Central Lake Armor Express Inc. ("Armor Express"), a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-performance body armor solutions, announced that the Company has been awarded a new, two-year contract with the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) and San Francisco Sheriff's Department (SFSD) to provide its Vortex IIIA Gen 2 ballistic vest. The advanced, "Quad compliant" body armor system is designed to meet the most rigorous requirements of the NIJ, DEA, and FBI protocols, and is tested to defeat special type ballistic rounds.

"This is a major win for our Company and for the thousands of law enforcement officers in San Francisco who stand to benefit from the advancements we have made in ballistic protection," stated Scott Wyatt, Vice President, Sales and Marketing with Armor Express. "As two of the largest law enforcement agencies in the country, their selection of Armor Express is testimony to their confidence in our team and in our offerings. We look forward to outfitting their officers with the most innovative protective solutions in the industry and ensuring all their needs are continuously met. All of us at Armor Express stand ready to safeguard the lives of the men and women who make the sacrifice to protect our freedoms and we are especially honored to partner with these prestigious law enforcement agencies in San Francisco."

The City of San Francisco selected the Vortex IIIA Gen 2 ballistic package because of the ideal balance it provides between a flexible and pliable package, while keeping its lightweight qualities for officer comfort, with the Level IIIA package is notably lighter and thinner than the previously contracted body armor (approximately 8 percent lighter and 10 percent thinner) according to the company. The vest utilizes cutting-edge materials and unique weaving techniques to keep it extremely flexible right out of the box. It is powered by aramid fibers from Twaron, utilized in the form of a unique multi-layered woven fabric by Lincoln Fabrics and a thin, flexible aramid, uni-directional material produced by Honeywell. Service, delivery, and quality were significant factors in SFPD and SFSD choosing the Vortex vest for their officers, and because the Vortex IIIA is Quad compliant, it uniquely meets the ballistic technical specifications of both departments, according to Armor Express.

The Vortex body armor is designed to combine strength, comfort, and performance in a versatile and budget-friendly package for today's law enforcement agency. The IIIA is suitable for both concealed wear and use by tactical teams. Its high-performance features are designed based on a slim construction, lightweight fibers, and outstanding strength. The armor's protective capabilities have been built to match the most strenuous requirements, including in-house special threat ballistic testing. This soft ballistic is capable of stopping some of the most advanced rounds, including the FN 5.7x28mm 27gr. Lead Free Hollow Point, FN 5.7x28mm 40gr. V-Max, Speer LE 9mm +P 124gr. Gold Dot Hollow Point, Winchester Ranger 9mm +P+ 127gr. SXT (DEA round), Winchester 9mm NATO 124gr. (FBI round), Federal Tactical 12ga. TruBall Rifled Slug, among other high-velocity special threats.

The Vortex IIIA Gen 2 is available in both male and female versions. The female version has a proprietary design that meets the same performance criteria and comfort characteristics required to execute the SFPD's body armor program, according to the company. 

This award is for a period of two years, with a one-year extension option. Under the terms of the contract, the Company expects to deliver close to 900 body armor systems for the two departments on an annual basis. Further, added to the award is an option for officers and deputies to leverage Armor Express' H-Shock concealable rifle plate. The H-Shock plate adds rifle protection for the wearer, providing coverage for vital areas. With this special "up-armor" insert, agencies have a cost-effective solution that can stop more than the average trauma plate, while in a concealable carrier, according to the company.

For more information, visit www.armorexpress.com.