New Bill Allows for Discounted Homeland Security Equipment, Services
The Security Industry Association (SIA) recently hailed Senate passage of The Local Preparedness Acquisition Act, legislation extending cooperative purchasing to GSA Schedule 84. The cornerstone of SIA's legislative agenda, this bill ensures state and local governments can purchase fire alarm systems, access control devices, perimeter security and video surveillance systems and countless other homeland security goods and services, at GSA-approved reduced prices. Announcement of the news took place at SIA's 2008 Government Summit in Washington, D.C.
"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," said Richard Chace, CEO, The Security Industry Association. "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 2008 Government Summit, Jim Williams, commissioner of GSA's Federal Acquisition Service, noted that sales on Schedule 84 reached $1.8 billion through April 30 of this year, in comparison, total sales in fiscal 2007 reached $2.2 billion. Williams went on to note that passage of schedule 84 legislation was "way past due."
SIA's record of accomplishment on this issue extends back to February 2007 with confirmation of an interim GSA rule permitting state and local governments to use the schedules program for products and services in advance of and to recover from a major natural disaster or terrorist attack. At SIA's 2007 Government Summit, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and the former GSA Administrator Lurita Doan voiced their support for SIA's proposal to expand cooperative purchasing. In October 2007, Rep. Ed Towns (D-NY) and Brian Bilbray (R-CA), introduced The Local Preparedness Acquisition Act, SIA-drafted legislation that went on to pass the House in December 2007 and the Senate in June 2008. The bill now awaits the president's signature.