The Challenge
To dispose of surplus assets, the District relied on a combination of local auction houses, classified advertisements, and online marketplace platforms. This approach created several challenges:
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Required multiple forms of public notification, increasing the administrative workload
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Incurred out-of-pocket costs for advertising and auction services
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Required significant staff time to coordinate listings, respond to inquiries, and manage logistics
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Made it difficult to dispose of lower-value or miscellaneous items efficiently
The process was time-consuming, costly, and difficult to manage across different asset types.
The Solution
In April 2019, the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District transitioned to GovDeals to centralize and simplify its surplus asset sales.
Using the platform, the District was able to manage all surplus assets in one place, from small tools to fleet vehicles, while eliminating the need for multiple public notices and external advertising. Clear and detailed asset descriptions helped reduce bidder inquiries, and the structured listing process created a more consistent and efficient workflow.
As staff became more familiar with the platform, the process continued to improve, requiring less time and effort to manage each sale.
“Since 2019, GovDeals has helped us streamline our surplus process, saving staff time while generating over $110,000 from more than 60 assets. The platform makes it easy to move everything from small shop items to fleet equipment — even eliminating disposal costs when buyers handle removal.”
— Mark Wieland, Mechanical Specialist
The Results
Since implementing GovDeals, the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District has achieved measurable outcomes across revenue generation, cost avoidance, and operational efficiency:
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More than 60 assets sold across a wide range of categories
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Over $110,000 in total sales value generated
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Significant reduction in staff time required to manage surplus sales
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Elimination of advertising and public notice costs associated with previous methods
The District has successfully expanded the types of assets it can efficiently release, including fleet vehicles, agricultural equipment, shop tools, and surplus furniture from facility updates.
In addition to revenue generation, GovDeals has enabled the District to efficiently dispose of specialized or lower-value assets that would otherwise require time and cost to remove. For example, a 2,500-gallon fiberglass tank and pumping system was listed and successfully transferred to a buyer, eliminating the need for staff coordination, hauling, or disposal.
As staff became more familiar with the platform, the process became even more streamlined. Clear asset descriptions have nearly eliminated bidder inquiries, allowing the team to focus on core operational priorities.
What was once a fragmented, time-intensive process has become a centralized, repeatable workflow that supports both revenue generation and efficient asset disposal.
Conclusion
By transitioning to GovDeals, the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District replaced a fragmented and time-intensive surplus process with a centralized, efficient solution.
The result is a scalable approach to asset disposition that delivers consistent revenue, reduces administrative burden, and supports more sustainable operations. Learn more about the process or click below to sign up and get selling today!
