ALEXANDRIA, VA. —The Security Industry Association (SIA) is asking state legislators to allow local government purchases of security and life safety products through the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule program. According to the association, the program can offer big savings to local governments.
The GSA has products available to the federal government at low prices through its Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program. In 2008, SIA worked with the National Association of Counties to enact the “Local Preparedness Acquisition Act” that allows local governments to buy security and life safety products off Schedule 84. However, many states have not enacted legislation to take advantage of the purchase.
“Buying off the GSA Schedule can provide big savings to local governments at a time when many are struggling with tight budgets,” says SIA Director of Government Relations Don Erickson. “The lower prices can also mean more security, because they make available products that might otherwise have been too costly. This win-win for taxpayers is why we are urging states to allow GSA Schedule purchases by localities.”
The MAS program includes only companies that have been vetted, which saves town, city and county officials the time and expense of pre-qualifying vendors, Erickson says.
