Background
The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District in Colorado had been managing surplus assets through traditional methods for years. Like many special districts, they relied on their county’s annual auction to dispose of retired vehicles, outdated equipment, and replaced infrastructure components. While this approach provided a disposal mechanism, it came with significant operational limitations that were impacting their efficiency and revenue potential.
Assets would sit in storage facilities for months at a time, potentially depreciating in value while consuming valuable storage space and resources. The rigid annual schedule meant no flexibility in timing - if equipment became surplus in February, it would wait until the county’s auction date, sometimes nearly a year later. The local buyer pool was limited to whoever happened to attend the county event, often resulting in lower-than-optimal sale prices for quality government-maintained equipment.
The Challenge
The main issue facing the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District was a need for more frequent disposal opportunities that would better serve their operational requirements. The annual county auction model was too restrictive for their evolving needs as a modern water district managing substantial infrastructure and equipment assets.
The district wanted to move from the limitations of local, live auctions to a more flexible, on-demand model that could accommodate their operational schedule and potentially reach a broader market of qualified buyers. They needed a solution that would maintain the transparency and accountability required of public agencies while improving both efficiency and financial returns.
As the Facilities Operations Coordinator at the district evaluated options, two critical factors emerged as non-negotiable requirements: reliability and transparency. Any new platform would need to demonstrate consistent performance and provide the comprehensive documentation required for public sector accountability.
By partnering with GovDeals the district moved from annual auctions to monthly sales, dramatically increasing both frequency and revenue while maintaining full transparency and compliance.
The Results
Since 2016, the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District has generated $1.7 million in surplus asset sales through their partnership with GovDeals. The transformation has been comprehensive, affecting not just revenue but operational efficiency across the organization.
The district now conducts monthly auctions instead of waiting for annual county events, giving them the flexibility to dispose of assets when operationally convenient and market conditions are favorable. Items ranging from a 2021 Bobcat Skid Steer that sold for $51,000 to smaller items demonstrate the platform’s ability to efficiently handle assets of all values while maximizing returns.
Beyond the revenue figures, the district has achieved several operational improvements: enhanced efficiency through streamlined processes, improved cash flow through more frequent sales, better asset management with reduced storage time, and increased transparency through comprehensive digital documentation and audit trails.
