How it works

How it works

The U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa is holding an online sale of property no longer needed by the Embassy, which may include used furniture, equipment, supplies, vehicles and other goods via a Web-Based Electronic Auction (FRENCH: https://online-auction.state.gov/fr-FR ; ENGLISH: https://online-auction.state.gov/).  This website hosts auctions at U.S. Embassies all over the world, so bidders should take care to only bid on auctions they, or their appointed representative, can physically access.  Users who want to access the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa’s auction must click on Kinshasa every time they visit the site.  

Each auction will be open for a set period of time with a clearly stated start and end date.  Usually auctions will start on a weekday and will be active for at least two weeks.  During this period, the auction is live and active 24 hours per day, every day.  At any time while the auction is active, you may submit your bid for the lots that are put in the Auction.  

When there is a maximum number of bids you may place on a lot, it is stated for each lot.  Each lot may also have a minimum and/or maximum amount that bids can be raised.  These amounts will be clearly stated.  All bidding will be done in USD only and increasing your bids is only possible in USD. 

During the auction you should watch the progress of your bids so you can take action if somebody outbids you and you want to post a higher bid.  Please pay close attention to when the auction is going to end.  The person with the highest bid at the end of the auction is the winner of the lot.

At the end of the auction, if you are a winner you will receive an email with a link back to the website where you can review the lots you have won, after successful login. 

The U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa now accepts online payments through the USG website pay.gov, and all winners using online payment through pay.gov will receive a 5% discount off the bid price on lots won (calculated by the U.S. Embassy AFTER the end of the auction). Of course, cash payments are also accepted, but online payments, using either an internationally-network credit or debit card (e.g., VISA, Mastercard, etc.) or electronic bank transfer from a US bank using a FedACH 9-digit routing number and account number, are strongly encouraged. Addition to the above mentioned methods of payment, the Embassy is also accepting payment through mobile banking "M-Pesa". The U.S. Embassy is not responsible for any bank or credit card transaction fees associated with online payments. See the How to Pay section for more details.

The winning customers is responsible for inquiring and paying any fees required by the Government for diplomatic vehicles sold. "It's the law"

All lot winners in the Kinshasa auction must pay for the lots won within three days after the close of auction. Winners must pick up their lots in person, either by the winners themselves or through representatives authorized by the registered winners.  Bidders can bid from anywhere in the world, but they must designate a local representative to pay for and pickup their lots if they are not located in Kinshasa.  All lots must be paid for and picked up in person.

Winners who fail to make prompt payment according to the instructions below will be blocked from participation in future auctions.  If the winner with the highest bid fails to pay within two working days, the U.S. Embassy reserves the right to award the lot to the next highest bidder or reserve the lot for inclusion in the next auction.

Questions? Email: kinshasagsosupplyproperty@state.gov

How to pay for your items

How to pay

Payment for your winning lots must be made by either online payment at the USG website pay.gov or in USD cash within three (3) working days of the end date of the auction.  The U.S. Embassy strongly encourages payment at pay.gov using an internationally networked credit or debit card (e.g., Visa, Mastercard, etc.) or by electronic bank transfer from a U.S. Federal ACH-connected bank account that has a 9-digit routing number and account number. The U.S. Embassy is not responsible for any bank or credit card transaction fees associated with online payments. See the How to Pay section for more details.

Payment procedure:

1. When contacted by the U.S. Embassy with notification that you won your lot(s), send a reply email to inform the Embassy that you want to pay online. You will be provided with the payment details. Please do NOT make your payment until you receive confirmation from the Embassy.
2. Go to website: pay.gov/public/home (just type pay.gov and you will find it!)
3. Click on “Find an Agency”
4. Under Find an Agency, Click on the letter S
5. Click on “State (DOS) GFCS Charleston”
6. Click “Continue”
7. On the next page, click “Continue to the Form” at the bottom RIGHT of the page.
8. Enter your Name and Address, using the drop-down menu for Country (leave State blank). The “Bill of Collection” field is not required, so please leave this field blank.  For the “Payment Owed To:” field, use the drop-down menu to choose “Kinshasa – U.S. Embassy (CDK)”. In the “Reason for Payment:” field, used the drop-down menu to choose “Auction/Proceeds of Sale”. For the “Payment Description:” field, type the following: “April Online Auction Lot XXXX” and replace XXXX with the winning lot number(s). For each lot won, enter the winning bid amount, and the amount paid for each lot. You should make only one combined payment if you won multiple lots. Be sure to include the details for EACH lot won in the Payment Description field. Put the TOTAL amount paid for ALL lots won in the “Amount” field. This should match the total amount calculated by the Embassy.
9. Click PDF Preview to preview the information you entered and click CONTINUE when ready to enter your payment details.
10. Choose your payment method, either internationally-networked credit/debit card or electronic payment from your bank account, and then click NEXT.
11. Enter your payment information, whether it is for credit/debit card or bank transfer. Payment date should be Earliest Payment Date. Winning Lots cannot be picked up until payment if confirmed by the Embassy’s Finance Office. Payment must be made within three working days of confirmation by the Embassy of winning the lot(s) and failure to make timely payment may nullify the winning bid. In the event of late payment, your payment may be cancelled or retained at the Embassy’s discretion; if the Embassy retains your payment, then you will still receive the lots concerned at the Embassy’s convenience. Enter your payment details, either your credit/debit card details or your bank routing and account numbers. You will need to enter the Account Holder’s Name and Billing Address if different from the address already entered. For credit/debit card you will need to enter the card number, expiration date (two-digit month/two-digit year, e.g. 08/20) and CVC or CVV (Card Validation Code or Value) number. For bank transfer, you will need to enter your bank Routing and Account number. Pay.gov can only accept bank transfers from accounts with a Federal Automated Clearinghouse (FedACH) 9-digit Routing number. 
12. The U.S. Embassy is NOT liable for any transaction fees charged by your credit card or bank for using online payments. You should verify any fees that you may be charged by your credit card or bank prior to paying online, as you are solely responsible for all associated fees.
13. Please, always CC the following Embassy email to insure the Embassy has received your payment notification: kinshasagsosupplyproperty@state.gov 
14. You will receive a receipt from pay.gov to the email address your provided. Please forward this receipt to the U.S. Embassy for confirmation of payment. Once the Embassy Finance Office confirms payment, you will be contacted to make arrangements for pickup of your lots.
15. Please send the payment confirmation to  kinshasagsosupplyproperty@state.gov 

Payment procedure (CASH payment):

1. Cash payment will be accepted by the U.S. Embassy on the Monday and Tuesday immediately following close of the auction. Cashier hours will be advised after the auction is closed

1. Come to the U.S. Embassy compound located on Lukusa Avenue # 498 in Gombe Commune, holding a valid ID, at least 30 minutes before the close of Cashier hours to allow time for security processing. Note that no one will be received for payments other than during Cashier hours. Contact the Embassy for updated Cashier hours.
2. Identify yourself as an auction winner to the U.S. Embassy’s guards and present your ID.  A U.S. Embassy employee will be called to meet you and escort you to the office in charge of auctions to fill out the Bill of Sale.
3. Next, you will be brought to the Cashier for payment of the lots won.
4. After payment, the Embassy escort will arrange your pick-up of the lots paid (see below).

If you have any questions, please contact: John Kilima through  kinshasagsosupplyproperty@state.gov for further guidance.

Winners who fail to pay for the lots they won will be blocked from participation in future auctions.

How to pick-up your items

How to pick up

After confirmation of payment, the Embassy escort will make arrangements for pick-up of the lots won and paid.  Depending on the type and size of the lot won, pick-up may be immediately after payment for small items/lots, or a pick-up appointment will be scheduled within three working days.

For scheduled pick-ups of lots that cannot be issued immediately, winners must bring valid ID to the same U.S. Embassy compound at the appointed time.  The U.S. Embassy will issue the paid lots to the winners upon presentation of the Bill of Sale completed during the payment visit.

Please note that the Embassy does not provide labor for the pickup of lots. Each winner will have to organize their own workforce for the pickup of their lots. However, the Embassy may assist the winner in lifting extremely heavy items that would require the use of the forklift. Anyone coming to the Embassy for collection of lots should bring a valid ID card to gain access.

For all pick-ups, the U.S. Embassy requires all visitors to wear a face covering and practice social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.