Mark Simpson

Gamewell-FCI Earns Approval as GSA Schedule Vendor

  • Dec 01, 2010

Gamewell-FCI by Honeywell is now a GSA (General Services Administration) Schedule No. 84 supplier of advanced fire alarm and mass notification (a.k.a. emergency communications) systems.

Under GSA Contract No. GS-07F-0087X, Gamewell-FCI can supply government entities with state-of-the-art fire protection products, supported by its nationwide network of Platinum Associate Engineered Systems Distributors.

According to Steve Birdsall, the company's vice president of sales, the recently signed Local Preparedness Acquisition Act paved the way for more state and local government agencies to take advantage of the GSA Schedule.

"This could not have come at a better time, considering our challenging economy," stated Birdsall. "Many government facilities are either in need of a new system that's code-compliant or a required addition such as a mass notification system."

The breadth of the company's commercial fire alarm and mass notification products offered through the GSA Schedule fit virtually any size application, including small to high-rise buildings and large campuses such as military posts. Its E3 Series(r) Expandable Emergency Evacuation system's module design provides each job a custom fit with easy expansion, reconfiguration and networking capabilities.

For retrofit installations requiring updated fire alarm capabilities, the E3 Series can often repurpose existing fire alarm components, such as wiring, notification appliances, speakers and more.

Mass notification systems have become a major requirement for many large-scale government properties. The Department of Defense outlines requirements for mass notification systems throughout U.S. military installations in its Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) document 4-021-01. A combined fire alarm/mass notification system is described in the UFC as "the simplest and most economical approach."

"Becoming a GSA supplier was a very intricate process, but I think it will benefit both local and federal agencies," Birdsall said.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities