1. (a) Purpose. This section describes the standards that apply to the disposition of equipment purchased in whole or in part with state and/or federal public transportation funds.
2. (b) Like-kind exchanges. In the case of like-kind exchanges, the percentage of the department's original contractual interest shall be applied to the fair market value of the equipment being sold at the time of the exchange. That dollar value shall then be transferred as the department's interest in the equipment being acquired and, as appropriate, added to any additional funding provided by the department towards the purchase of the new equipment.
3. (c) Federal standards. The federal standards contained in the common rule shall govern the disposition of real property and equipment purchased under contracts in which the department provides all or part of the local share requirement of federally assisted capital improvements. In cases where the common rule does not require reimbursement of the federal grantor agency, the department will similarly release the state interest in the capital improvement provided that the state's percentage share of any proceeds derived by the contractor in the disposition process shall be used by the contractor for public transportation purposes similar to those for which the contract award was originally made. If the contractor does not intend to use the state's percentage share of the proceeds for public transportation purposes, those monies shall be refunded as described in subsection (d)(2)(B) of this section. In cases where the common rule requires reimbursement of the federal grantor agency, the contractor shall provide the department a percentage of the proceeds of any such disposition equal to the percentage of the state's original investment in the property or equipment. Once disposition is authorized, the contractor shall relinquish title to the property through either sale, auction, or transfer to a third party. The department shall be notified of any such dispositions and provided information necessary to delete the property from inventory records described in §31.50 of this title (relating to Recordkeeping and Inventory Requirements).

4. (d) State standards. All real property and equipment obtained through contracts in which the department's contractual interest includes federal funds or state monies as 50% of a non-federally assisted capital improvement shall be governed by the disposition standards contained in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection. The department shall be notified of the contractor's intent to proceed with such dispositions and provided information necessary to delete the property from inventory records described in §31.50 of this title (relating to Recordkeeping and Inventory Requirements). Prior to disposition of property under the terms of this subsection, the contractor shall obtain written concurrence from the department. Once disposition is authorized, the contractor shall relinquish title to the property through either sale, auction, or transfer to a third party.

   1. (1) Disposition criteria.

      1. (A) Vehicles. Disposition may occur when the current per-unit market value is less than $5,000.
      2. (B) Other equipment. Disposition may occur when the current per-unit market value is less than $5,000.
      3. (C) Real property. When real property is no longer needed for the originally authorized purpose, the contractor will request disposition instructions from the department pursuant to this subsection.
      4. (D) Exceptions. As allowed under the Federal Transit Act of 1946, §12(k), as amended (49 United States Code §1608), a contractor may petition the department to allow the transfer of the federal interest in any real property and equipment subject to the standards contained in this subsection. In such instances, the contractor will furnish information requested by the department to determine if the real property or equipment is no longer needed for public transportation purposes. The department will consider other exceptions to the standards contained in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph on a case-by-case basis. In such instances, the contractor will furnish information requested by the department to determine if an exception is warranted due to special circumstances.

   2. (2) Distribution of disposition proceeds.

      1. (A) Refund not required. In cases where the disposition criteria contained in paragraph (1)(A) and (B) of this subsection have been met, the department will release its contractual interest in the capital improvement. The department will similarly release its contractual interest in cases where exceptions are granted for early disposition in accordance with the provisions contained in paragraph (1)(D) of this subsection. However, the department's release of its interest in a capital improvement is contingent upon the contractor's assurance that the department's contractually specified percentage share of any proceeds derived by the contractor in the disposition process shall be used by the contractor for public transportation purposes similar to those for which the contract award was originally made. In the case of transfers to non-transit uses, as allowed under the Federal Transit Act of 1964, §12(k), as amended (49 United States Code §1608), the department shall release only the federal portion of its contractual interest. The state's percentage share shall be refunded as described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.
      2. (B) Refund required. In cases where the disposition criteria contained in paragraph (1)(A) and (B) of this subsection have not been met but the contractor has received authorization to proceed with the disposition of property from the department, the contractor shall provide the department a percentage of the proceeds of any such disposition equal to the percentage of the department's original contractual interest in the property or equipment. In cases of real property, as described in paragraph (1)(C) of this subsection, and where exceptions are not granted for early disposition, as described in paragraph (1)(D) of this subsection, the contractor will similarly provide the department a percentage of the proceeds of any such disposition equal to the percentage of the department's original contractual interest in the property or equipment. In the case of transfers to non-transit uses, as allowed under the Federal Transit Act of 1964, §12(k), as amended (49 United States Code §1608), the contractor will provide the department a percentage of the proceeds of any such disposition equal to the percentage of the original state percentage interest in the property or equipment, excluding any federal percentage interest that may have been included in the contract of assistance.

Source Note:The provisions of this §31.57 adopted to be effective July 6, 1990, 15 TexReg 3643; amended to be effective October 27, 1993, 18 TexReg 7160.