Military factions, like the [LN] for example, wouldn't need one. Any shiny baubles we collect are put onto one of our two Armories, which are Mammoths. As for transporting, the Logistics Corps ( [LN]-LLS- ) find Bisons sufficient for our needs.
Minor independent nations, such as the CR|, wouldn't have much use for barges either. We operate capital warships, three military strike wings (one focused on interception, another on taking out heavies, and the third on guerrilla tactics), and a spec ops squadron (barge =/= stealthy), making us a mostly military faction. But wait! There's the Colonial Movers ( CR|-CM- ), however they're often running dangerous missions throughout hostile territory, and the barge isn't suitable for that. And as with the LN, we already have a storage depot.
Okay so, how about quasilawful (mafia?) groups, Teerin? Well yeah sure the Congress use them, but only really to jump trade Cardamine/Premium Scrap so as to avoid player interaction whilst makin' the big bucks. And though they tend to think of themselves as mafia ... well, never mind, I should keep this post polite (and on-topic). The [UC] however do aim for as much player interaction as possible, especially from within Gallia itself. A barge, though profitable, isn't really a part of our Modus Operandi. When not being mercenaries, we do indeed trade a bunch (~25% of which is smuggling), but a lot of that is through dangerous space and/or asteroid fields, and we also like to be quick. Additionally, the faction has survived two years without even the thought of wanting a barge. And as with the above two cases, we keep our stache mostly on an Aurochs, which is sufficient for our needs.
Other groups I'm in like the [C]ouncil don't trade much, and again wouldn't have much use for it. Can't say for sure about [AI], but the Omicrons are pretty treacherous. Maquis wouldn't have time for one, and the Brigands would prefer pirating from other Barges, not owning one.
-----
So for unique (temporary?) gifts to official factions, you'd really need to base it off which category of group they are before making the offer. Barges work for Corporate factions, but you also have to think about Military, Police, Intelligence, Quasilawful, Autonomous, Revolutionary, Pirate, and Terrorist groups. This page separates most of them accurately by category.
EDIT: This post ended up way longer than I had anticipated
"You see what your knowledge tells you you're seeing. ... how, what you think the universe is, and how you react to that in everything you do, depends on what you know. And when that knowledge changes, for you, the universe changes. And that is as true for the whole of society as that is for the individual. We all are what we know, today. What we knew yesterday, was different; and so were we."
- James Burke, The Day the Universe Changed (1985)
