Welcome to COM!
We have several lab moving companies under contract using the same University of Florida ITN, 12SP-114 that we use for household moves. This is important because if you do not use one of our contract moving companies and use a different vendor, then we will need a second competitive quote if the cost of the move is $15,000 and greater. You are more than welcome to use a different vendor though if you have one you are more comfortable with. Note there are no weight limits for the lab move. Please see list of companies below under contract with FAU.
In order to conduct a lab move, we will need an inventory list of the items being moved with the estimated value of each item. You don’t have to itemize everything, like glassware for example. You can just call it one lot and the value of the collection. But, if you have any single item/equipment with a residual value greater than $5K we will need it separately itemized with the item name, serial number, and value. This list will be added to the property inventory as part of our state risk trust fund and since our capitalization threshold is $5K those high value items will have to be tagged as an asset.
There are three other things that usually come up with lab moves and should be addressed as soon as possible. It often takes some time and paperwork to work out the details between the 2 entities:
Any releases/agreements from current institution required to show the transfer of the property to FAU.
If there is a cost to purchase the assets. (Some colleges request the unamortized/residual value of the property to be paid by FAU.)
Any taxes to be paid. (Some states require the payment of taxes on items leaving the state that were purchased originally by a tax exempt entity within the state.)
While these contract movers can move some of your lab equipment that is bulk or routine, we do not recommend them for anything special like live biologicals, refrigerated materials, or chemicals. The companies listed below have divisions that specialize in moving refrigerated or frozen samples and are licensed to transport some chemicals.
Dan Wassung
Biological Relocation Solutions
Mobile: 310-883-8160
Email: dw@BioRelo.com
Website: www.BioRelo.com
Mike Tomasek
TheCryoGuys
Direct: 888-279-6489
Email: Contact.us@thecryoguys.com
Website: TheCryoguys.com
Just a quick story. Many years ago a professor used a regular moving company to move his lab from Boston to Boca Raton. The promised truck was supposed to have a generator on board and an extra smooth ride to keep the freezers operating and the samples secure. Unfortunately, the power went out in the truck almost as soon as they left Boston, the driver never stopped for assistance, and drove rough and tumble all the way down to Boca. When we opened the truck at FAU, 20 years of ruined research came pouring off the back of the truck.
So please make sure the company you select is capable and licensed to move your freezers or frozen samples. Please also request a quote for extra insurance. In the story above we spent years suing the company to replace some of the research funds lost. Please also note that packing your freezer with dry ice can make the freezer explosive and the carbon dioxide produced can be hazardous in small poorly ventilated areas.
Moving companies under contract for standard moves
A Turner Moving & Storage / North American Van Lines
1001 NW 53 Ave.
Gainesville, FL 32609
Contact: Tammy Turner (800-231-0406)
Email: tturner@a-turnermoving.com
Local 352-372-0406
Fax: 352-372-1474
Browning Moving & Storage / United Van Lines
3725 N. Frontage Rd.
Lakeland, FL 33810
Contact: April Snow (800-722-6683) Ext.222
Email: aprils@browningmoving.com
Local: 863-683-6494
Fax: 863-683-5102
Berger Moving & Storage / Allied Van Lines
5115 W. Clifton Street
Tampa, FL 33634
Contact: Johnnie Macon or Charlie Broadhurst (800-237-5572)
Email: tampa@bergerallied.com
Local: 813-885-6771
Fax: 813-884-4921
National Van Lines
2800 Roosevelt Road
Broadview, IL 60155
Contact: Lisa Varzino
Email – Lisa.Varzino@nationalvanlines.com and Jorja.coulter@nationalvanlines.com
Phone: 708-450-2915
Fax: 800-666-6851
*Note that some of the Point of Contact names/emails listed may have changed. You are recommended to contact the company via the phone number to ensure that the contact listed is still valid.