Special Purchase - JG Uniforms - SBPD Ballistic Vest Outer Carriers

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701 W. SAMPLE .STREET SOUTH BEND, INDIANA 46601-2890 PHONE 574/ 235-9311 FAx 574/288-0268 CITY OF SOUTH BEND PETE BUTTIGIEG, MAYOR SOUTH BEND POLICE DEPARTMENT SCOTT A. RUszKOWSKI, CHIEF OF POLICE Board of Public Works Date: March 151h, 2019 City of South Bend, Indiana Honorable Board Members, The South Bend Police Department is requesting Board approval for the special purchase of JG Uniform ballistic vest outer carriers. The outer carriers are an essential uniform/equipment need for the South Bend Police Department. Our current body camera system is deployed using a special mounting system which is installed inside of the outer carriers. The mounting system is sewn into the inside of the outer carrier and a zipper is sewn onto the outside of the carrier to allow access the mounting system. The new JG outer carriers will also be equipped with additional attachments/pockets re -locate items which are currently worn on an officer's duty belt. This includes items such as handcuffs, a police radio, pepper spray, tourniquets, etc. This will assist officers who experience lower back pain due to the amount of weight placed on their duty belts. Officers of the South Bend Police Department have been issued JG Uniform outer carriers for the past 15 years. The key feature of the JG outer carriers is that they are custom fit to an individual officer's ballistic vest. In 2018 a ballistic vest outer carrier wear test was conducted by the South Bend Police Department. This wear test involved several other ballistic vest outer carrier brands. The brands tested were Elbeco, Blauer, Spiewak and 5.11 Tactical. Upon conclusion of the wear tests, the results were overwhelmingly unsatisfactory. The unsatisfactory results were due to the above -mentioned ballistic vest carriers not being custom fit to the individual officer's ballistic vest. The outer carriers came in sizes such as S, M, L, and XL. Officers complained that there were issues with fit, comfort, and more importantly, movement of ballistic vest panels inside of the outer carrier. Officers have not had any of these complaints with the JG outer carriers. I have conducted research on other vendors who sell custom fit outer carriers. I found two vendors which are in the western United States, Wilde Custom Gear in San Diego, CA and Turtle Tracks in Grand Junction, CO. The price for the Wilde Custom Gear outer carrier is $275.00 per carrier and the Turtle Tracks outer carrier is $255.00 per carrier. (I have attached the pricing information) The average price of the JG carrier is $180.00. (The price of each outer carrier varies based on the number of additional attachments & is also affected by officers who need oversized carriers. The quoted price range is $158.00 to $205.00. See attached quote) JG Uniform is located in Chicago, IL. JG Uniform is the only vendor I could find within a reasonable distance from the South Bend Police I)epartllbent that sells a custom fit outer ervice Bravery P ride JJ edication