Tragic incidents by active shooters at K-12 schools are solidly in the crosshairs of law enforcement, politicians, the public and security focused companies with smart technologies for detection, surveillance and protection of assets. It is on everyone’s mind and everyone has an opinion of what can be done, should be done and must be accomplished to protect students.

State and local law enforcement and public schools are seeking rapid and proactive security strategies which enable increased collaboration between city officials, security leaders, law enforcement and first responders. The goal: keeping school campuses and communities safe. When this goal is strategically combined with today’s smart technologies the result is an integrated threat response solution with the sole purpose of rendering a safe environment.

To facilitate a streamlined buying process of these technologies, contract vehicles such as GSA’s Cooperative Purchasing Program and the California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) are enabling state and local agencies immediate access to these products and solutions while simultaneously abiding by contract terms and conditions.

Through the Cooperative Purchasing Program, GSA Schedules 70 and 84 vendors for Information Technology and Homeland Security products/services respectively, provide today’s law enforcement and city/county agencies with much needed technology. Such technology includes: Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, shot-detection sensors, access control, surveillance/video cameras, data analytics, mobile devices, cloud based storage, data management and other relevant IT and security systems.

Vendors qualified under the California Multiple Award Schedules (CMAS) program are able to bypass traditional procurement methods by offering such pre-approved product/service solutions at pre-negotiated prices.

“It’s critical that our public agencies like school districts have access to solve their problems effectively with true partners and not just bidders,” comments Jason Eatmon, VP & Principal of Development Group, Inc. in Redding, CA. “Furthermore, districts are under pressure to provide solutions quickly and affordably. CMAS empowers them to do just that. Through CMAS, DGI has been able to immerse ourselves into the true needs of our customers and provide essential and meaningful solutions to our customers that are both effective and affordable.”

Through the GSA and CMAS procurement vehicles vendors are able to quickly offer innovative and intelligent technologies which build a high level of situational awareness to enhance safety in today’s most critical environments. When time is of the essence vendors and government decision makers need contract vehicles like GSA and CMAS more than ever.

To discuss how your company can help build safer schools and communities through a GSA and/or CMAS contract – contact ClearCoast.