The Security Industry Association (SIA) is lauding Senate passage of The Local Preparedness Acquisition Act, legislation extending cooperative purchasing to GSA Schedule 84.
The bill, which is the cornerstone of SIA’s legislative agenda, ensures state and local governments can purchase fire alarm systems, access control devices, perimeter security and video surveillance systems at GSA-approved reduced prices.
“This bill opens new market opportunities while promoting efficient, good procurement strategies. It delivers significant cost-savings and ensures local, state and federal agencies can purchase interoperable security solutions,” says SIA CEO Richard Chace. “This is the first SIA-authored legislation to pass both chambers of Congress. It is a milestone accomplishment for our organization and we look forward to working with GSA on the rule’s final language.”
The GSA Schedules are catalogues of more than 4 million commercial goods and services currently available to federal agencies, and in limited circumstances, to state and local governments at discounted prices.
In keynote remarks at the SIA’s 2008 Government Summit, held June 9-11, GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner, Jim Williams, noted that sales on Schedule 84 reached $1.8 billion through April 30, in comparison to total sales in fiscal 2007 reaching $2.2 billion. Williams went on to note that passage of Schedule 84 legislation was “way past due.”
The Local Preparedness Acquisition Act passed the House in December 2007. The bill now awaits the president’s signature.
