Police test vests to bid for NT$1.1bn body armor contract
By Chiu Chun-fu and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer
The National Police Agency (NPA) has conducted a body armor wear test, collecting anonymous feedback as part of the evaluation process to award a NT$1.1 billion (US$33.8 million) contract for new tactical vests.
The agency said it expects to place a total order of 55,556 to equip police officers nationwide.
The NPA has increased the maximum allowable per-unit cost of tactical vests from NT$12,000 previously to NT$30,000, following complaints about the quality of standard-issue armor, it said.
Police try on tactical vests in an undated photograph.
Photo copied by Chiu Chun-fu, Taipei Times
The agency said it earlier this year procured 1,000 tactical vests under the old budget constraints and fielded them to patrol officers, who reported that their armor was stiff, uncomfortable and ill-fitting.
In response, NPA Director-General Chang Jung-hsin (張榮興) ordered the agency to open a bid for replacement tactical vests that offer improved wearer comfort, fit and protection, the agency said.
The armor must offer ballistic and anti-stab protection, as patrol officers come in close contact with subjects during traffic stops, random drug or alcohol tests, and incident responses, it said.
More than 10 Taiwanese and other Asian, European, and US manufacturers that expressed interest qualified for the bid, the NPA said.
The agency would give no preference to any domestic or foreign company in the selection process, it said.
As part of the evaluation, 60 police volunteers were gathered earlier this month to wear and grade the body armor examples submitted by the manufacturers, with a focus on ergonomics, fit and comfort, it said.
The volunteers provided anonymized feedback to the NPA’s logistics section, it said, adding that it would also implement changes to regulations to allow body armor to be part of personal equipment instead of a pooled resource for a precinct or beat.
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