EXCESS PROPERTY: TRANSFERRING PROPERTY TO THE PROPERTY REUTILIZATION AND DISPOSAL SECTION

What do I do if I have property that I no longer need?
Any government property (anything purchased with NIH or federal funds) that you possess and no longer have a need for cannot be thrown or given away.  When you no longer need the property, you must turn it in for use by other authorized users.  The primary goal of the federal property disposal program is to maximize use of property within the Government before acquiring a new item or disposing of the old item through various government programs.  Recycling or reutilizing property saves federal tax dollars and has a significant environmental impact.  All property that you no longer have a need for must be classified, prepared, reported and transferred to the Property Reutilization and Disposal Section for reuse or disposal. 

Classifying Property for Disposal
To properly classify and prepare your property for disposal, you must answer all of the following questions and perform all of the necessary preparatory requirements to complete the disposal process: 

Is your property hazardous by nature or by use?
Certain types of property are hazardous by nature because they include hazardous components or materials.  Property that is hazardous by nature includes any equipment that contains a radioactive source, equipment such as biological hoods, refrigerators and freezers.  Items which are hazardous by use include equipment with batteries, equipment with lead plates, equipment containing mercury, needles, etc.  If you are unsure if your property is hazardous by nature or by use, contact the Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS, (301) 496-2960. 

Is your property from a lab?
All property (lab equipment, computers, furniture, etc.) and supplies that have ever been used in a laboratory is considered property from a lab. 

Is your property computer equipment?
Computer equipment includes the monitor, everything in the chassis (the box with the CPU and hard drive), printers, scanners, and laptops, etc.  These items are accountable.  Mice, keyboards, modems, speakers and components are not. 

Is your property accountable or non-accountable?
It is always best to have your Property Custodial Officer (PCO) check the property to determine whether or not it is accountable.  Accountable property is property which is subject to controls because of the property's value, potential for misuse or theft or risk to public, and environmental health or safety.  Accountable items normally include items valued at $5,000 or more when new, and items considered sensitive.  Accountable items normally display an NIH property decal with a bar code-readable identification number.  Some examples of accountable property include cameras/lenses, CPUs, monitors, printers, firearms, gamma counters, liquid scintillation counters, laptops, etc.  Some examples of non-accountable property include furniture, supplies, some low cost lab equipment, books, journals, etc.