Integrators Cam-Dex Corp., RFI Communications & Security Systems, and The Protection Bureau have gained approval under the General Service Administration’s Schedule 84 to provide security systems and equipment to federal agencies.
With the approval, which was two years in the making, the companies are added to a pre-qualification list for agencies and must provide the equipment and service at pre-negotiated prices. Attaining the approval wasn’t easy.
“It is an arduous task,” Matthew Ladd, president and CEO of The Protection Bureau in Exton, Pa., tells SSI. “It took almost two years, a substantial investment of funds and a tremendous amount of paperwork … This is not something you go into lightly.”
To attain the contract, the integrators entered an informal partnership to share costs. An associate with each company was designated to work on the project, and the three split the cost of a consultant to guide them through procedures.
Contracts are already in place to provide law enforcement, security, facilities management, fire, rescue, clothing, marine craft and emergency/disaster products and services, but the companies said they couldn’t provide details about the work.
For the agencies, the contract streamlines purchasing by providing approved vendors. The pre-negotiated prices, which are typically lower than commercial contracts, are also available to state, county and city agencies. According to John Krumme, president of Kansas City, Kan.-based Cam-Dex, this will save agencies and taxpayers the cost of having to complete a lengthy competitive bid process.
“This is a major step up in the relationship we have with the government and we will work to provide the highest level of service,” says Brad Wilson, president of San Jose, Calif.-based RFI.
Cam-Dex, RFI and The Protection Bureau are all members of Security-Net, a network of independent system integrators.
“We will seek out our Security-Net partners to help fulfill their needs when GSA opportunities present themselves,” Ladd says.
The integrator firms have begun working with hardware and software providers, which may provide more favorable terms to supply equipment for the work, says Ladd. They will also begin their marketing campaigns to government agencies.
