41 C.F.R. PART 128–48—UTILIZATION, DONATION, OR DISPOSAL OF ABANDONED AND FORFEITED PERSONAL PROPERTY
Title 41 - Public Contracts and Property Management
Authority: 41 CFR 128–1.105.
Source: 43 FR 3279, Jan. 24, 1978, unless otherwise noted.
Personal property acquired by a bureau, either by administrative process or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to any law of the United States. Forfeiture is achieved by direction of the seizing bureau in lieu of the courts. The phrase shall be interpreted to mean by administrative process. (a) Abandoned or other unclaimed property, subject to the provisions of section 203(m) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended (40 U.S.C. 484(m)), shall remain in the custody of and be the responsibility of the bureau finding such property. (b) If the owner of such property is known, the owner shall be notified within 20 days of finding such property by certified mail at the owner's address of record that the property may be claimed by the owner or his designee and that if the property is not claimed within 30 days from the date the letter of notification is postmarked, the title of the property will vest in the United States. (c) If the owner of such property is not known and the estimated value of the property exceeds $100, the bureau shall post notice within 20 days of finding such property, which contains the following information: (1) A description of the property including model or serial numbers, if known. (2) A statement of the location where the property was found and the office that has custody of it. (3) A statement that any person desiring to claim the property must file with the bureau within 30 days from the date of first publication a claim for said property. (4) A complete mailing address is to be provided as a point of contact within the bureau for any person to obtain additional information concerning the property or the procedures involved in filing a claim. Notice must be published once a week for at least three successive weeks. Sound judgment and discretion must be used in selecting the publication medium. Advertisements should be placed in a publication of general circulation within the judicial district where the property was found. (d) Property, as described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, shall be held for a period of 30 days from the date of the first publication of notice. Upon the expiration of this 30-day period, title to such property vests in the United States, except that title reverts to the owner where a proper claim is filed within three years from the date of vesting of title in the United States, but if the property has been in official use, transferred for official use, or sold at the time the proper claim is approved, title shall not revert back to the former owner. The former owner shall instead obtain reimbursement in accordance with 41 CFR 101–48.102–4 or 101–48.305–1. (e) If the owner of such property is unknown and the estimated value of the property is $100 or less, no notice is required, and the property shall be held for a period of 30 days from the date of finding the property. Upon expiration of this 30-day period, title to such property vests in the United States. (a) Records of abandoned or other unclaimed property will be maintained in such a manner as to permit identification of the property with the original owner, if known, when such property is put into official use or transferred for official use by the finding bureau. Records will be maintained until the three-year period for filing claims has elapsed to enable the bureau to determine the amount of reimbursement due to a former owner who has filed a proper claim for abandoned or other unclaimed property. (b) Reimbursement for official use by the finding bureau or transfer for official use of abandoned or other unclaimed property that has been placed in a special fund by the bureau for more than three years shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts, or in such other bureau accounts as provided by law. If a bureau is unable to determine whether the personal property in its custody is abandoned or voluntarily abandoned, the bureau shall contact the regional office of the General Services Administration for the region in which the property is located for such a determination. Proceeds from the sale of abandoned or other unclaimed property that have been placed in a special fund by a bureau for more than three years shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts, or in such other bureau accounts as provided by law. This subpart sets forth the policies in regard to proper claims for abandoned or other unclaimed property. The official who has the authority to grant or deny the claim for the abandoned or other unclaimed property. The person who submitted the claim for the abandoned or other unclaimed property. The person who has primary and direct title to property (see 28 CFR 9.2(e)). An individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture, or other entity capable of owning property (see 28 CFR 9.2(f)). (a) Upon receipt of a claim, an investigation shall be conducted to determine the merits of the claim, and the investigation's report shall be submitted to the determining official. (b) The determining official shall be designated by the head of a bureau. (c) Upon receipt of a claim and the report thereon by the determining official, he shall make a ruling based upon the claim and the investigation's report. (d) Notice of the granting or denial of a claim for abandoned or other unclaimed property shall be mailed to the claimant or his attorney. If the claim is granted, the conditions of relief and the procedures to be followed to obtain the relief shall be set forth. If the claim is denied, the claimant shall be advised of the reason for such denial. (e) A request for reconsideration of the claim may be submitted within 10 days from the date of the letter denying the claim. Such request shall be addressed to the head of the bureau and shall be based on evidence recently developed or not previously considered. (a) Claims shall be sworn and shall include the following information in clear and concise terms: (1) A complete description of the property including serial numbers, if any. (2) The interest of the claimant in the property, as owner, mortgagee, or otherwise, to be supported by bills of sale, contracts, mortgages, or other satisfactory documentary evidence. (3) The facts and circumstances, to be established by satisfactory proof, relied upon by the claimant to justify the granting of the claim. (b) If the claim is filed before title has vested in the United States, the determining official shall not grant the claim for the abandoned or other unclaimed property unless the claimant establishes a valid, good faith interest in the property. (c) If the claim is filed after title has vested in the United States, the determining official shall not grant the claim for abandoned or other unclaimed property unless the claimant: (1) Establishes that he would have a valid, good faith interest in the property had not title vested in the United States; and (2) Establishes that he had no actual or constructive notice, prior to the vesting of title in the United States, that the property was in the custody of a bureau and that title, after the appropriate time period, would vest in the United States. A claimant shall be presumed to have constructive notice upon publication in a suitable medium concerning the property unless he was in such circumstances as to prevent him from knowing of the status of the property or having the opportunity to see the notice.
Title 41: Public Contracts and Property Management
PART 128–48—UTILIZATION, DONATION, OR DISPOSAL OF ABANDONED AND FORFEITED PERSONAL PROPERTY
Section Contents
§ 128-48.001 Definitions.
§ 128-48.001-5 Forfeited property.
§ 128-48.001-50 Administrative or summary process.
§ 128-48.102-1 Vesting of title in the United States.
§ 128-48.102-4 Proceeds.
§ 128-48.150 Determination of type of property.
§ 128-48.305-1 Abandoned or other unclaimed property.
§ 128-48.500 Scope of subpart.
§ 128-48.501 Definitions.
§ 128-48.501-1 Determining official.
§ 128-48.501-2 Claimant.
§ 128-48.501-3 Owner.
§ 128-48.501-4 Person.
§ 128-48.502 Procedures relating to claims.
§ 128-48.503 General procedures.
§ 128-48.001 Definitions.
top
§ 128-48.001-5 Forfeited property.
top
§ 128-48.001-50 Administrative or summary process.
top
Subpart 128–48.1—Utilization of Abandoned and Forfeited Personal Property
top
§ 128-48.102-1 Vesting of title in the United States.
top
§ 128-48.102-4 Proceeds.
top
§ 128-48.150 Determination of type of property.
top
Subpart 128–48.3—Disposal of Abandoned and Forfeited Personal Property
top
§ 128-48.305-1 Abandoned or other unclaimed property.
top
Subpart 128–48.50—Proper Claims for Abandoned or Other Unclaimed Personal Property
top
§ 128-48.500 Scope of subpart.
top
§ 128-48.501 Definitions.
top
§ 128-48.501-1 Determining official.
top
§ 128-48.501-2 Claimant.
top
§ 128-48.501-3 Owner.
top
§ 128-48.501-4 Person.
top
§ 128-48.502 Procedures relating to claims.
top
§ 128-48.503 General procedures.
top
