TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Application for the 2025 Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant in the Amount of $22,387.50, and Authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as Applicable Under the City Charter, to Execute all Funding Documents After Legal Review, Should the Grant be Awarded to the City.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve the application for the 2025 Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership grant in the amount of $22,387.50, and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents after legal review, should the grant be awarded to the City.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve the application for the 2025 Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership grant in the amount of $22,387.50, and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents after legal review, should the grant be awarded to the City.
• Pros: The City will be eligible for reimbursement of the costs associated to purchase bulletproof vests for Law Enforcement Officers.
• Cons: There are no foreseeable cons to denying the acceptance of this grant.
Option 2: Deny the application for the 2025 Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership grant in the amount of $22,387.50.
• Pros: There are no foreseeable pros to denying the acceptance of this grant.
• Cons: The City will not be eligible for reimbursement of the costs associated to purchase bulletproof vests for Law Enforcement Officers.
Background Information
The United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) Office of Justice Programs offers the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) annually to reimburse states, units of local government, and federally recognized Indian tribes for up to 50 percent of the cost of body armor vests purchased for law enforcement officers. The program requires a 50 percent local match towards the cost of body armor.
Body armor expires five (5) years after the date of manufacture. The USDOJ has requested that the City provide the total number of vests expected to be replaced over the next two years. This count includes replacement vests that have met the five (5) year expiration date, vests required to be replaced due to employee turnover, and vests required to be purchased in anticipation of new positions. The City of North Port expects to replace 45 vests with a total estimated cost of $44,775.00. If awarded, the BVP grant funds are expected to total $22,387.50.
Notification of award is expected in the Summer 2026. If awarded, this will be a reimbursable grant. The City will spend first and then submit reimbursement requests to the granting agency for review, approval, and payment.
If awarded, the grant contract will be reviewed by the City Attorney to ensure that it is legally correct as to form.
Strategic Plan
Safe Community
Financial Impact
Estimated funds of $44,775.00 will be budgeted by the Police Department over fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2027 to purchase body armor vests for the City’s Law Enforcement Officers. The City will seek reimbursement from the BVP grant for 50 percent of the total expenditure as purchases are made, or $22,387.50. The target revenue account associated with this grant will be 001-0000-331.20-02.
Procurement
Procurement Code, policies and procedures will be followed when the purchase is made.
Attachments:
1. BVP Grant Application
Prepared by: Jennifer Sadonis, Grants Coordinator
Department Director: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager