The Compliance Testing Program assures
that body armor for law enforcement and corrections is tested and
meets performance requirements throughout the declared performance
period of the armor. Information requested includes agreements with
participants and the description every body armor model under
consideration for inclusion on the Compliant Products List (CPL).
Models listed on the CPL are eligible for grant funding through the
Ballistic Vest Partnership.
The National Institute
of Justice recently revised its standards for body armor compliance
testing to better evaluate whether body armor will remain effective
over time and under conditions of everyday wear. The details of the
revised standards for NIJs Body Armor Compliance Testing Program
(CTP) were finalized only recently. It was not possible to complete
the forms (and, consequently, the PRA process) until the standard
itself was finalized. The CTP ensures that the body armor approved
for Federally-subsidized purchase by law enforcement agencies
around the country is (and will remain) effective. The CTP forms
play an important role in gathering certain information necessary
to evaluate body armor (and the labs that test this body armor)
under the new NIJ standard. Testing to the new standard cannot
begin until these forms are approved for use. NIJ seeks emergency
approval because manufacturers and labs are currently operating
under an interim standard that is less effective at testing whether
body armor will hold up over time under conditions of everyday
wear. A Federal Register notice for the CTP forms has been
published and NIJ will carefully consider all input resulting from
the public review.
US Code:
6 USC 162 (b)(4) Name of Law: The Homeland Security Act of
2002
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.