01-18-2005 - Award of Bid - Bulletproof Vests•
TO: Andrew G. Pasmant, City Manager
and City Council
FROM: Frank J. Wills, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: AWARD OF BID —BULLETPROOF VESTS
City of West Covina
Memorandum
AGENDA
ITEM NO. C-3d
DATE January 18, 2005
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1) Authorize the purchase of 90 XTX2-3 bulletproof vests from Aardvark Tactical, Inc., of
Azusa, for $48,712.50, including tax.
2) Authorize the following appropriations (the remaining $16,865.98 will come from the West
Covina Service Group's current budget):
• $2,213 into 195.31.3110.6999 (recently awarded reimbursable BJA Bulletproof Vest
Partnership Grant);
• $25,892.40 from the fund balance of Fund 116 (State asset forfeiture) to
116.31.3110.6999;
• $3,741.12 from the fund balance of Fund 117 (federal asset forfeiture) . to
117.31.3110.6999.
DISCUSSION:
The West Covina Police Department last purchased bulletproof vests over five years ago. At that
time, the Police Department obtained funding under a brand new Bulletproof Vest Partnership
(BVP) grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), totaling
$18,355.77. To meet the 50% local cash match requirement of that BVP grant, an identical
amount came from the State Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF) to
complete the vest purchases.
With the knowledge that the five-year warranty associated with these vests would expire, Police
staff continued to apply for BJA BVP grants. However, BJA's Bulletproof Vest Partnership
grant is targeted toward cities with populations of less than 100,000. More populous cities are
typically considered for funding only if there are funds leftover after supplying the smaller cities.
In 1999 when Police Department staff first obtained the BVP grant, West Covina benefited from
this provision because the City's decennial census data listed the population as under 100,000.
Then, in the 2000 census, the City's population grew and passed that mark. As a result, the
Police Department's more recent applications for BVP grant funds have been less successful.
However, Police did secure $2,213 in the latest funding cycle, and that amount is ready to be
appropriated before being reimbursed by the federal government.
Police and Finance staff worked together in November 2004 to advertise a bid specification for
90 bulletproof vests. The vests were to meet the National Institute of Justice's minimum "Level
II or IIA" protection standards, plus additional ballistic requirements (the ability to stop certain
specified rounds of current concern to law enforcement), a weight cap (.88 pounds per square
foot or less), certifications, a warranty, etc. Sealed bids from five vendors were opened by the
Purchasing Manager on December 28"'. Four of the vendors submitted more than one vest (one
vendor submitted five different vests for consideration). However, only three of those vests met
each of the additional ballistic requirements specified in the request for quotations. Those
satisfactory bids were as follows:
Business: Name & Location
Vest Model
Unit Price
Total Price. w/
tax
Aardvark Tactical, Inc., of Azusa
XTX2-3
$500
$48,712.50
First Choice Armor of Brockton, MA
MF123
$625
$60,890.63
Pinnacle Armor, Inc., of Fresno
X-2+
$1,252.75
$122,049.17
Aardvark Tactical is
the lowe bidder. They are also the most local,& the West Covina Police
Department has utilized their products and services previously.
Funds sufficient to cover the remaining vest replacement cost, beyond the BJA Bulletproof Vest
Partnership grant, can come from unappropriated State and federal asset forfeiture balances, and
West Covina Service Group funds.
FISCAL IMPACT:
bulletproof vests
come
There is no cost to the General Fund.a Funding for the d federal sset forfeiture, andtWest Covina ServicelGroup
from a combination of grant, State
funds.
Reviewed and approved by:
Finance
Frank J. Wills, Chi f of Police