Body Armor Video for Procurement

• NCJ Number: 237973
• Author(s): National Institute of Justice; National Law Enforcement Technology Center
• Date Published: March 2012
• Length: 3 pages
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Technical Assistance; Instructional Material

Annotation

This video and accompanying transcript provide agency purchasers of body armor with information needed to make the appropriate choice of the type of armor needed for various types of officer duties.

Abstract

The format for the video consists of narrator information interspersed with comments from officers experienced in body-armor purchasing. The narrator opens the video with this advice to purchasers of an agency's body armor: "As the person responsible for purchasing body armor for your agency, it is up to you to make the choices that will impact the budget of your department and the safety of the officers serving within it." He further notes that body armor types and manufacturers are many, and choosing the correct type of armor is critical to the agency. Also, choosing the right armor for the right job is crucial, since there is no totally bullet-proof armor, only levels of bullet resistance. The three classes of flexible body armor designed to protect against handgun threats are briefly described, along with the two classes of armor for tactical operations that face rifle threats. The narrator further advises that once an agency's needs are determined, the reviewing of specific products begins. A listing of armor models that have been tested through the National Institute of Justice's (NIJ's) Compliance Testing Program is available as grant funding for agencies that need to purchase body armor through the U.S. Department of Justice's Bulletproof Vest Partnership.