Chicago-area schools and government facilities have a new partner for procuring compliant access control systems using GSA Advantage. See how Anderson Lock’s GSA Authorized status, through Allegion, can make your security upgrade easier.

How to Navigate GSA Advantage for Access Control Systems in Chicagoland

You’re tasked with procuring new access control systems for your school or government facility – perhaps several facilities – and you know you need to follow certain rules and regulations while also being responsible with your budget. 

It’s a lot to keep track of. 

Perhaps you already know about GSA Advantage, but you’ve heard conflicting reports from colleagues and online, and the access control systems you see there don’t look like what you see on other sites. 

Then it gets confusing with MAS, FAR, TAA, and SAM, and what the heck is GSA eBuy? Access control systems are expensive and play a vital role in your emergency protocols; you don’t want to get this wrong. 

And you don’t need to become an expert on both government regulations and access control systems to navigate through all this. What you need is a trusted partner.

Anderson Lock, a family-owned company, has been building trust in Chicagoland for over 60 years, and now we are officially a GSA Authorized vendor through our partner Allegion. That means you have a trusted, vetted local vendor to help you find the best value for your money and give you first-in-class installation and service – all while checking off your regulatory boxes.

Access Control System Procurement Basics

Due diligence in procuring an access control system for your facility or facilities will require, at minimum, the following:

  • Conducting a comprehensive security audit of your building(s)
  • Finding systems that are compatible with your existing infrastructure
  • Assessing the durability and reliability of the systems
  • Assessing the quality and reliability of the vendor
  • Arranging and executing installation
  • Ensuring continued support for the system

Then you add to that the legal stuff:

What if you could filter out only systems with proven quality, from authorized vendors and installers, that meet baseline federal requirements?

What You Need to Know About GSA Advantage

That’s the idea behind GSA Advantage. Run by the U.S. General Services Administration, GSA Advantage is the official procurement platform of the United States federal government. The platform provides a centralized hub for procuring equipment and services, listed on the MAS (multiple award schedule), under pre-negotiated contracts (called schedules). 

GSA Advantage offers several benefits for state and local government officials with procurement needs:

  • Access to compliant access control systems 
  • Pre-screened service capabilities like project management and installation
  • Pre-negotiated pricing, including bulk pricing
  • Substantial time savings

State and local governments can access GSA Advantage through the Cooperative Purchasing Program and Disaster Purchasing Program.

Specific compliance standards in Illinois are typically the same or slightly more stringent than federal standards, so GSA Advantage can be a great place to begin the process for procuring an access control system. You’ll be able to start with systems that meet certain minimum requirements.

What About GSA eBuy?

GSA eBuy is a separate platform designed to coordinate projects that require requests for proposals and receiving and managing multiple bids. If your needs are sufficiently large, you may want to explore this option.

The Advantage of Being GSA Authorized

As convenient as GSA Advantage is from a regulatory standpoint, it is not a perfect procurement solution. Some of the online complaints are valid, and you may still find yourself overwhelmed with choices – or confused by some of them. That’s where we come in as a GSA Authorized vendor.

  • We’ve already studied the regulations. 
  • We’ve already demonstrated to the GSA that we understand the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and TAA (Trade Agreements Act).
  • We have experience ensuring schools and government buildings stay compliant when upgrading their access control systems.

After all, we’re the regional experts in access control systems. GSA Authorization was a logical next step.

The Advantage of Partnering with Anderson Lock for Your Access Control System Procurement and Installation

Anderson Lock has evolved to become a full-service access control system consulting company:

Consultation  We walk with you through every step of the process to make sure you understand what you’re buying 

Product selection  We can help you navigate the sea of choices to dine the best Allegion options that will work with your budget and with your infrastructure.

Professional installation  You can depend upon us for a seamless, low-stress installation.

With Anderson Lock as your partner, you can be confident you’re getting the best equipment for the best prices while still hitting compliance targets. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you procure access control systems through GSA Advantage.