by Shane Henson — November 13, 2013—More than 50,000 government, healthcare and educational entities now can obtain SimplexGrinnell products and services through a simplified procurement process, thanks to a new four-year vendor contract the company has with the National Joint Powers Alliance, a Minnesota-based public agency that functions as a cooperative for its member agencies.
SimplexGrinnell, a Tyco company, sells an array of fire alarm, fire sprinkler, fire suppression, integrated security, sound, and healthcare communications systems and services. Being on the NJPA vendor schedule is similar to being a General Services Administration (GSA) vendor or a vendor for the Western States Contracting Alliance, notes Chris Woodcock, SimplexGrinnell’s director of marketing communications. The company also participates in those programs, adds Woodcock.
Jim Madson, vice president of sales for SimplexGrinnell, explains that for hospitals, schools and governmental agencies, going through the bidding process and vetting out different providers, contractors, and vendors can be arduous and take a lot of time and expense. So, he says, the public entities rely on the NJPA to do that for them.
“When they’re looking for a particular service, they can utilize this schedule and have full confidence they’re getting the right vendor for the right price,” Madson adds.
In addition to its products, SimplexGrinnell expects to provide a lot of services, such as testing and inspections, to NJPA members as part of the contract.
