The Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP), created by the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998 is a unique U.S. Department of Justice initiative designed to provide a critical resource to state and local law enforcement.

Since 1999, over 11,900 jurisdictions have participated in the BVP Program, with $173 million in federal funds committed to support the purchase of an estimated 450,000 vests. The Office of Justice Programs' Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) administers the BVP Program.

Update: The application period for fiscal year (FY) 2009 BVP funds is now closed. The Bureau of Justice Assistance will notify all the eligible BVP applicants once the 2009 awards are finalized.

Please note that FY 2009 BVP funds may only be used toward the purchase of vests ordered on or after April 1, 2009. Each vest purchased with FY 2009 funds must meet National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standards on the date it was ordered. Beginning with FY 2008 funds, the use period for BVP funds will be two years. To draw down FY 2009 BVP funds, vests must be received and the request for payment submitted to the BVP system by September 30, 2011. Each applicant should update their profile before filing an application for FY 2009 funds.

The complete list of FY 2008 BVP awards can be viewed

Historical BVP award information for FY 1999 through the FY 2007 can be accessed

Body Armor Safety Initiative - An Initiative of U.S. Department of Justice. In response to concerns from the law enforcement community, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced an initiative to address the reliability of body armor used by law enforcement personnel and to examine the future of bullet-resistant technology and testing. As part of this initiative, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has examined Zylon®-based bullet-resistant vests (both new and used) and is reviewing the process by which bullet-resistant vests are certified.