Key takeaways
- Common ways agencies buy security systems: GSA MAS SIN 334220, GSA MAS SIN 334290, GSA MAS SIN 334290PACS.
- Rules to plan for: NDAA Section 889 (FAR 52.204-25), FCC Covered List equipment authorization ban, FIPS 201 Evaluation Program and GSA Approved Products List (APL).
- A contract vehicle or vendor registration makes buying easier, but it doesn't create demand. The vendors that win reach program owners before budgets and bids are set.
Who buys security systems in government
Purchases of security systems happen across federal agencies, states, counties, cities, school districts and colleges, hospitals, tribal governments, special districts and public utilities. The people you'll deal with usually include:
- Federal facility security officers and physical security chiefs
- Agency CIOs and CISOs (for networked cameras and access control)
- State and local facilities directors
- Police departments (real-time crime centers, city camera programs)
- School district safety and security directors
- University police and campus safety directors
- Utility and water system security managers
- Transit agency security staff
- Purchasing agents
The purchasing office runs the process, but the program owner who has the problem usually decides what gets bought. Reach both. See government buyer roles for how they work together.
How agencies buy security systems
Small purchases under an agency's threshold can often be made with a quote or a purchase card. Larger purchases need a formal bid or an existing contract. These are the contract vehicles agencies commonly use for security systems:
| Contract vehicle | What it is |
|---|---|
| GSA MAS SIN 334220 - Surveillance systems, wearable body cameras, and vehicular video | Main MAS SIN for video surveillance products; marked subject to Cooperative Purchasing, so eligible state and local buyers can use it. |
| GSA MAS SIN 334290 - Security and detection systems | MAS SIN for security and detection systems. |
| GSA MAS SIN 334290PACS - Physical access control systems (PACS) - FIPS 201 | MAS SIN for federal PACS that meet FIPS 201; 334290L is the legacy PACS SIN. |
| GSA MAS SIN 541330L - Security system integration, design, management, and life cycle support | MAS SIN for integrators that design, install and maintain security systems. |
Thresholds differ by state and agency; see our state procurement thresholds. For which cooperatives cover which categories, see cooperative contracts by category.
Rules and requirements for selling security systems
| Requirement | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| NDAA Section 889 (FAR 52.204-25) | Federal agencies cannot buy Hikvision, Dahua or Hytera video surveillance equipment (or their subsidiaries' products) for public safety, government facility security, critical infrastructure or national security uses, and cannot contract with firms that use covered equipment. |
| FCC Covered List equipment authorization ban | Since February 6, 2023, covered Hikvision, Dahua and Hytera cameras, body cameras and recorders for security uses cannot receive new FCC authorizations, so they cannot be newly marketed for those purposes. |
| FIPS 201 Evaluation Program and GSA Approved Products List (APL) | Federal PACS products that read PIV cards generally need to be tested and placed on GSA's FIPS 201 Approved Products List. |
| Service Contract Act for security services | GSA notes that security consulting, guard and alarm monitoring services on the MAS are SCA/SCLS-compliant, so labor categories for monitoring and guard work must follow Service Contract Labor Standards wage rules. |
Requirements vary by agency and contract. Read each solicitation's terms, and check with the buyer when in doubt. This isn't legal advice.
Buying signals to watch
These events often mean an agency will buy security systems soon:
- New building construction or renovation projects that include security system scopes
- School safety grants or state school safety funding announcements
- A security incident or audit finding at a facility
- Agencies replacing cameras that are no longer allowed under Section 889
- City plans for a real-time crime center or citywide camera network
For more, see our guide to government buying signals and the contract expirations guide.
A sales process for selling security systems
- Register. Get into SAM.gov for federal work and each state or local vendor portal you'll sell into. Use our vendor registration checklist.
- Pick your path to purchase. Decide which contract vehicles above fit your target buyers, and whether a reseller or partner already holds one.
- Build the target list. Identify the agencies with the need, the budget and the buying authority, and the people who own the problem.
- Start conversations early. Reach program owners while budgets and requirements are still being written, not after an RFP is posted.
- Follow through to purchase. Help the buyer pick the method, whether a cooperative purchase, quote or formal bid. When a bid comes, use our RFP response guide.
How KSG helps you sell security systems
Kensington Sales Group runs outbound sales development for companies selling to the public sector. Our SDRs research your target agencies, find the program owners and purchasing contacts, and book meetings for your sales team across Federal, SLED, K-12 and higher ed, healthcare, tribal, special district and utility markets. We also run bilingual English and Spanish outreach across the Western Hemisphere.
For example, we helped KOVA sell its emergency alert notification system to US airports: 164 opportunities and $5 million in revenue from a two-year campaign (read the case study).
See how our outsourced SDR service works.
Sources
- GSA MAS SIN 334220 - Surveillance systems, wearable body cameras, and vehicular video
- NDAA Section 889 (FAR 52.204-25)
- FCC Covered List equipment authorization ban
- FIPS 201 Evaluation Program and GSA Approved Products List (APL)
- Service Contract Act for security services
Checked November 2, 2026.