WASHINGTON– The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has been authorized to help state and local governments purchase homeland security equipment, such as alarm systems, facility management systems, and law enforcement and firefighting equipment, according to American City and County.

Under the Local Preparedness Acquisitions Act, signed by President Bush on Jun. 25, the GSA may now allow state, local, and tribal governments to participate in its cooperative purchasing program to buy the equipment at discounted rates.

Officials would use GSA’s Schedule 84 to participate in the program.

“GSA’s ability to leverage the federal government’s enormous buying power enables us to provide goods and services at best value and pass the savings on to our client agencies,” said Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Jim Williams in a statement. “Now we can pass these discounts on to state and local governments, while also allowing for enhanced security through greater interoperability possibilities across the federal, state and local environment.”

More information on the program is available at www.gsa.gov.