by clicking the 'Tiers' link (View Tiers) on the Buyer Home page. The user then selects the 'Assets Available' "Yes" link. This opens the "Items within <Tier Name>" page displaying all open assets posted for the selected Tier.
Search for an Asset on the Auction
There are five different ways to search for an asset on the auction: Word Search, Latest Online, "Closing Within:," Advance Search, and Category Search.
Using the Latest Online Search, the buyer will select the 'Latest Online' link. Any assets posted within the last 24 hours will be displayed.
Using the 'Closing Within:' Search, the buyer will select the desired link: '1 Hour,' '24 Hours,' or '48 Hours.'
1 Hour: Any assets posted that is closing within 1 hour of current system time, will be displayed.
24 Hours: Any assets posted that is closing within 24 hours of current system time, will be displayed.
48 Hours: Any assets posted that is closing within 48 hours of current system time, will be displayed.
Using the Word Search, the buyer will enter a word or phrase in the text box and click on 'Search'. Any assets with that word or phrase in its description will be displayed.
Using the Browse by Category Search, the buyer will choose a Category from the list and click on 'Browse'. All assets within the selected category will be displayed.
Using the Advanced Search, the buyer will enter the desired search criteria by State, Seller Name, and/or Description, and/or Category, and/or Inventory ID, and click on 'Search'.
State - Select the state from the drop-down list. All assets currently on the auction for the selected state will be displayed after the search button is clicked.
Note: Selecting a State will reset client name values displayed for Seller Name limiting the list to those sellers within the selected state with posted assets.
Seller Name - Select the client name from the drop-down list. All assets currently on the auction for the selected seller will be displayed after the search button is clicked.
Note: Selecting a Seller Name will reset category values displayed for Category limiting the list to those categories that are on posted assets for the selected seller
Category - Select a category of interest from the drop-down list. All assets currently on the auction for the selected category will be displayed after the search button is clicked.
Description - Type in a keyword or phrase for the item you want to find. The results are not limited to 'whole word' matches, i.e., the name auto will return matches with automobile and semi-automatic, as well as auto.
Inventory ID - Enter the inventory ID. That asset will be displayed.
A valid GovDeals buyer may enter a Bid Amount on a located asset with a status of 'Sent to Auction'. The process also provides the capability for the buyer to establish a Max Auto Bid Amount, to indicate if email notification is desired when outbid on the selected asset, and to add the to their BidWatch.
Max Auto Bid Amount - When entered, this indicates the maximum amount you are willing to bid on the displayed asset. When another bidder enters a bid higher than the current high bid, this process will automatically enter a next higher bid on your behalf, using the Bid Increment established by the client, until the Max Auto Bid Amount you established is met.
Email if Outbid - When selected, this process will automatically issue an Outbid Notification to you when outbid by a standard bid process (no other bidder has an auto bid amount established for this asset or the asset does not have a reserve amount or strike price). Outbid Notifications will continue to be issued whenever a bid higher than your bid is submitted and until the closing date/time of the asset's auction has been met.
Add to my BidWatch - When selected, this process will cause the asset to display on your Home view under the heading BidWatch. Current bid information and the number of bids submitted will be displayed for each asset on your BidWatch.
A valid GovDeals buyer may review their current bids on assets by clicking on My Bids on the Buyer's Home page. The My Bids page provides a list of all assets currently bid on (Open Auctions) and all assets with a 'Sold on Auction' status for which that buyer had submitted a bid (Closed Auctions - last 14 Days) and the auction had closed within the last 14 days.
A GovDeals user may view Help from all processing pages in GovDeals by clicking on the Help link. The 'Contents' help feature is opened by default, presenting a list of all the available help topics. The facility also includes search by Index key word and Search by user entered word capabilities:
Contents -When a help topic is selected, the applicable page will be opened and displayed to the right of the Contents listing. A page may also include a 'hyperlink(s)' to other pages contained in the Help facility. By clicking on a hyperlink, that page will be opened.
Index - The Index consists of an alpha listing of keywords contained within the Help documents. Help documents containing the keyword may be located by scrolling through the Index and then clicking on a keyword or by entering a word in the 'Type in the keyword to find:' text entry field. Entering a word will result in the matching value (or closest match) to be highlighted in the list. To open the page containing that keyword the user will click on the highlighted keyword.
Search - The Search capability provides location of help topics by a word or group of words. The user will enter the word or words of interest in the 'Type in the word(s) to search for:' text entry field. A list of help topics containing the entered word or words will be displayed. The user may then click on the desired help topic in the displayed list to open it.
Contact of GovDeals may be performed by email, phone, or FAX. Email contact with GovDeals may be initiated by clicking on 'Contact Us' on the GovDeals Home page. This action will open a new email with CustomerService@govdeals.com in the To address and the cursor focused on the Subject field. The purpose of the email is for submitting queries to GovDeals. Assistance on how to contact GovDeals may also be obtained by clicking on Help while in any processing page, then clicking on 'Contacting GovDeals' in the Contents list. This will open a help topic containing information on how to contact GovDeals by email, phone, or FAX.
Email Notification(s)
A registered buyer may receive various email notifications from GovDeals. The notifications may range from a Buyer's Certificate for a winning bid of a closed auction to notification of a system lockout action against that buyer.
Favorites Notification - The Favorites Notification email will be issued to a buyer when an asset that matches the favorites profile of the buyer, is posted to the auction.
Outbid Notification - The Outbid Notification email will be issued to a buyer when a higher bid is submitted by another bidder on an asset for which a bid had been submitted by the recipient.
Buyer's Certificate - The Buyer's Certificate email will be issued to a buyer when that buyer is the high (winning) bidder on an asset posted for auction and the auction closing date/time has passed.
Lockout Notification - The Lockout Notification email will be issued from the GovDeals Customer Services when that buyer has been locked out of bidding on a particular Seller's assets or when that buyer has been totally locked out of the system due to lockout by multiple Sellers.
Thank you for registering in GovDeals and best wishes for many winning bids!