The Ocala Police Department is asking the city to approve a $161,000 purchase for 28 replacement ballistic vests for officers conducting high-risk operations, saying the old vests have a five-year life span and fibers that degrade from normal wear and tear.
The purchase will be presented by Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken to the Ocala City Council during its regular meeting on Tuesday.
According to a staff report, OPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team’s vests are scheduled to expire in February 2026. Replacement vests were budgeted in OPD’s current budget.
In total, the purchase would cost $161,449.12. That includes $130,900 for the vest and various accessories, as well as over $30,000 in armor plates.
Ordering the vests now for delivery will ensure that the SWAT Team has vests that are in “optimal condition,” according to the city staff report.
If approved, the acquisition would be made using a cooperative purchasing agreement between NASPO ValuePoint and Point Blank Enterprises, Inc. On November 13, NASPO and the State of Florida Department of Management Services entered into a participation agreement.
As a political subdivision of the state of Florida, Ocala qualifies as an eligible user of the Florida Department of Management Services Alternative Contract Source agreements under the Florida Administrative Code.
According to city staff, Point Blank is offering “44% to 57% discounted pricing” from the manufacturers “suggested retail pricing.”
The report indicates that the agreements have been “competitively solicited by governmental agencies and evaluated and determined by the Florida Secretary of Management Services and the City’s Procurement staff to be cost-effective and to afford best value.
The request comes just eight months after the city approved $576,380 towards the purchase of other ballistic vests and an armored vehicle.
The Ocala City Council regularly meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month at Ocala City Hall (110 SE Watula Avenue) at 4 p.m.