Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/31490
SECURITY SYSTEMS NEWS JANUARY 2011 www.securitysystemsnews.com FIRE SYSTEMS INSTALLATION 21 Gamewell-FCI makes federal GSA vendor list By Tess Nacelewicz NORTHFORD, Conn.—Gamewell- FCI by Honeywell is now an approved General Services Administration Schedule vendor. That’s good news for Gamewell’s authorized deal- ers because they now can provide Gamewell fire alarm and mass notification systems to federal agen- cies and an increasing number of state and local government entities who now can take advantage of the favorable pricing ensured by the ALARM Continued from page 20 Under the new ordinance, the district informed commercial customers with fire alarm sys- tems in the district that their existing fire alarm monitoring company contracts were can- celled and they must contract exclusively with the district. The district set up its own unified wireless radio network to transmit fire alarm signals. Jim French, bureau chief of the district’s Fire Prevention Bureau, said in a court affidavit that the district’s direct-connect radio network is “dramatically” faster and safer for fire monitor- ing than a third-party central station or phone line system. The district selected the Chicago Metropolitan Fire Prevention Co. of Elmhurst, Ill. as the vendor to implement the radio network. Chicago Metro also was named as a defendant in the lawsuit. But the preliminary injunc- tion order, signed by Judge Milton I. Shadur, determined that the fire district had “no express authority” in the law to engage in the fire alarm moni- toring business. Shadur also found that the alarm companies had “demonstrated a substan- tial likelihood of success on the merits” of the lawsuit. The judge ordered the dis- trict to cease its fire alarm monitoring program under the ordinance and to notify hundreds of commercial and multi-residential customers that their previous contracts with other alarm companies are in full force and effect. ADT, responding to ques- tions from Security Systems News, issued a statement say- ing, in part: “The court’s ruling is preliminary, not final, and is subject to appeal.” Bureau chief French declined to comment on ongoing litiga- tion. Peter Friedman, the attorney for Chicago Metro, said his cli- ent is not liable in any way, and that it hopes the district will be successful in its appeal of the judge’s ruling. SSN GSA schedule. “It opens the door to so many opportunities for our participating dealers,” Steve Birdsall, Gamewell’s VP of sales, told Security Systems News. “Before they were not able to participate in projects that were being purchased from the GSA schedule.” Gamewell announced Nov. 29 it had become a GSA Schedule sup- plier. In a statement, Birdsall said: “This could not have come at a better time, considering our chal- lenging economy. Many government facilities are either in need of a new system ... or a required addition such as a mass notification system.” In a later interview with SSN, Birdsall said being on the list is beneficial because it’s “a pricing schedule that’s put together for the government by the General Services Administration ... they negotiate the best terms with manufacturers and suppliers so that the government gets the best material prices and labor prices available when they’re looking to fulfill contracts.” The schedule became available to state and local agencies when the Local Preparedness Acquisition Act was passed about two years ago. The act gave state and local gov- ernments the option of buying fire alarm systems and security products and services at GSA-approved reduced prices. The approval process took about two years for Gamewell. SSN Call Today - 770-495-1993 www.BuildingReports.com • sales@BuildingReports.com