GSAR Case 2008-G517; Cooperative Purchashing-Acquisition of Security and Law enforcement Related Goods and Services (Schedule 84) by State and Local Governments Through Federal Supply Schedules) (Comment #7)

This bill is not a good thing for the Fire and Rescue Service of this country. Products typically sold into this industry require a series of complicated standards be met, require pre-sale demonstration and post sale training/education, often sizing and fitting of personal protective clothing items is needed, and finally service of expensive items, subject to harsh environments, and often responsible for protecting the fire fighter's life, is accomplished by the local distributor. Local distributors also provide local inventory available to the Fire & Emergency Service, which is often needed during or immediately after an emergency. If the GSA is successful in persuading enough Municipal Fire Depts. and manufacturers to participate, local distribution will be unable to continue in business, and once gone, who will be there to provide these services? I recently attended a meeting in Tucson, AZ, where Josh Sawislak, Senior Advisor to the Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration spoke. He outlined a program which effectively fixed prices to a complete industry. If the manufacturers or distributors had joined to set national pricing to the complete industry, we would have been guilty of any number of felonies. I am confused how the GSA is exempt from these same practices. In example, Akron fire nozzle model ###, is placed on GSA schedule 84 by Akron for $100., Akron has been required by GSA, to give them the "Best Customer" pricing for this nozzle. Akron may or may not choose to administer sales through it's regional distribution, possibly cutting the distributor out of the sale. Either way, virtually the entire fire industry, State, County, City, Town, and Volunteer ( even Volunteer Fire Depts. are a part of a local county,city etc.) now have a nationwide price set for this item. No dealer participating in the GSA system, through their manufacturer, nor the manufacturer can sell anyone nozzles for a dollar under the GSA price, nor can they sell for one dollar more, because virtually all customers qualify for the GSA pricing. This could be a major problem in the competitive bid process, when non- GSA bidders are free to quote what they wish, but GSA bidders cannot bid lower without compromising the existing GSA price, and possibly all the previous business done on GSA, involving this item. In competitive bid situations non-GSA bidders will obviously know what the GSA affiliated bidders can bid, giving them an unfair advantage. I would also suggest, current GSA contracts and pricing, do not allow for the supported sales I described earlier in this comment. Should this program be successful, pricing will eventually be adjusted to allow for that needed support, and the Federal Government will be paying more for the GSA products they currently buy from our industry. I recognize this bill was signed into law, and we must muddle through it, at least for now, but let the record show, it is not a good thing for our industry. Fortunately many of our manufacturers and Fire & Rescue service customers are not considering this as a workable opportunity, and intend to opt away from the program. I would hope if and when, this proves not to work for our industry, Fire and Rescue products could be removed from the Security and Law enforcement Schedule and this potentially dangerous situation could be put behind our industry.