State and local governments will be receiving 75 percent of the stimulus money released under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. State and local homeland security and public safety senior executives are putting technology systems high on their wish list for spending new federal money, according to a new survey by the CivicUS advisory firm. 80 percent of the respondents said they want to spend the money they get from the economic stimulus law on technology. The company, based in Rockville, MD, surveyed 47 senior executives in homeland security and public safety.

When asked which information technology areas would provide the greatest economic return, 42 percent named law enforcement information systems, 21 percent said data analytics, 11 percent cited intelligent video, 5 percent said consolidated dispatch systems and 21 percent named other systems, the company said.

Are you making it easy for them to reach you? There are three main programs which allow state and local governments to use GSA Schedules to purchase goods and services.

  Cooperative Purchasing

Under the Cooperative Purchasing Program, state and local government entities may purchase Information Technology (IT) products, software, and services from contracts awarded under GSA Federal Supply Schedule 70, Information Technology.

State and local government entities may also purchase alarm and signal systems, facility management systems, firefighting and rescue equipment, law enforcement and security equipment, marine craft and related equipment, special purpose clothing, and related services from contracts awarded under GSA Federal Supply Schedule 84, Total Solutions for Law Enforcement, Security, Facility Management Systems, Fire, Rescue, Special Purpose Clothing, Marine Craft, and Emergency/Disaster Response.

The Cooperative Purchasing Program places no restrictions on how or when the products and services may be used.

State and Local Government Entities

The General Services Administration Acquisition Manual (GSAM), Part 538.7001, Definitions, offers the following definition of state and local governments: "The States of the United States, counties, municipalities, cities, towns, townships, tribal governments, public authorities (including public or Indian housing agencies under the United States Housing Act of 1937), school districts, colleges, and other institutions of higher education, council of governments (incorporated or not), regional or interstate government entities, or any agency or instrumentality of the preceding entities (including any local educational agency or institution of higher education), and including legislative and judicial departments."
The term does not include contractors or grantees of state or local governments.
With regard to state or local governments receiving grant money, these entities are eligible users under the Cooperative Purchasing Program by virtue of meeting the definition of state and local government entities; the source of funding for these entities is irrelevant. That means grants for the ARRA are eligible for Cooperative Purchasing.

There are two other more restrictive State and local government programs

  Disaster Recovery Purchasing

The Disaster Recovery Purchasing Program authorizes state and local government entities to purchase products and services from contracts awarded under all GSA Schedules. The products and services purchased under the Disaster Recovery Purchasing Program may be used to facilitate recovery from a major disaster, terrorism, or nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack. State and local government entities may use GSA Schedule contracts to purchase products and services in advance of a disaster declared by the president, as well as in the aftermath of an emergency event. State and local government entities are responsible for ensuring that the products or services purchased are to be used to facilitate recovery.

  1122 Counterdrug Program

The State and Local Law Enforcement Equipment Procurement Program -- the "1122 Program" for counterdrug activities.
Section 1122 of the fiscal year 1994 National Defense Authorization Act established the authority for state and local governments to purchase law enforcement equipment through federal procurement channels, provided that the equipment is used in the performance of counterdrug activities.

Under these programs, state and local entities may add their own terms and conditions to the order provided they do not violate the terms of the GSA contract. These terms should be reviewed before signing. The order can be rejected if the terms are not satisfactory. GSA's IFF fees are assessed and must be reported to GSA under the Special Item Numbers (SINs) GSA has established for the programs. GSA's operations analysts (IOAs) and auditors can check to make sure you are collecting and reporting the data correctly.

Things to Do Now:
• Decide if you want to sell to state and local governments through your GSA Schedule contract.
• If you do,
  • Sign the modifications indicating you want to participate in the programs.
  • Develop a process to properly separate GSA orders from other state and local government orders.
  • Develop a process to review state terms, quote and process orders to state and local governments, report and pay the fees on GSA orders.
• If you do not,
  • Locate partners now such as Technical Communities who will act for you in the market.
  • Make sure they have full access to the products or services that are in demand for the state and local governments.