Onvia Blog Agencies Are Spending More to Increase Officer Safety

Our 10 Hotspots in Government Contracting for 2018 report identified 10 of the areas within state and local government contracting that are growing at the fastest rate. These growth areas highlight opportunities for businesses to sell to the government, and demonstrate where their products and services are going to be most in-demand over the next 12 months. The analysts at GovWin+Onvia found that one of those areas was in increasing officer safety. Bids and RFPs in this market segment grew 34% in 2017 compared to 2016. Protecting Officers a Priority for State and Local Government Agencies Government agencies are paying attention to more, higher-tech solutions that can help reduce risks of bodily harm to officers. There is no question that solutions like body armor and bulletproof clothing are impactful, but as the Congressional Research Service writes, “No definitive data exists on how long an armor vest will last before it needs to be replaced.” For government agencies, it is well worth spending money to outfit officers in reliable, potentially life-saving equipment. Armor vests have saved the lives of more than 3,000 law enforcement officers over the past 30 years. Nathan James, Analyst in Crime Policy, Congressional Research Service The benefits of body armor and vests are easy to prove. But police teams have struggled with encouraging officers to use these tools on a regular basis, not just when entering into dangerous, threatening situations. This has made lightweight, comfortable, and easy-to-conceal designs of body armor more popular items to purchase. Demand has also risen for more heavy-duty armor and helmets, as well as material that will protect against knife attacks as well as bullets. One area to keep an eye on is the provision of these vests for female officers. Police Magazine has written that women now make up 15% of police officers, a development that many body armor companies have taken note of. The GovWin+Onvia SLED Market Analysis team has recently noted contract awards of that specifically mentioned body armor products designed for women. A Wide Range of Bulletproof Clothing and Body Armor Bids and RFPs To put together our annual Hotspots report, our research team sources data from the GovWin+Onvia market intelligence platform. By analyzing data concerning federal, state, local, and education agency spending, our team identifies the areas that contain the most government contracting opportunities. As the map shows, these opportunities can be found across the country, as officer safety is a priority in all states regardless of population or geography. The top state for these bids and RFPs were found in Texas, but the next two highest percentages were found in the relatively small states of Maryland and Utah. One thing for contractors to keep in mind is that the scale of these purchases can lead to big contract awards. Although a single bulletproof vest might only cost two or three hundred dollars individually, major cities often purchase these items in bulk quantities, leading to contracts that can be worth millions of dollars. 10 Growth Areas in State and Local Government Contracts Enhancing safety is one growth area in which businesses selling to the government can take advantage. In our 10 Hotspots report, we have identified several more, including adopting technology, pursuing efficiency, improving education, protecting the environment and addressing underfunded pensions. Curious which growth opportunities are most relevant to your government business? Simply download our free “10 Hotspots in Government Contracting for 2018” report by clicking the link below and prepare your team to win more government contracts. REQUEST REPORT Industries:  Professional Business Services Public Safety