Body Armor

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office is seeking sealed bids for the procurement of body armor vests for law enforcement personnel through a competitive bidding process. The contract, designated as Bid #101725-01, is for a one-year term with options for two additional annual renewals, with an anticipated purchase of sixty or more body armor vests. The solicitation requires body armor that meets National Institute of Justice Standard 0101.06 for Threat Level II, designed for concealed wear under duty uniforms and available in both male and female sizes ranging from 28-72 and SM1-LG7 respectively. Vendors must submit comprehensive product documentation, including full descriptions, drawings, photographs, and technical specifications, with mandatory compliance to multiple third-party standards including NIJ, MIL-STD-662F, and various ASTM specifications. The bid will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible vendor meeting all required specifications, with bids due by 11:30 a.m. CST on October 17, 2025. Evaluation criteria include technical compliance, product performance, NIJ certification, and overall cost-effectiveness.

The procurement does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Bidders must be licensed manufacturers, wholesalers, or retailers of soft body armor for law enforcement, with required product liability insurance and warranties covering ballistic panels and carriers. Specific vendor qualifications include submission of National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) acceptance documentation for each proposed body armor model. While no incumbent vendors are explicitly mentioned, the bid allows for potential price adjustments in renewal years, limited to 5% in the first renewal and 10% in the second, calculated using the Producer Price Index for All Commodities. Though a precise budget range is not specified, the procurement anticipates purchasing approximately 60 body armor vests, with specific models including Point Blank Alpha Elite AX II Level 2 Ballistic Vests and various carrier configurations. Vendors must provide comprehensive technical documentation demonstrating compliance with rigorous ballistic protection, comfort, and functionality standards.