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Security Integrator Supports Local Community During COVID through GSA MAS Contract

Reprinted with permission from ICU Technologies, a ClearCoast client. This blog post was originally posted by Team ICU on Jul 9, 2020 9:26:30 AM.

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Lake Tahoe Community College’s (LTCC’s) leadership recently executed a plan to provide the community with a COVID Surge overflow hospital but transitioned to being one of only two COVID testing facilities in El Dorado County. Here is how it happened:

LTCC’s Superintendent/President, Jeff DeFranco was quick to recognize the challenges posed by the COVID crisis. Anticipating the need to support the Lake Tahoe community, DeFranco agreed to use part of the LTCC campus as an overflow hospital in the event the local hospital was overwhelmed with patients. Thankfully, the community was quick to protect themselves against the virus and a hospital surge location was not necessary. The work to prepare for hospital overflow, however, was not wasted. A new need arose – finding a suitable COVID testing facility.

LTCC’s Al Frangione, who oversees the college’s facilities and security, was assigned as the Incident Commander for the college. Frangione explained that DeFranco was “all in, to make sure the hospital overflow concept was a success.”  Frangione quickly went to work, defining the necessary space, people, and materials. Frangione explained:

“One key component which is evident in any healthcare setting is security. Access control coupled with video monitoring of access points, perimeter and common spaces is a core responsibility which cannot be overlooked.”

Frangione reached out to ICU Technologies, LTCC’s preferred security integrator, to get an initial design. He explained, “I’ve worked with ICU in the past and am familiar with their GSA/CMAS contract process which cuts through the red tape and makes purchasing and installation as streamlined as possible — especially in an emergency.” He added, “In uncertain times, some companies might up their pricing, but partnering with companies like ICU, which are GSA/CMAS contract holders, protects us as the pricing schedule is in place prior to the emergency and has been approved as being legal, reasonable, and competitive.” An initial assessment led to a decision to install nine public safety cameras and electronic access control to monitor doors at the exterior entrances.

Within a few weeks, the fears about patient overload passed and El Dorado County officials recognized the need for a suitable testing location. Frangione explained, “Since Lake Tahoe Community College was mission-ready, we were selected as one of two county facilities for this critically important work.” The testing location required high levels of security for patients, testing staff, equipment, and to effectively control the security of the samples themselves. To date, 2,800 people have been tested. Details about testing can be found at: https://www.edcgov.us/Government/hhsa/Pages/EDCCOVID-19-Get-A-Test.aspx

ICU’s CEO, Brian Van Norman, said, “we’re happy to support LTCC in this critically important public health undertaking.” He added, “We applaud LTCC Superintendent/President Jeff Defranco’s vision and forward-thinking response.” Van Norman continued by explaining, “We are proud our company has the ability to quickly respond to meet community needs through our well established industry relationships, with manufacturer partners like Motorola-Avigilon, and our large subcontractor network that spans the Western States.”

Public sector leaders with security related issues should contact ICU Technologies at: icu-techinc.com

Are You a CMAS Supplier?

Want to boost your sales with California State and Local government agencies? If so, you might want to consider the California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) program.   The government marketplace can be challenging and risky for the uninitiated and even for seasoned veterans. Responding to RFQ’s and bidding on RFP’s can easily strain the resources of a company engaged in this marketplace.

A Better Solution

Enter the CMAS program offering a procurement vehicle for California registered businesses to sell both information technology and non-information technology products and services. Businesses qualifying for CMAS benefit from a ‘pre-approved’ status and streamlined acquisition process with government customers. Agencies are able to quickly get the products and services needed from CMAS suppliers critical to meeting today’s information technology, security and cloud based migration requirements just to name a few. In 2017, California State agencies alone purchased over $150 million in goods and services through the CMAS program.

How do you become a CMAS supplier? CMAS agreements are established with suppliers through an application process in which all pricing, products and/or services offered must have been previously bid and awarded on a Federal GSA Schedule contract.   This schedule is referred to the “base” contract. Upon review and acceptance of the supplier’s application, the CMAS unit awards a CMAS agreement for the same products and services at equal or lower prices. The State of California applies their own contract terms and conditions, procurement codes, policies and guidelines. It is then up to you as the CMAS supplier to market and distribute your CMAS offerings to State and Local government agencies.

A Competitive Advantage

Your competitors are seeking opportunities through CMAS to their competitive benefit and advantage, why shouldn’t you? Ask your government customers if CMAS would make buying from you easier. We’re sure they will say yes. For more information on how to apply for and obtain a CMAS agreement(s) contact ClearCoast today.

What is CMAS?

California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) agreements are established with contractors registered in the State of California to sell information technology and non-information technology products and services to California State and Local government agencies. CMAS operates as a streamlined procurement option, offering competitively assessed and pre-negotiated products and services.

A CMAS is not established through a competitive bid process but rather recognizes all pricing, products and/or services which have been previously bid and awarded on a Federal General Services Administration (GSA) multiple award schedule. This GSA schedule is referred to as the “base” contract.  The State of California then applies their own terms and conditions to the agreement to ensure compliance between the contractor and the ordering agency.

CMAS Value Proposition

Contractors holding CMAS agreements deliver value-added benefits to their agency customers including:

1. Realize cost savings

  • Up-to-date, Federal Acquisition Regulation-compliant acquisition vehicle approved by California Public Contract Code (PCC) §10298 and 10299 for State and Local agencies to use without competitive bidding which helps minimize risks
  • Competitive, market-based pricing that leverages the GSA Schedules program with the ability to negotiate further discounts at the order level

2. Experience flexibility and choice

  • The ability to tailor orders to get what is needed by customizing terms and conditions at the order level
  • Set-aside orders for small business in order to help achieve an agency’s annual small-business goals
  • Decision tools and contracting solutions proven to meet complex requirements
  • A vast selection of contractors offering expert solutions for services and product

3. Save time

  • Pre-competed, on-demand contracts to increase the productivity and capacity of scarce acquisition resources
  • Quick and easy access to the right industry partners, allowing you to make the most use of your valuable time
  • State of California has added standard contract terms and conditions and procurement codes, policies and guidelines, resulting in a totally independent California agreement

4. Realize transparency

  • A suite of eTools that can be leveraged to identify qualified contractors, maximize competition, and assist you in reaching your socioeconomic goals
  • Copies of a CMAS agreement for approved contractors can be obtained at https://www.caleprocure.ca.gov

5. Control the procurement

  • Self-service access that allows agency contracting offices to retain control of their procurements, including requirements development, evaluation, award, and administration
  • Full-service options when in-house resources are tapped with other pressing projects

CMAS Fee, Sales and Payment

The selling CMAS contractor is required to pay the Department of General Services (DGS) a 1% incentive fee (excluding sales tax and freight) on all local government sales if they are not a California certified small business. Sales are reported quarterly by the CMAS contractor for each CMAS agreement. Payment by a State or Local agency through CMAS will be made in accordance with the provisions of the California Prompt Payment Act, Government Code (GC) §927 et. seq. Unless expressly exempted by statute, the Prompt Payment Act requires agencies to pay properly submitted, undisputed invoices not more than 45 days after (i) the date of acceptance of goods or performance of services; or (ii) receipt of an undisputed invoice, whichever is later.

For clarification or additional information, please contact ClearCoast today.