Welcome to the City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
Bid & Bond Room
Rahm Emanuel, Mayor
Jamie Rhee, Chief Procurement Officer
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
Welcome to the Department of Procurement Services
How to Navigate City Auctions
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
Registration with Public Surplus
• You must register as a user before bidding.
- Public Surplus will call and email you to confirm your information, so don't
wait until just before you are going to start bidding to register.
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You will set-up a user name and password
Phone number
Email address
The first time on PublicSurplus.com you can set up preferences to stay
informed about new auctions.
On this page, you can select categories and regions and let Public
Surplus notify you when something new comes up. Every night the
system tries to match the new listings against your preferences, and if
there is a match, they will send you an email.
This service is optional and completely free. If you are not ready yet,
you do not have to set it up.
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
How Do I Bid
Simple Auctions: Simple Auctions limit the auction to a single item
or a “lot” of items. The highest bidder wins the item.
All auction-related questions should be directed to the Public
Surplus online questions section. Please refrain from posting
comments or opinions. Questions regarding picking up an item
should be directed to the Department of Procurement Services
auction program at 312-745-4140.
Issues with registration or website problems should be directed to
PublicSurplus.com using the "Chat" feature.
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
How Do I Bid
Enter the amount you want to bid on the item and click the “Submit” button.
Before you make an offer on an item, please thoroughly read all of the auction
terms and conditions including payment methods, pick-up instructions, and item
descriptions. As your bid constitutes a contract if you win, you are bound by all
of the terms.
PROXY BIDDING: Proxy bidding is when you “set” the maximum amount that
you are willing to pay for an auction item and Public Surplus automatically
increases the amount of your initial bid for you in minimum increments set forth
for each auction. For example: a motor is being sold that you would like to bid
on; it's currently listed at $60.00 with a bid increment level of $5.00; you don't
want to pay more than $100.00. The proxy bid will set your first bid at $65.00 so
that you are the current high bidder. If another bid is made for $75.00, the proxy
bid will automatically increase your bid amount to $80.00. It will continue doing
this until it reaches your maximum bid amount of $100.00. Proxy bids are very
useful for when you are unable to watch an auction to verify your bid status. If
you have been outbid, you will receive notification through email.
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
How Do I Bid
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Closing bids: If a bid is placed during the final 5 minutes of an auction, the
end time will automatically extend for an additional 5 minutes. This will
continue until no bids are placed during the last five minutes.
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Bid Retractions: If for some reason you make a bid in error, it can be
retracted prior to the end of the auction. You must contact the Department of
Procurement Services auction program at 312-745-4140 where you will
then be directed to send an email requesting that your bid be removed. If
DPS allows the bid to be retracted, be aware that this cancels any further
bids you may make on this particular auction.
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Failure to complete the above process prior to the close of the auction may
result in loss of your bid deposit; it is always a good idea to keep an eye on
your bid(s)!
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
Terms and Conditions
Make sure you read the terms and conditions
Click on this link and it will
take to page. the auction
Terms & Conditions
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
Bidding Information
• How do I know if I've won?
Shortly after an auction ends, the winner of the auction will receive an email from
PublicSurplus.com telling them they have won. If you receive an email informing
you that you have won an auction, it is your responsibility to facilitate payment
contact DPS at 312-745-4140 to arrange for removal.
You have five (5) business days to pay for your item and an additional five (5)
business days to pick-up your item. Late payment/pick-up may result in default,
storage fees or forfeiture of equipment.
• How do I know if I'm outbid?
As soon as someone has placed a bid higher than yours, an email will be sent
informing you that you have been outbid. If you have placed a proxy bid, you are
only notified once someone has beat your maximum amount.
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
Bidding Information
• Can I retract my bid?
Bids are binding contracts. However, if you feel that you have a legitimate
reason to withdraw your offer, you may contact DPS at 312-745-4140 for
further instructions. On the main bid page there is a section that contains DPS
contact information. If DPS allows the bid to be retracted, be aware that this
cancels any further bids you may make on this particular auction.
• What is a reserve price?
A reserve price is the lowest amount a seller is willing to accept for an item. If
an auction closes below the reserve price, neither buyer nor seller is required to
complete the purchase. The reserve price is typically higher than the starting
price of an auction.
Public Surplus will not disclose the reserve price to buyers at any time. For
auctions with a reserve price, we will display a message next to the current
price on the auction page telling you whether the reserve has been met or not.
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
Bid Deposits
• A Bid Deposit is always required when a bid is first
placed. This is when credit/debit card information is
requested.
• Public Surplus keeps this information NOT the City of
Chicago.
• The credit/debit card is only used if a bidder defaults on
a bid.
• Note: Default is only determined by DPS.
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
How is an item auctioned? What is auctioned?
• Items are posted online daily, Tuesday through Friday.
• Most items are available for bidding for one week from
the day they are posted.
• There is no “Bidders premium” and no taxes or fees.
• Types of items auctioned: scrap metal, vehicles, trucks,
vans, fire hoses, generators, snow blowers, motors,
carts, etc.
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
Scrap Vehicle Auctions
Vehicles that are sold for “scrap” are not to be returned to street usage;
titles may never be obtained for “scrap vehicles.
Bidding is restricted to buyers who have a scrap processing license,
automotive rebuilder's license or automotive parts recycling license.
Prospective bidders must submit this license prior to bidding. All vehicles are
without title and must be crushed/recycled to the extent that they are rendered
inoperative for street use.
Buyer must comply with all applicable sections and subsections of 625 ILCS
5/Chapter 5, Articles 3, 4 & 5 of the Illinois Vehicle Code including, Sections 5301, 5-302, 5-401.2, 5-401.3, 5-402.1, 5-403, 5-403.1, 5-501, 5-502, 5-503 &
5-504. No "Certificate of Purchase" will be issued. Bidders are forbidden to
apply for "Certificate of Title." Vehicles cannot be used for transportation.
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
Abandoned Vehicles
VEHICLES ARE SOLD "AS IS" AND THERE ARE NO REFUNDS
(see terms and conditions; other unidentified issues may be present).
BUYER WILL BE ISSUED THE FOLLOWING: The following documents will
be mailed to the winning bidder address once payment is received for the
vehicle(s) 1) Copies of the notice of disposal letter sent to the owner, and
lien holder. 2) Copies of the return receipt or returned letter that was sent
certified mail. 3) Copies of Illinois Vehicle Title Search. 4) An Affidavit from
the Auction Contact Officer signed stating that a title search was done on the
vehicle. 5) Bill of Sale Note: Generally, only salvage titles can be obtained in
the State of Illinois (if a title can be obtained at all); please be sure to check
your state and local laws as we are not aware of what type of titles can be
obtained in your area.
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
Auction Affidavits
• Everyone will be required to fill out a Surplus Equipment
Public Auction Affidavit.
• Buyers of Scrap Vehicles will be required to fill out a
surplus scrap vehicle public auction affidavit.
• The winning bidder (User) must sign the affidavit; there
are no exceptions.
• Please note that City of Chicago employees and their
relatives are not permitted to participate in this program.
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
Payments
ALL SALES ARE FINAL. There are no refunds,
exchanges, or credits.
No “third party” payments are accepted; payment must
be facilitated by the winning bidder.
You must present your award email with your payment to
ensure accurate processing.
Cash, cashier’s checks, certified checks, money orders,
and credit cards (up to $9,999.00) will be accepted as
payment.
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
Payments
Payments are accepted at the following Department of
Revenue (DOR) payment centers:
Monday thru Friday
8:00am to 6:30pm
2550 West Addison
4770 South Kedzie
2006 East 95th Street
Monday thru Friday
8:00am to 5:00pm
City Hall
121 N. LaSalle Street
Room 107A
Cashier’s checks and money orders (as well as affidavits) can be
presented at the time of pick-up at the Salvage Yard located at 10101
S. Stony Island. Cash is never accepted at this location and can only
be utilized at the DOR Payment Centers.
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
www.facebook.com/ChicagoDPS / www.twitter.com/ChicagoDPS
www.YouTube.com/ChicagoDPS
• Will post bid advertisements and
addenda, upcoming workshops and
events, and new policies and
procedures that affect vendor
community. View workshops and
bid openings on YouTube.
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
Department of Procurement Services
Thank you for visiting the
Department of Procurement Services
Bid and Bond Room
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
Department of Procurement Services
For more information visit:
www.cityofchicago.org/procurement
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services
121 North LaSalle Room 806
312-744-4900
Jamie Rhee
Chief Procurement Officer
City of Chicago
Department of Procurement Services