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12 guest commentary www.securitysystemsnews.com august 2013 sECuRItY sYstEMs NEWs Integrator opportunity in Why a black eye for the government market video surveillance? F Or manY months, debate over the effects of federal budget sequestration has cast a cloud of uncertainty over security integrators serving the government market. While the supplier community obviously should remain focused on these budget issues, security integrators should not overlook a number of recently announced contracting policies and spending proposals that may infuence business opportunities with federal, state, and local government entities. in may, President Barack Obama signed a directive that may ultimately encourage additional investment in security services by streamlining the federal review and permitting process for major local infrastructure construction projects including Don Erickson bridges, railways and transit systems so that these projects may begin sooner. Federal agencies were also directed to follow similar guidelines for permitting of agency projects. The president's budget blueprint for fscal year 2014 is a mixed bag for security integrators. The budget request provides clear direction for iT spending, and opportunities for integrators in the federal marketplace will be driven by increased government iT spending in the area of identity management. in fact, the president's budget proposal to Congress recommends more than $80 billion (2 percent more than in FY2013) in "strategic" iT projects that meet the goals of increasing the adoption of shared services, improving the government's ability to prevent cyber-security attacks, and bolstering administrative effciencies. included within this portfolio of iT spending are funds to accelerate federal agency adoption of cloud computing services. it is no longer a question of whether the federal government will invest in cloud computing services, and integrators should pay close attention to new federal strategies to migrate services to the cloud. Unfortunately, the president's budget also recommends that Federal emergency management agency grant programs be consolidated into a single program. Grant programs such as the Port security Grant Program and Transit security Grant Program are used to acquire and install access control systems, digital video cameras, and other essential security devices. This ill-advised "reform" to Fema grants provides less predictability to grant applicants because it does not provide specifc and dedicated sources of funding for varied security enhancements. This new funding process would have the negative effect of picking "winners and losers" among compelling applications and would drain resources from long-overdue projects. Ports and transit systems, for example, will have to compete for funds under one program if this budget policy is updated, more so than the current system of grants in which these Fema grant programs are separately funded. The General services administration remains a catalyst for the adoption of security services by government agencies. Gsa plays a major role in open state and local government markets for integrators through its Cooperative Purchasing Programs. established through legislation championed by the security industry association in 2008, "schedule 84" cooperative purchasing allows state and local governments to purchase alarm, facility management, and security systems in a streamlined manner. To date, sales transactions totaling more than $300 million have occurred between security vendors and local governments through Gsa schedule 84. Gsa was expected to release on July 24 its long-awaited "One acquisition solution for integrated services" contract. This contracting vehicle is being established to address federal agency needs for complex professional services including program management and logistics services that contain iT components. integrators should pay careful attention to development of the structure of this contracting vehicle. Finally, security integrators should be mindful of a new Gsa pricing tool used for reviewing and approving pricing updates and accepting new items to assist in determining price reasonableness. This new policy is being reviewed by the sia Procurement Working Group because many of our members have had their pricing modifcations rejected largely due to the Gsa using non-Gsa vendors' internet pricing as a basis for price justifcation. The unfortunate consequence for end users and suppliers alike is that only a part of a total security system could remain on a vendor's contract. if this policy remains in effect, value to the end user and opportunity for suppliers will be lost. Don Erickson is CEO of SIA T he headlines are enough to we need to come to grips with is that we make surveillance professionals are, in fact, knee deep in surveillance and wince. They say things like "U.s. the business of surveillance. does this spy agencies out of control," "Offcials make us evil snoops determined to rob on the defense concerning surveil- citizens of their basic privacy rights? i lance abuse," and "Your every move is think not; in fact, we are in the business watched." There seems to be no good of protecting lives and property. news attached to our industry at the The data our overt and covert cammoment. eras can record and distribute globally The message seems to be that Big have a huge positive impact on the safety Brother is going to peer into your bed- and security of all U.s. citizens and nonroom and ruin your life. Very little press citizens alike that are visiting or working was given to the director of the national with various U.s. businesses. as comsecurity agency, who pointpared to the rest of the world, ed out that nsa surveillance the United states is a relatively programs helped thwart safe environment in which to more than 50 terrorist plots work, to travel and to enjoy in since sept. 11, 2001. the pursuit of happiness. i speak only for myself, The card readers and biometbut i am more than happy ric devices we design, distribto relinquish some of my ute, monitor, record and service privacy in an effort to create provide a real time and historical a more secure and safe envi- Bill Bozeman database of information that can ronment for my family and be data crunched with advanced friends. life is not perfect and unstable algorithms providing the ever important people exist and some are focused on "big data" information used by profeskilling people they have never met. so sionals focusing on preventing the next yes, i am in favor of overt and covert bomb from being detonated in a public surveillance of potential threats to our area. families, our government and to our way so why are the press and the general of life. public so negative with regards to surveili choose to trust our democratically lance overall? Possibly, it could be that the elected offcials, government leaders, gov- feelings of average citizens are not so negaernment agencies and the oversight of the tive; it is just the consistent message we get various committees that monitor potential from the press. terrorist and criminal activity. i am proud to be an american and i so how will we be impacted profession- am proud to be in the surveillance and ally as an industry comprised of security security-data-gathering business. surveillance professionals? The frst thing Bill Bozeman is CEO of PSA Security WORK THE ROOM With our exclusive rooms feature, your customers can control lights, locks & thermostats from a photo they take on their phone. Easily customizing their app to their specifc needs. All the control your customers expect simply and elegantly from a photo of their room. The only app that allows you to brand it with your logo and your client to customize it to their home. 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