ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Security Industry Association (SIA) has hailed House passage of The Local Preparedness Acquisition Act and praised lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for voting in the interests of local governments and communities nationwide. The bill would ensure state and local governments have the option of purchasing fire alarm systems, access control devices, perimeter security and video surveillance systems and countless other homeland security products and services at GSA-approved reduced prices. The legislation unanimously passed the House and now moves to the Senate.
"The overwhelming, bipartisan support for this legislation shows that lawmakers understand the cost-savings this bill provides state and local governments - and ultimately the American taxpayer," said Richard Chace, executive director and CEO, The Security Industry Association. "Enactment of this bill into law is one of our top priorities for the 110th Congress."
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. The E-Government Act of 2002 authorized "cooperative purchasing" through which state and local governments have access to products and services only offered on GSA Schedule 70. In July 2007, SIA secured the introduction of legislation that would extend cooperative purchasing to Schedule 84.
House Subcommittee on Government, Organization and Procurement Chairman Ed Towns (D-NY) and Ranking Member Brian Bilbray (R-CA) were critical to the bill's passage.
