Program/Status
The National Defense Authorization Act (Section 1122), dated November
10, 1993, established the requirement for procedures to be developed
by the Department of Defense that would enable State and Local governments
to buy Law Enforcement equipment suitable for counter-drug activities
through the Federal procurement channels. Indian tribes that perform
law enforcement functions as determined by the Secretary of the interior
are also eligible. The Department of Defense designated the Department
of the Army (DA) as the Executive Agent and the Defense Logistics Agency
(DLA), DOJ, and GSA are active participants in the execution of the program.
This program was initiated with West California, North Carolina, and
West Virginia serving as pilot states in the initial phase of the program.
In 1995, the committee finalized the first edition of the Law Enforcement
Equipment and Supplies Program Guide and Catalog (the most recent version
of both has been included in the application package). The Guide explains
and promotes an understanding of the program, by specifying ordering
procedures and providing a brief explanation of the procurement programs
available through DLA, DA, and GSA. The Catalog lists the supplies and
equipment available to State and local law enforcement agencies engaged
in counter-drug activities, through Federal procurement channels.
In April 1995 and again in March 1997, DOD sent a letter to all 54 governors
(States and territories) inviting the governor to designate a State Point
of Contact (SPOC) to administer the State’s activities under this
program. Based upon this outreach effort and additional inquiries from
States about the program, the total number of States with a designated
SPOC as of November 21, 1997 stands at thirty-five: Alabama, Alaska,
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,
Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Kansas, Maine, Maryland,
Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New
York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia,
Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Since the inception of the Equipment
Procurement Program, the States have bought approximately $3 million
worth of equipment and supplies. These include body armor, helicopter
accessories, helmet shields, automobiles (pursuit vehicles), binoculars,
first aid items, night vision goggles, and sensors. The savings over
commercial retail prices range from 9% for infrared cameras to 700% for
aviation parts. Generally, the savings ranges from 10% to 32% - money
that can be used to make America safer. Bureau of Justice Assistance
Expanding the State and Local Law Enforcement Equipment Procurement
Program is particularly important because Fiscal Year 1996 Local Law
Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) recipients indicated on their applications
that they intended to allocate over 49 percent of their award money to
the purchase of equipment. In order to provide assistance in this regard,
the goal of BJA’s technical assistance initiative is to build a
State-level capacity to implement program activities through the establishment
of five additional State agency offices and to enhance the three original
pilot sites. These offices will have responsibility for undertaking program
activities within their State. Of primary focus is the creation and staffing
of offices that will assist State and local law enforcement in obtaining
equipment from DoD and GSA vendor schedules. In support of this effort,
BJA has selected the following five additional States for program funding:
Colorado, Idaho, Ohio, Virginia, and Washington. For additional information
about the State and Local Law Enforcement Equipment Procurement Program,
contact: Paul Belkin, Program Manager, LLEBG Division at (202)305-2102,
(E-mail address: Belkinp@ojp.usdoj.gov) or Michael Guerriere, Program
Manager, LLEBG Division at (202) 616-3176, (E-Mail address: Guerrier@ojp.usdoj.gov).
Department of the Army
The Department of the Army provides equipment procurement support for
military, tactical, surveillance, intelligence, aviation, security, transportation,
outfits, and police operations. The agency stocks these items through
its inventory control points. Items for sale under this program are primarily
contained in the Law Enforcement Equipment and Supplies Catalog with
brief descriptions and units of issue. Items not listed can be researched
by the SPOC for availability. For more information, contact your SPOC
or William B. Croom, HQDA, at (703) 697-5727. (E-mail address: croomwb@hqda.army.mil).
Defense Logistics Agency
For more than three decades, the Defense Logistics Agency has supported
needs of men and women in the U.S. military. DLA manages almost 4 million
items of supply, from basic nuts and bolts to high-tech surveillance
equipment. Now, because of Congressional legislation, we are proud to
offer that support to law enforcement activities engaged in the war against
drugs. DLA has five supply centers to serve your needs. Each manages
different kinds of items that may be useful for drug interdiction. The
Defense Supply Center in Columbus, Ohio manages holsters, gun parts,
helicopter spare parts, television surveillance monitors, and more. The
Defense Supply Center in Richmond, Virginia has riot control shields,
alarm signals, batteries, motor oil. The Defense Industrial Supply Center
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has cameras and photographic equipment,
dog leashes, locks and pad locks. The Defense Supply Center in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania provides medical, clothing (black BDUs, flight suits), and
food. The Defense Energy Support Center in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia manages ‘into-plane’ refueling
contracts for aircraft. For more information contact your SPOC or Barbara
Anderson, HQ DLA (703) 767-1699 or Lt. Col. Gregory Brown (703) 767-1511
(E-mail: barbara_anderson@hq.dla.mil or visit our website at http://www.supply.dla.mil/law.htm).
General Services Administration
The General Services Administration provides a multitude of commercial
and technical products to enhance your law enforcement drug interdiction
mission under the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program. Some of the
more popular products include: body armor and personal security equipment,
ADP equipment, telecommunication equipment, portable power sources, training
devices, communications, recording and reproducing equipment (audio and
video), small craft and marine equipment, canine and vehicle security
equipment, and police patrol and pursuit automobiles. The schedules are
lists of vendors who are under contract to GSA to offer the same
customer price given to the Federal Government. For more information
contact your SPOC or Harry
Butler at 703-305-7004. (E-mail address: harry.butler@gsa.gov).
BJA Home Page
The New Mexico State Coordinator for these programs is Major Randall
Bertram. He can be reached by phone at: 827-9100, fax: 827-3395 Address:
PO Box 1628 Santa Fe NM 87504-1628
email: rbertram@dps.state.nm.us
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