REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 3, 2026
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
Purchase of Ballistic Plate Carriers and Identification Patch Sets
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, approve the purchase of 700 ballistic plate carriers and 200 identification patch sets from AARDVARK, in a total amount not to exceed $730,000.
(Presenter: Dan Munsey, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, 387-5779)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Enhance Readiness for Major Emergency Responses.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommended action will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Sufficient appropriation for this purchase is available in the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) Fire Administration budget unit.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
SBCFPD is committed to providing the highest level of service in the most efficient and cost-effective manner to the citizens and communities it serves. SBCFPD operates a variety of tools and equipment to accomplish its mission, many of which have specialized capabilities and functions.
SBCFPD uses ballistic plates in ballistic carriers for mission-critical operations in arson investigations and other law enforcement activities. Some of the ballistic plate carriers SBCFPD currently has in use are no longer supported by the manufacturer and need to be replaced.
County Code section 14.0109 and County Policy 11-04 require Board of Directors (Board) approval for non-competitive purchases of goods exceeding $200,000. Because the proposed non-competitive purchase is for an amount not to exceed $730,000, Board approval is required.
Approval of the purchase will enable SBCFPD to purchase 700 ballistic plate carriers and 200 identification patch sets used by SBCFPD staff to safely respond to all arson and other law enforcement investigations.
PROCUREMENT
SBCFPD is requesting approval to proceed with a non-competitive procurement with AARDVARK, a supplier of specialized tactical and public-safety equipment, because the ballistic plate carriers and identification patch sets must meet specific functional specifications required for SBCFPD’s operational use. These specifications include compatibility with existing ballistic plates and related equipment, consistent fit and deployment for SBCFPD personnel, durability for field use, and standardized identification capabilities for arson investigations and other law enforcement-related activities. Based on these required functional specifications, SBCFPD has determined that the equipment available from AARDVARK meets its operational needs.
Purchasing supports the non-competitive procurement of ballistic plate carriers and identification patch sets based on functional specifications.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 13, 2026; Purchasing (Joni Yang, Buyer III, 387-2463) on October 13, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Dalton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5005) on October 15, 2026.