Cooperative Purchasing Bill Close to Becoming Law
June 12, 2008
The Senate has approved a bill that would allow state and local governments to purchase law enforcement, firefighting and security products and services through a General Services Administration supply schedule.
On Tuesday evening, the Senate agreed by unanimous consent to pass H.R. 3179, also known as the Local Preparedness Acquisition Act.
Sponsored by Reps. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., and Brian Bilbray, R-Calif., the bill would allow nonfederal government entities to buy off GSA's Schedule 84 through a process known as cooperative purchasing. An identical bill passed the House by voice vote last December.