Govplanet
GovPlanet operates an online auction marketplace for federal, state, and local government and military surplus equipment, vehicles, and consumer goods. Founded in 2011 and based in Fort Worth, Texas, it serves as the public-sector channel of IronPlanet, Inc., a subsidiary of Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersFort Worth, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Govplanet does
GovPlanet is an online auction marketplace that specializes in the liquidation of federal, state, and local government and military surplus assets, operating as the dedicated public-sector channel within the IronPlanet, Inc. brand family, which is itself a subsidiary of the publicly traded Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE: RBA). Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, the platform connects government sellers — including the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the US Marine Corps, and state departments of transportation such as PennDOT — with a global buyer pool of commercial contractors, fleet operators, dealers, and individual purchasers across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, and parts of Central and South America.
The core product is the GovPlanet Online Auction Marketplace, which runs weekly timed auctions alongside Marketplace-E (a 24/7 channel supporting Buy Now fixed pricing, Make Offer negotiations, and Reserve Auctions), GovPlanet Direct for local government surplus, and the IronClad Assurance equipment inspection and certification program. Active inventory spans trucks and trailers, heavy equipment, attachments and parts, motors, industrial equipment, forklifts, shipping containers, and consumer items, with listings measured in the thousands per category (e.g., approximately 8,700 government surplus items, 7,200 truck items, 4,600 attachment items, and 1,200 forklifts). The platform is built on a standard online-auction architecture combining scheduled-lot bidding engines, fixed-price checkout, search and category navigation, and condition reporting tied to IronClad inspection reports.
Revenue is generated through three streams: transaction-based fees on completed auction sales, commissions on Marketplace-E fixed-price and negotiated purchases, and ancillary professional services — including appraisal and asset management — sold to government agencies and military organizations liquidating surplus assets. The go-to-market motion is auction-led, leveraging weekly inventory refreshes, search engine optimization, email marketing, and cross-promotion across the Ritchie Bros. and IronPlanet family of marketplaces. Pricing on the core channel is determined competitively through bidder dynamics, while Marketplace-E uses fixed or negotiated pricing; asset descriptions are standardized through IronClad condition codes and inspection reports.
Govplanet firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Govplanet
- Legal name
- GovPlanet (service mark of IronPlanet, Inc.)
- Website
- https://govplanet.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- GovPlanet operates an online auction marketplace for federal, state, and local government and military surplus equipment, vehicles, and consumer goods. Founded in 2011 and based in Fort Worth, Texas, it serves as the public-sector channel of IronPlanet, Inc., a subsidiary of Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Govplanet industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Auction Marketplace
- SIC
- Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wholesale Vehicle Auctions (Physical & Online) (TLABAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Auction-based Generalist Marketplaces (CRAFAAAC)
Keywords
Where Govplanet is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fort Worth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Govplanet business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Auction Transaction Fees: Revenue generated from auction sales where buyers pay transaction fees on completed purchases through the online auction platform.
- Marketplace-E Commissions: Commission-based revenue from the Marketplace-E platform offering Buy Now, Make Offer, and Reserve Auction options for always-on purchasing.
- Seller Services: Services for government agencies and military to liquidate surplus assets through the platform, including appraisal and asset management solutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Auction-based pricing varies by item condition, age, and demand |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Marketplace-E fixed and negotiated pricing |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Govplanet product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GovPlanet operates an online auction marketplace where state, local, and federal agencies (including the U.S. military) sell surplus equipment, vehicles, and goods to commercial and individual buyers. The platform hosts weekly online auctions in multiple formats (timed auctions, reserve auctions, Buy Now fixed pricing, and Make Offer) and provides supplementary 24/7 purchasing via Marketplace-E and GovPlanet Direct.
Product overview
GovPlanet is an online auction marketplace platform for government and military surplus equipment, operated as part of the Ritchie Bros. family of companies. The core offering is the GovPlanet Online Auction Marketplace, which enables weekly online auctions for purchasing government surplus, military vehicles, heavy equipment, and various surplus goods. The platform operates multiple purchasing formats including traditional online auctions, Marketplace-E (a fixed-price Buy Now/Make Offer option), and GovPlanet Direct for surplus from local agencies. The product portfolio includes specialized categories for Trucks & Trailers, Government Surplus (featuring Humvees and military equipment), Motors, Industrial Equipment, Consumer Items, Forklifts and Warehouse Equipment, Attachments & Parts, and Containers. A key add-on is IronClad Assurance, an equipment certification program that provides detailed inspection reports to assure buyers of equipment quality.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Marketplace-E: A platform for buying government assets with Buy Now, Make Offer, and Reserve Auctions options.
Products and services
- GovPlanet Online Auction Marketplace Core online auction platform for buying and selling government surplus, military surplus, and surplus equipment through weekly online auctions with multiple bidding formats (timed auctions, reserve auctions). Used by government agencies, the Defense Logistics Agency, the U.S. Marine Corps, commercial buyers, and individual consumers.
- Marketplace-E Always-on fixed-price marketplace for purchasing government assets at any time via Buy Now, Make Offer, or Reserve Auction options. Enables immediate purchasing outside of scheduled weekly auctions for both commercial and individual buyers.
- GovPlanet Direct
Companies that use Govplanet
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Govplanet technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Govplanet partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and minor.
- Ritchie Bros. AuctioneerscoreParent company and primary channel partner. GovPlanet is Ritchie Bros.' dedicated platform for government and military surplus. Provides financing services through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services, shared auction infrastructure, and cross-platform inventory syndication.
- Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)flagshipPrimary supplier of military surplus inventory. DLA provides authentic military equipment, Humvees, and defense-related assets for GovPlanet's auction platform. Direct sourcing relationship for government surplus liquidation.
- US Marine CorpscoreMilitary surplus partner providing equipment and vehicles from Marine Corps inventory for public auction sale.
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)majorState government partner providing surplus vehicles and equipment from PennDOT operations for GovPlanet auctions.
- IronPlanetmajorSister company and marketplace partner within the Ritchie Bros. family. Cross-lists inventory and shares buyer base for heavy equipment and commercial asset auctions.
- Marketplace-EmajorIntegrated marketplace platform offering Buy Now, Make Offer, and Reserve Auction options for 24/7 purchasing of government surplus assets.
- Ritchie Bros. Asset SolutionsminorRelated brand within Ritchie Bros. family offering asset management and disposition solutions for larger commercial accounts.
- RouseminorRitchie Bros. family brand providing asset management and remarketing services integrated into the GovPlanet seller ecosystem.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Govplanet competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Liquidity Services: Liquidity Services operates GovDeals and the larger Liquidation.com marketplace for surplus and reverse-logistics assets. Publicly traded, broader portfolio of asset categories and seller types, but the GovDeals business directly competes head-to-head with GovPlanet for government agency surplus contracts.
- IAA (Insurance Auto Auctions / RB Global): IAA, part of RB Global (post-Ritchie Bros. merger with IAA), operates large-scale salvage vehicle auctions globally. While focused on insurance total-loss vehicles rather than government surplus, IAA's online platform, buyer network, and operational scale represent overlapping capability and shared parentage context.
- Copart: Publicly traded global leader in online vehicle auctions, primarily for salvage and used vehicles from insurance companies, dealers, and fleet operators. Overlaps with GovPlanet's motor vehicle and salvage-adjacent inventory but operates at vastly greater scale with a much broader vehicle-only focus.
- Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers: Parent company of GovPlanet via IronPlanet, Inc. Ritchie Bros. is the world's largest multi-channel heavy equipment auctioneer with both physical yards and online auctions serving commercial fleet operators, contractors, and dealers globally. GovPlanet's government surplus segment is a niche within the broader Ritchie Bros. commercial auction franchise.
Direct peers
- IronPlanet: GovPlanet's sister brand within the Ritchie Bros. family, IronPlanet operates an online auction marketplace for used heavy equipment, trucks, and attachments. Same operating infrastructure, shared buyer base, and overlapping commercial inventory; GovPlanet focuses on government/military surplus while IronPlanet focuses on commercial dealer inventory.
- Public Surplus: Public Surplus runs online auctions exclusively for government and public-sector surplus, including vehicles, equipment, and miscellaneous items. Closely overlaps GovPlanet's seller pipeline (state and municipal agencies) and competes for the same commercial and individual buyer pool with similar auction mechanics.
- GovDeals: Operated by Liquidity Services, GovDeals is the most direct competitor — an online auction marketplace dedicated to government and municipal surplus liquidation. It serves the same seller base (federal, state, and local agencies) and the same buyer base (commercial and individual) with comparable timed-auction and fixed-price formats.
Others
- Rouse Services: Rouse is a Ritchie Bros. family brand providing asset management, appraisal, and remarketing services to commercial clients and financial institutions. Complementary to GovPlanet's seller services offering rather than competitive, often operating upstream of GovPlanet auctions for fleet and equipment disposition strategy.
- Ritchie Bros. Asset Solutions: Ritchie Bros. Asset Solutions offers turnkey asset management and disposition services for larger commercial accounts. Operates within the same corporate family as GovPlanet, with cross-referrals for end-of-life asset disposal where GovPlanet's auction channel becomes the final liquidation step.
Emerging players
- PropertyRoom.com: Online auction marketplace specializing in assets seized by law enforcement and government agencies, with partial overlap with GovPlanet's police-seized and government surplus categories. Smaller scale than GovPlanet and focused more on consumer goods and jewelry than heavy equipment, but addresses a similar seller type.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Govplanet social profiles
Digital presenceGovplanet financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Govplanet leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Govplanet funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Govplanet M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Govplanet
What does Govplanet do?
GovPlanet operates an online auction marketplace where state, local, and federal agencies (including the U.S. military) sell surplus equipment, vehicles, and goods to commercial and individual buyers. The platform hosts weekly online auctions in multiple formats (timed auctions, reserve auctions, Buy Now fixed pricing, and Make Offer) and provides supplementary 24/7 purchasing via Marketplace-E and GovPlanet Direct.
Is Govplanet a public or private company?
Govplanet is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Govplanet founded?
Govplanet was founded in 1999. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Govplanet based?
Govplanet is headquartered in Fort Worth, United States, in the North America region.
How does Govplanet make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Auction Transaction Fees are the primary driver. The others are marketplace-E Commissions and seller Services.
Who are Govplanet's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Liquidity Services, IAA (Insurance Auto Auctions / RB Global), Copart and Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. Direct peers are IronPlanet, Public Surplus and GovDeals. Others are Rouse Services and Ritchie Bros. Asset Solutions. PropertyRoom.com is listed as an emerging player.
Does Govplanet have an API?
No public API is recorded for Govplanet.
What industry is Govplanet in?
Govplanet's product category is Online Auction Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLABAKAA, Wholesale Vehicle Auctions (Physical & Online), with a secondary code of CRAFAAAC, Auction-based Generalist Marketplaces. Its SIC code is 5080.