(a) This section shall apply only to the property which has been held by the State Department of Transportation for a period of not less than 60 days from the date the property is first published in the list of surplus personal property, as set out in subsection (b) of Section 23-1-65 and not purchased by any agency as set out in subsection (c) of Section 23-1-64.
(b) All contracts made by, or on behalf of, the State Department of Transportation for the sale or disposal of tangible personal property owned by the State Department of Transportation, other than types of property, the disposal of which is otherwise provided for by law, or which, by nature, are incapable of sale by auction or bid, shall be let by free and open competitive public auction or sealed bids.
(c) Every proposal to make a sale covered by this section shall be advertised for at least two weeks in advance of the date fixed for receiving bids. The advertisement shall appear at least once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the sale shall be consumated, and a copy of the proposal shall simultaneously be posted on a readily accessible public bulletin board at the main office of the State Department of Transportation. Advertisements for bids shall state the item or items to be sold, by class and description, where the property is located and the dates, time, and place the property may be inspected. The advertisements shall further state the date, time, and place of auction or opening of sealed bids, and no bid shall be received at any time after the time advertised. The bids shall be publicly taken or opened, in case of sealed bids, by the State Department of Transportation and all bidders shall be entitled to be present in person or by representative. The award of the contract shall be made to the successful bidder within 72 hours after taking of the bids. The bid of the successful bidder so marked, as well as the bids of the unsuccessful bidders, in the case of sealed bids, shall be placed on file open to public inspection and shall become matters of public record. If a successful bidder shall fail to accept award of a contract, then he or she shall be prohibited from bidding at any sale held by the State Department of Transportation for a period of 12 months following the failure to accept.
(d) The State Department of Transportation may sell all items by lot or by individual item, whichever method, in the opinion of the Director of Transportation, would bring the highest return for the items so advertised. In the event all bids received are less than the estimated market value of the property, the State Department of Transportation shall reject all bids and readvertise and rebid.
(e) Nothing in this section or Sections 23-1-64 and 23-1-65 shall be construed to prevent the State Department of Transportation from contracting with the highest bidder for any type of property to sell to that bidder all of that type of property at his or her bid price during the same fiscal year if such an arrangement was included in the initial request for bids.
(f) All property advertised under this section shall be available for inspection at a location designated in the advertisement during the normal state office hours for at least 48 hours prior to the sale.
(g) All property sold under this section shall be paid for by the purchaser or his or her representative by cashier's check, bank draft, certified check, United States currency, or notarized bank letter stating that the holder may purchase surplus personal property and also stating a maximum amount, at the time of acceptance of bid and award of contract, and the removal shall be not later than seven days after the awarding of the contract, except that the time limit of seven days shall not be applicable to sales of standing timber.
(h) All proceeds from sales made under this section shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Department of Transportation.
(i) No officer or employee of the State of Alabama or any of its departments, boards, bureaus, commissions, institutions, corporations, or agencies shall act as agent for any bidder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the officers or employees shall not be excluded from bidding on or purchasing state property at public sale or sealed bid.
Last modified: May 3, 2021