diff --git a/a3p-integration/package.json b/a3p-integration/package.json
index 3882c279d1ff..fe183229c7bd 100644
--- a/a3p-integration/package.json
+++ b/a3p-integration/package.json
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
         "doctor": "yarn synthetic-chain doctor"
     },
     "dependencies": {
-        "@agoric/synthetic-chain": "^0.0.10"
+        "@agoric/synthetic-chain": "^0.0.10",
+        "@types/better-sqlite3": "^7.6.9"
     },
     "packageManager": "yarn@4.1.1",
     "license": "Apache-2.0"
diff --git a/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/agd-tools.js b/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/agd-tools.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..8570763772cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/agd-tools.js
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+import {
+  agd,
+  agops,
+  agopsLocation,
+  executeCommand,
+  VALIDATORADDR,
+  executeOffer,
+  GOV1ADDR,
+  GOV2ADDR,
+  GOV3ADDR,
+  newOfferId,
+  CHAINID,
+} from '@agoric/synthetic-chain';
+
+const ORACLE_ADDRESSES = [GOV1ADDR, GOV2ADDR, GOV3ADDR];
+
+export const BID_OFFER_ID = 'bid-vaultUpgrade-test3';
+
+const agdQuery = path =>
+  agd.query('vstorage', 'data', '--output', 'json', path);
+
+const getQuoteBody = async path => {
+  const queryout = await agdQuery(path);
+
+  const body = JSON.parse(JSON.parse(queryout.value).values[0]);
+  return JSON.parse(body.body.substring(1));
+};
+
+export const getOracleInstance = async price => {
+  const instanceRec = await agdQuery(`published.agoricNames.instance`);
+
+  const value = JSON.parse(instanceRec.value);
+  const body = JSON.parse(value.values.at(-1));
+
+  const feeds = JSON.parse(body.body.substring(1));
+  const feedName = `${price}-USD price feed`;
+
+  const key = Object.keys(feeds).find(k => feeds[k][0] === feedName);
+  if (key) {
+    return body.slots[key];
+  }
+  return null;
+};
+
+export const checkForOracle = async (t, name) => {
+  const instance = await getOracleInstance(name);
+  t.truthy(instance);
+};
+
+export const addOraclesForBrand = async (brandIn, oraclesByBrand) => {
+  await null;
+  const promiseArray = [];
+
+  const oraclesWithID = [];
+  // newOfferId() waits 1 second
+  const offerIdBase = await newOfferId();
+  for (let i = 0; i < ORACLE_ADDRESSES.length; i += 1) {
+    const oracleAddress = ORACLE_ADDRESSES[i];
+    const offerId = `${offerIdBase}.${i}`;
+    oraclesWithID.push({ address: oracleAddress, offerId });
+
+    promiseArray.push(
+      executeOffer(
+        oracleAddress,
+        agops.oracle('accept', '--offerId', offerId, `--pair ${brandIn}.USD`),
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+  oraclesByBrand.set(brandIn, oraclesWithID);
+
+  return Promise.all(promiseArray);
+};
+
+export const pushPrices = (price, brandIn, oraclesByBrand) => {
+  const promiseArray = [];
+
+  for (const oracle of oraclesByBrand.get(brandIn)) {
+    promiseArray.push(
+      executeOffer(
+        oracle.address,
+        agops.oracle(
+          'pushPriceRound',
+          '--price',
+          price,
+          '--oracleAdminAcceptOfferId',
+          oracle.offerId,
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+
+  return Promise.all(promiseArray);
+};
+
+export const getPriceQuote = async price => {
+  const path = `published.priceFeed.${price}-USD_price_feed`;
+  const body = await getQuoteBody(path);
+  return body.amountOut.value;
+};
+
+export const agopsInter = (...params) => {
+  const newParams = ['inter', ...params];
+  return executeCommand(agopsLocation, newParams);
+};
+
+export const createBid = (price, addr, offerId) => {
+  return agopsInter(
+    'bid',
+    'by-price',
+    `--price ${price}`,
+    `--give 1.0IST`,
+    '--from',
+    addr,
+    '--keyring-backend test',
+    `--offer-id ${offerId}`,
+  );
+};
+
+export const getLiveOffers = async addr => {
+  const path = `published.wallet.${addr}.current`;
+  const body = await getQuoteBody(path);
+  return body.liveOffers;
+};
+
+export const getAuctionCollateral = async index => {
+  const path = `published.auction.book${index}`;
+  const body = await getQuoteBody(path);
+  return body.collateralAvailable.value;
+};
+
+export const bankSend = (addr, wanted) => {
+  const chain = ['--chain-id', CHAINID];
+  const from = ['--from', VALIDATORADDR];
+  const testKeyring = ['--keyring-backend', 'test'];
+  const noise = [...from, ...chain, ...testKeyring, '--yes'];
+
+  return agd.tx('bank', 'send', VALIDATORADDR, addr, wanted, ...noise);
+};
diff --git a/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/post.test.js b/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/post.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..47ce49871714
--- /dev/null
+++ b/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/post.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import test from 'ava';
+
+import { getAuctionCollateral } from './agd-tools.js';
+
+test.serial('trigger auction', async t => {
+  const collatBefore = await getAuctionCollateral('0');
+  t.log({ collatBefore });
+
+  // We might have to wait a full cycle for the auction to settle. That's too
+  // long for a test, so never mind.
+
+  // await waitForBlock(2);
+  //
+  // const liveOffer = await getLiveOffers(USER1ADDR);
+  // t.log({ liveOffer });
+  // t.is(liveOffer.length, 0, 'There should be no liveOffers remaining');
+});
diff --git a/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/priceFeed.test.js b/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/priceFeed.test.js
index 5dba01811162..a82933670a6b 100644
--- a/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/priceFeed.test.js
+++ b/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/priceFeed.test.js
@@ -1,48 +1,25 @@
 import test from 'ava';
 
 import {
-  agd,
   agops,
-  executeOffer,
+  ATOM_DENOM,
+  getISTBalance,
   getVatDetails,
-  GOV1ADDR,
-  GOV2ADDR,
-  GOV3ADDR,
-  newOfferId,
+  openVault,
+  USER1ADDR,
 } from '@agoric/synthetic-chain';
 
-const ORACLE_ADDRESSES = [GOV1ADDR, GOV2ADDR, GOV3ADDR];
-
-const getOracleInstance = async price => {
-  const instanceRec = await agd.query(
-    'vstorage',
-    'data',
-    '--output',
-    'json',
-    `published.agoricNames.instance`,
-  );
-
-  // agd query -o json  vstorage data published.agoricNames.instance
-  //    |& jq '.value | fromjson | .values[-1] | fromjson | .body[1:]
-  //    | fromjson | .[-2] '
-
-  const value = JSON.parse(instanceRec.value);
-  const body = JSON.parse(value.values.at(-1));
-
-  const feeds = JSON.parse(body.body.substring(1));
-  const feedName = `${price}-USD price feed`;
-
-  const key = Object.keys(feeds).find(k => feeds[k][0] === feedName);
-  if (key) {
-    return body.slots[key];
-  }
-  return null;
-};
-
-const checkForOracle = async (t, name) => {
-  const instance = await getOracleInstance(name);
-  t.truthy(instance);
-};
+import { getDetailsMatchingVats } from './vatDetails.js';
+import {
+  addOraclesForBrand,
+  bankSend,
+  BID_OFFER_ID,
+  checkForOracle,
+  createBid,
+  getLiveOffers,
+  getPriceQuote,
+  pushPrices,
+} from './agd-tools.js';
 
 test.serial('check all priceFeed vats updated', async t => {
   const atomDetails = await getVatDetails('ATOM-USD_price_feed');
@@ -54,91 +31,34 @@ test.serial('check all priceFeed vats updated', async t => {
   t.is(stOsmoDetails.incarnation, 0);
   const stTiaDetails = await getVatDetails('stTIA');
   t.is(stTiaDetails.incarnation, 0);
-  await checkForOracle(t, 'ATOM');
-  await checkForOracle(t, 'stATOM');
-  await checkForOracle(t, 'stTIA');
-  await checkForOracle(t, 'stOSMO');
+  await Promise.all([
+    checkForOracle(t, 'ATOM'),
+    checkForOracle(t, 'stATOM'),
+    checkForOracle(t, 'stTIA'),
+    checkForOracle(t, 'stOSMO'),
+  ]);
 });
 
 const oraclesByBrand = new Map();
 
-const addOraclesForBrand = async brandIn => {
-  await null;
-  const promiseArray = [];
-
-  const oraclesWithID = [];
-  for (const oracleAddress of ORACLE_ADDRESSES) {
-    const offerId = await newOfferId();
-    oraclesWithID.push({ address: oracleAddress, offerId });
-
-    promiseArray.push(
-      executeOffer(
-        oracleAddress,
-        agops.oracle('accept', '--offerId', offerId, `--pair ${brandIn}.USD`),
-      ),
-    );
-  }
-  oraclesByBrand.set(brandIn, oraclesWithID);
-
-  return Promise.all(promiseArray);
-};
-
-const pushPrices = (price = 10.0, brandIn) => {
-  const promiseArray = [];
-
-  for (const oracle of oraclesByBrand.get(brandIn)) {
-    promiseArray.push(
-      executeOffer(
-        oracle.address,
-        agops.oracle(
-          'pushPriceRound',
-          '--price',
-          price,
-          '--oracleAdminAcceptOfferId',
-          oracle.offerId,
-        ),
-      ),
-    );
-  }
-
-  return Promise.all(promiseArray);
-};
-
-const getPriceQuote = async price => {
-  const priceQuote = await agd.query(
-    'vstorage',
-    'data',
-    '--output',
-    'json',
-    `published.priceFeed.${price}-USD_price_feed`,
-  );
-
-  const body = JSON.parse(JSON.parse(priceQuote.value).values[0]);
-  const bodyTruncated = JSON.parse(body.body.substring(1));
-  return bodyTruncated.amountOut.value;
-};
-
 test.serial('push prices', async t => {
   // There are no old prices for the other currencies.
-  t.log('awaiting ATOM price pre');
   const atomOutPre = await getPriceQuote('ATOM');
   t.is(atomOutPre, '+12010000');
 
   t.log('adding oracle for each brand');
-  await addOraclesForBrand('ATOM');
-  await addOraclesForBrand('stATOM');
-  await addOraclesForBrand('stTIA');
-  await addOraclesForBrand('stOSMO');
+  await addOraclesForBrand('ATOM', oraclesByBrand);
+  await addOraclesForBrand('stATOM', oraclesByBrand);
+  await addOraclesForBrand('stTIA', oraclesByBrand);
+  await addOraclesForBrand('stOSMO', oraclesByBrand);
 
   t.log('pushing new prices');
-  await pushPrices(11.2, 'ATOM');
-  await pushPrices(11.3, 'stTIA');
-  await pushPrices(11.4, 'stATOM');
-  await pushPrices(11.5, 'stOSMO');
+  await pushPrices(11.2, 'ATOM', oraclesByBrand);
+  await pushPrices(11.3, 'stTIA', oraclesByBrand);
+  await pushPrices(11.4, 'stATOM', oraclesByBrand);
+  await pushPrices(11.5, 'stOSMO', oraclesByBrand);
 
   t.log('awaiting new quotes');
-  // agd query -o json  vstorage data published.priceFeed.stOSMO-USD_price_feed |&
-  //   jq '.value | fromjson | .values[0] | fromjson | .body[1:] | fromjson | .amountOut.value'
   const atomOut = await getPriceQuote('ATOM');
   t.is(atomOut, '+11200000');
   const tiaOut = await getPriceQuote('stTIA');
@@ -148,3 +68,41 @@ test.serial('push prices', async t => {
   const osmoOut = await getPriceQuote('stOSMO');
   t.is(osmoOut, '+11500000');
 });
+
+test.serial('create new bid', async t => {
+  await createBid('20', USER1ADDR, BID_OFFER_ID);
+  const liveOffer = await getLiveOffers(USER1ADDR);
+  t.true(liveOffer[0].includes(BID_OFFER_ID));
+});
+
+test.serial('open a marginal vault', async t => {
+  let user1IST = await getISTBalance(USER1ADDR);
+  await bankSend(USER1ADDR, `20000000${ATOM_DENOM}`);
+  const currentVaults = await agops.vaults('list', '--from', USER1ADDR);
+
+  t.log('opening a vault');
+  await openVault(USER1ADDR, 5, 10);
+  user1IST += 5;
+  const istBalanceAfterVaultOpen = await getISTBalance(USER1ADDR);
+  t.is(istBalanceAfterVaultOpen, user1IST);
+
+  const activeVaultsAfter = await agops.vaults('list', '--from', USER1ADDR);
+  t.log(currentVaults, activeVaultsAfter);
+  t.true(
+    activeVaultsAfter.length > currentVaults.length,
+    `vaults count should increase, ${activeVaultsAfter.length}, ${currentVaults.length}`,
+  );
+});
+
+test.serial('trigger auction', async t => {
+  await pushPrices(5.2, 'ATOM', oraclesByBrand);
+
+  const atomOut = await getPriceQuote('ATOM');
+  t.is(atomOut, '+5200000');
+});
+
+test.serial('new auction vat', async t => {
+  const details = await getDetailsMatchingVats('auctioneer');
+  // This query matches both the auction and its governor, so double the count
+  t.true(Object.keys(details).length > 2);
+});
diff --git a/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/test.sh b/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/test.sh
index 6c8533d07f04..ab23e8a5c249 100755
--- a/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/test.sh
+++ b/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/test.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+GLOBIGNORE=initial.test.js:post.test.js
+
 # Place here any test that should be executed using the executed proposal.
 # The effects of this step are not persisted in further proposal layers.
 
@@ -7,5 +9,6 @@
 yarn ava initial.test.js
 
 # test more, in ways that changes system state
-GLOBIGNORE=initial.test.js
 yarn ava ./*.test.js
+
+yarn ava post.test.js
diff --git a/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/vatDetails.js b/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/vatDetails.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ccf246083095
--- /dev/null
+++ b/a3p-integration/proposals/a:upgrade-next/vatDetails.js
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+import dbOpenAmbient from 'better-sqlite3';
+
+const HOME = process.env.HOME;
+
+/** @type {<T>(val: T | undefined) => T} */
+export const NonNullish = val => {
+  if (!val) throw Error('required');
+  return val;
+};
+
+/**
+ * @file look up vat incarnation from kernel DB
+ * @see {getIncarnation}
+ */
+
+const swingstorePath = `${HOME}/.agoric/data/agoric/swingstore.sqlite`;
+
+/**
+ * SQL short-hand
+ *
+ * @param {import('better-sqlite3').Database} db
+ */
+export const dbTool = db => {
+  const prepare = (strings, ...params) => {
+    const dml = strings.join('?');
+    return { stmt: db.prepare(dml), params };
+  };
+  const sql = (strings, ...args) => {
+    const { stmt, params } = prepare(strings, ...args);
+    return stmt.all(...params);
+  };
+  sql.get = (strings, ...args) => {
+    const { stmt, params } = prepare(strings, ...args);
+    return stmt.get(...params);
+  };
+  return sql;
+};
+
+/**
+ * @param {import('better-sqlite3').Database} db
+ */
+const makeSwingstore = db => {
+  const sql = dbTool(db);
+
+  /** @param {string} key */
+  const kvGet = key => sql.get`select * from kvStore where key = ${key}`.value;
+  /** @param {string} key */
+  const kvGetJSON = key => JSON.parse(kvGet(key));
+
+  /** @param {string} vatID */
+  const lookupVat = vatID => {
+    return Object.freeze({
+      source: () => kvGetJSON(`${vatID}.source`),
+      options: () => kvGetJSON(`${vatID}.options`),
+      currentSpan: () =>
+        sql.get`select * from transcriptSpans where isCurrent = 1 and vatID = ${vatID}`,
+    });
+  };
+
+  return Object.freeze({
+    /** @param {string} vatName */
+    findVat: vatName => {
+      /** @type {string[]} */
+      const dynamicIDs = kvGetJSON('vat.dynamicIDs');
+      const targetVat = dynamicIDs.find(vatID =>
+        lookupVat(vatID).options().name.includes(vatName),
+      );
+      if (!targetVat) throw Error(`vat not found: ${vatName}`);
+      return targetVat;
+    },
+    /** @param {string} vatName */
+    findVats: vatName => {
+      /** @type {string[]} */
+      const dynamicIDs = kvGetJSON('vat.dynamicIDs');
+      return dynamicIDs.filter(vatID =>
+        lookupVat(vatID).options().name.includes(vatName),
+      );
+    },
+    lookupVat,
+  });
+};
+
+/** @param {string} vatName */
+export const getDetailsMatchingVats = async vatName => {
+  const kStore = makeSwingstore(
+    dbOpenAmbient(swingstorePath, { readonly: true }),
+  );
+
+  const vatIDs = kStore.findVats(vatName);
+  const infos = [];
+  for (const vatID of vatIDs) {
+    const vatInfo = kStore.lookupVat(vatID);
+    const source = vatInfo.source();
+    // @ts-expect-error cast
+    const { incarnation } = vatInfo.currentSpan();
+    infos.push({ vatName, vatID, incarnation, ...source });
+  }
+
+  return infos;
+};
diff --git a/a3p-integration/yarn.lock b/a3p-integration/yarn.lock
index 64be7d6a2ce8..02cdd029411b 100644
--- a/a3p-integration/yarn.lock
+++ b/a3p-integration/yarn.lock
@@ -69,6 +69,24 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"@types/better-sqlite3@npm:^7.6.9":
+  version: 7.6.10
+  resolution: "@types/better-sqlite3@npm:7.6.10"
+  dependencies:
+    "@types/node": "npm:*"
+  checksum: 10c0/11c4da950e0e1a31270e8c7d98ba34fa5a28fbd3280ffa75945983291d2ec5bc87a9b3b378c21c042249a415d557066a0431da568b83ff9e1bac53eddf4f5adc
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
+"@types/node@npm:*":
+  version: 20.12.7
+  resolution: "@types/node@npm:20.12.7"
+  dependencies:
+    undici-types: "npm:~5.26.4"
+  checksum: 10c0/dce80d63a3b91892b321af823d624995c61e39c6a223cc0ac481a44d337640cc46931d33efb3beeed75f5c85c3bda1d97cef4c5cd4ec333caf5dee59cff6eca0
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "abbrev@npm:^2.0.0":
   version: 2.0.0
   resolution: "abbrev@npm:2.0.0"
@@ -973,6 +991,7 @@ __metadata:
   resolution: "root-workspace-0b6124@workspace:."
   dependencies:
     "@agoric/synthetic-chain": "npm:^0.0.10"
+    "@types/better-sqlite3": "npm:^7.6.9"
   languageName: unknown
   linkType: soft
 
@@ -1190,6 +1209,13 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"undici-types@npm:~5.26.4":
+  version: 5.26.5
+  resolution: "undici-types@npm:5.26.5"
+  checksum: 10c0/bb673d7876c2d411b6eb6c560e0c571eef4a01c1c19925175d16e3a30c4c428181fb8d7ae802a261f283e4166a0ac435e2f505743aa9e45d893f9a3df017b501
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "unique-filename@npm:^3.0.0":
   version: 3.0.0
   resolution: "unique-filename@npm:3.0.0"