Please be advised of an important update regarding our ULACH helmets. We have recently made enhancements to our helmet materials to improve performance and functionality, including an adjustment to the weight of the ACH. As a result, our ACH helmet is now lighter than our Ultra-Light ACH.
Effective immediately, we will no longer accept Purchase Orders for the Ultra-Light Advanced Combat Helmet until further notice. Instead, we are providing you with the updated product specifications and weights for your reference.
Updated Specifications: Advanced Combat Helmet Series (ACH)
Overall reduction in weight up to 32%
Example of weight reduction: ACH Standard Cut Medium:
Please note that these updated specifications and weights are applicable to all future orders of our ACH helmets. We believe that these enhancements will further meet the needs and expectations of our customers, providing superior comfort and protection.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
Imagine this scenario (although in all likelihood, this has happened to you in real life, so you don’t need to imagine). Your agency desperately needs equipment (like HighCom Armor plates, carriers, and shields, for example). You do the research, find and price the gear that will best suit your needs, and present this to your higher-ups for approval. Then, one of two outcomes occurs.
Outcome #1: You get told you simply don’t have the budget to accommodate the purchase you’re proposing. Maybe next year. Then next year turns into two years, three years, or more.
Outcome #2: You actually get approval and press on with putting your proposal out to bid. You get excited about the new HighCom Armor equipment your agency is about to get—until you find out the bid was awarded to a company with a sub-par version of what you wanted because it was a lower bid.
Either outcome is not ideal. We can change that.
Cooperative Agency Cooperative Purchasing Options
Our goal at HighCom Armor is to get agencies like yours the equipment you want and need through the path of least purchasing resistance. That’s why we’ve partnered with companies like Sourcewell,Canoe, and NCL Government Capital.
These companies are experts at providing cooperative purchasing options and solutions specifically tailored to government agencies, particularly state and local agencies like yours.
Let’s delve further into each of these companies and how they can help you avoid either of the aforementioned scenario outcomes.
Sourcewell: Purchasing Power In Numbers
Sourcewell is a cooperative purchasing group that aggregates the purchasing power of more than 80,000 agencies to negotiate best pricing and best terms contracts with its suppliers.
Simply put, there is power in numbers. Sourcewell’s large membership base gives it leverage to negotiate because of volume purchasing potential. As a single agency, you likely don’t have the same leverage to qualify for the discounted pricing a Sourcewell contract offers.
All you have to do to get started is sign up to be a Sourcewell member. It’s quick, simple, and free. Once approved, typically in less than 24 hours, you can start buying at specially contracted rates.
Sourcewell has already taken care of the bid process for you. Since Sourcewell has preemptively negotiated contracts with suppliers, you’re able to satisfy competitive bidding requirements. This frees up your time and limits your stress.
The typical bid process looks like this:
Spec out equipment
Advertise bid
Bid response period
Bid opening
Bid evaluation
Award lowest bidder
Protest period
Issue PO
Equipment delivery
Payment remittance
The Sourcewell process looks like this:
Spec out equipment
Issue PO
Equipment delivery
Payment remittance
Can Your Agency Trust Sourcewell?
Sourcewell employees are government employees just like you. They like to think of themselves as ‘government helping government,’ whereas some for-profit organizations might not always have your best interest at heart.
If you have questions about whether or not your agency is eligible to use the Sourcewell contract, or you have other specific questions about Sourcewell, please reach out to their administrators of the HighCom contract.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe3NS1xv_j0
Canoe: Sourcewell’s Canadian Co-Op Purchasing Group
For Canadians, Canoe is an extension of Sourcewell that serves MASH customers: municipalities, academia, schools, and hospitals. Canoe was officially launched in 2021 and is available throughout most of Canada.
Canoe currently has more than 5,000 public and not-for-profit agency members to strengthen its group purchasing power. These members purchase more than $300 million per annum.
While there might be slight nuances that differ between Canadian and U.S. laws in regard to cooperative purchasing, there are more similarities, and the process is essentially the same as with Sourcewell customers.
Once an agency has signed up for free membership, they are eligible for pre-negotiated contract rates and can also satisfy the competitive bid process, because it’s already been done by Canoe. So again, the purchasing process looks like this: select your product, issue PO, equipment is delivered, remit payment.
If you have questions regarding Canoe and whether your agency is eligible for membership, reach out to a Canoe representative who will be happy to assist. Just like with Sourcewell, our entire product line is available through the Canoe contract.
Show Me The Money: NCL Government Capital Can Do Just That
It’s disheartening when you’ve put together a solid proposal for your agency, but your budget derails your purchasing power. This is where creative financing from NCL Government Capital can help.
NCL Government Capital is uniquely positioned to help agencies like yours and specifically offers tax-exempt municipal financing. They are also a trusted partner of HighCom Armor and Sourcewell.
What Is Tax-Exempt Municipal Financing?
Tax-exempt municipal financing is specifically offered to government agencies so they can acquire necessary equipment now through various types of payment options that work within an agency’s budget. Some payment option examples include deferred payments and no or low-interest plans.
Paying for gear over time doesn’t cause the massive spike in a budget like a large purchase typically does. Instead, it stretches out the purchase over an extended period, making it much more manageable and likely to pass budget approval. Tax-exempt municipal leases are, in reality, more like a loan than traditional leases.
What Are The Other Benefits of an NCL Government Capital Lease?
Besides the low or no interest rates we’ve already mentioned, there are many other benefits to a tax-exempt municipal lease. These include: no long-term debt, no need for public voter approval, and immediate ownership and delivery of gear. Most uniquely, there is a non-appropriation clause included, and we will explain that in more detail.
What Is a Non-Appropriation Clause and Why Does It Matter?
First, it’s important to understand what makes the NCL Government Capital cooperative purchasing option a lease rather than a loan. While loans might require the approval of voters, leases typically do not. The inclusion of a non-appropriation clause differentiates a lease from a loan.
Each year, your agency budgets its expenditures for the following year. This is a requirement. If, for some reason, the lease payments do not make it into the budget for the next year after your agency has already acquired the equipment, you can return the equipment and cancel the lease without a penalty.
While the non-appropriation clause is rarely triggered, it’s beneficial to have the option.
NCL Government Capital and Competitively Bid Financing
Some states are starting to mandate competitively bid financing. New Jersey is currently one of them, and others are likely to follow suit.
Chris Carey, NCL Government Capital’s Public Safety Account Executive, explains it like this, “If you buy the money to buy the equipment, you need to have that money competitively bid in order to meet best practices.”
Competitively bid financing is considered best practice, and NCL Government Capital offers the only competitively bid contract through Sourcewell.
How Does The Process Work?
The process to apply for a tax-exempt municipal lease through NCL Government Capital is fairly straightforward. For our gear, you can purchase through the Sourcewell contract and let your representative know you are interested in a tax-exempt municipal lease. Our representatives will work with NCL Government Capital to create a customized financing option to suit your agency’s budget capabilities.
Once approved, NCL Government Capital processes immediate payment to the vendor, so there is no delay in getting critical equipment.
If you are interested in seeing what your lease payments might look like for budgeting purposes, you can check out this payment calculator.
If you’d like to discuss your options directly with NCL Government Capital, you can contact them here.
HighCom Armor Is Here to Help
If you want to take advantage of the cooperative purchasing options we’ve mentioned, we are always here to help in any way we can. Your protection is of our utmost importance, which is why we want to make our equipment accessible to you, so do not hesitate to contact us to discuss Sourcewell, Canoe, NCL Government Capital, or any of our other purchasing options.
Typically, a call to action takes place at the end of an article. However, this subject that we are about to discuss with you is of the utmost importance, and we’re going to call you into action right now. We need you to share this article with every municipality, school district, and law enforcement agency in the great state of Texas. That’s because the state of Texas currently has a live and open application for a $50 million grant to equip such agencies with bullet-resistant shields. Agencies interested in the Texas Bullet-Resistant Shield Grant Program MUST apply by September 19th!
That is great news, but we are thoroughly concerned about the language in the subsequent press releases that do not clarify the term “bullet resistant.” That might seem like a small nuance to you, but the failure to clarify could result in a repeat of the tragedy that took place in Uvalde, Texas. This is not to malign any law enforcement agency involved. However, law enforcement officers standing in the hallway while they are holding shields incapable of stopping rifle rounds should never happen again in this country. Never again. If you are interested in pursuing this grant, and you should be, please take a few minutes to hear us out on the matter. You should also know that the grant has a tight deadline. Priority applications are due by September 16th, and final applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm CST on September 19th, 2022.
All Ballistic Shields Are Not Created Equal
As a leader in the ballistics and armor industry, we often run into very smart and capable procurement specialists who are just not well versed in ballistics. That’s reasonable as if you are typically procuring items for large school districts, you’ve got other things on your mind than ballistics. However, with tears in our eyes, we are pleading with you to understand that all ballistic shields are not created equal. For instance, our Bellfire B3A is a very fine shield, and we’re proud to offer it to those in need. The only problem is that the Bellfire B3A would have been of very little use during the Uvalde school shooting, and it simply cannot step up to the plate to prevent a repeat of that terrible day. The Bellfire B3A is rated with a NIJ protection rating of IIIA which protects against stand alone handgun rounds, but not rifle rounds. During the Uvalde, officers were in possession of three similar shields, and the knowledge that those shields would not hold up likely contributed to the delay. It was only when US Marshals showed up with a rifle-rated ballistic shield that a safe approach to the classroom could be made. It was that rifle-rated shield that led the charge and ultimately brought an end to the carnage.
Texas Knows Ballistics But They Need To Clarify To The Public
Now, if there is any state in our great union that knows a thing or two about ballistics, that would be Texas. We love us some Texas here at HighCom, but the latest press release that only indicates “bullet resistant” could lead to a great deal of confusion down the line and a much greater tragedy. Texas is absolutely doing the right thing by offering school districts and municipalities the funds to protect their children. However, when it comes to schools, at least, nothing short of rifle rated is acceptable. Certainly not in Texas, where AR style weapons are as ubiquitous as armadillos and cowboy hats. Procurement specialists of the world, please hear us when we tell you that you need Level III ballistic protection or above and nothing less. This is true whether or not you purchase from us or any other provider. This is the urgency and why we are asking others to spread the word to those pursuing these grants. It’s Level III or bust.
Rifle-rated shields are more expensive, but one rifle-rated shield leading the charge into the classroom is worth more than three handgun-rated shields collecting dust in the hallway. So, you’re looking for something like our Titan III shield that offers a multi-hit Level III+ rating. It’s also 30% lighter than other Level III shields we offer. When in doubt, just listen to other officers who have used this shield in action:
The TITAN III shines on multiple mission scenarios. In large homes, holding a doorway and hallway and even in mobile homes and trailers, the TITAN performs! Weapon presentation is smooth with the TITAN’s size, and not being top heavy like other shields is a major benefit. Operationally, the TITAN has the ability to stack operators with ample coverage and shines in CQB.
Investigator Sgt. Brad Ortiz, Texas Attorney General, Fugitive Apprehension Team
As a nation, we simply can’t repeat the tragedy of Uvalde and have officers holding useless shields when children’s lives are on the line. Certainly now when grants like these are available to help procure the more expensive rifle-rated shields. Whether you buy from us or buy from someone else, just make sure you get the ballistic ratings correct, and let’s keep our kids safe one classroom at a time.
Spread The Word And Check On Your Local Shield Grant Recipients
As soon as the press release came out, which failed to clarify the difference between rifle-rated shields and “bullet resistant” shields, our hearts sank. That’s because Texas is a big state, and we know we can’t get a hold of every school district or municipality in time. We do indeed currently provide rifle-rated shields in the great State of Texas, and our contract process with the state is streamlined and simple. If you’re interested, note that the preferred deadline for the grant is September 16th, with the final deadline being September 19th.
However, we’re just not sure that we can reach every agency in time to stop them from purchasing an under equipped bullet resistant shield elsewhere. Somewhere in that state is a department that’s about to make an inadequate purchase from a supplier who just sees a big government contract rather than an opportunity to save lives. That’s not us. Buy from us or don’t buy from us, but help us spread the word.
If you reach out to us for this grant, we’re going to clarify till the cows come home that all shields are not created equal. That’s not an upsell on our part; it’s life-saving information that must be heard. Please help us spread this word, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. We’re in the business of saving lives and making sure everyone comes home at the end of their watch and, most certainly, when the final school bell rings for the day. All shields are not created equal, and thank you for helping us spread the word in the great Lonestar State.
HighCom Armor: For more information on HighCom Armor’s Bellfire Shields, please fill out our online contact form here or call (614) 500-3065 to speak to our team directly.
Famed Marine General and Former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis once famously told his Marines that, “the most important six inches on the battlefield is between your ears.” He would then go on to clarify to his Marines that “you are part of the world’s most feared and trusted force. Engage your brain before you engage your weapon.” When it comes to protecting the most important six inches on the battlefield or the street, the Striker Rifle Combat Helmet (RCH) is like Fort Knox for the brain.
We’ll get into some specifics in a minute, but as for now, let’s just agree that protecting the brain in a fight is a fairly high priority. Soldiers who have taken a round to the head and walked away with nothing more than a headache often describe the feeling as being born again. It’s a sense of euphoria knowing that you should be dead, but are now alive. So, let’s break down just how one becomes born again on the battlefield.
The Science Of Ballistics In Action
The Striker RCH (Rifle Combat Helmet) is a true rifle-rated helmet in every sense of the word. It is capable of defeating rifle special threats, including the 7.62 x 51mm (M80) and 5.56 x 46mm (M19s FMJ), as well as MIL-STD frag protection beyond any protective helmet currently in theatre. So, unless you plan on taking one to the head from Ma Deuce .50 cal; your brain is pretty much covered in a fight. The Striker RCH exceeds the U.S. military specification for ballistic threats, fragmentation, and blunt impact. The Striker RCH is an ACH/ECH shaped helmet, compatible with all ACH/ECH accessories and is available in three cuts, standard cut (Striker RCH™), mid cut (Striker RCHMC™), and high cut (Striker RCHHC™).
We didn’t arrive at this design by happenstance. It’s a product that was born because extensive data and rigorous testing got together and had a helmet baby. If you’ve got a better helmet to protect the most important six inches on the battlefield, then we’d love to see that alien tech as well. Yes, we recognize that it is our most expensive helmet that we offer, and we do make cheaper helmets that offer less protection as we understand that such a thing as budgets exist. However, we want to explain a little about the “why” that motivated us to produce such a dependable helmet.
Why Keeping Your Head In The Fight Is So Important To Us
Thanks to amazing government procurement specialists who step up to give the best protection, we understand that on any given night through the dark corners of the Earth, there are special operators wearing our gear. We know full well that law enforcement officers who kiss their kids goodbye in the morning will be relying on our products in order to tuck those same kids in bed that evening.
You see, though there are profits to be made in other aspects of this industry, we just wanted to be really good at the one thing that mattered most. We want to make sure that if we have anything to say about it, that everyone comes home. If we could end crime and bring about world peace, we’d give that try first. However, since we think our ability to do so significantly lags behind our ability to offer first-class protection, we’ll stick to what we know and what we do best.
Keeping your head in the fight is so important to us because we understand that within those heads are songs sung to their children, stories read at bedtime, and sweet nothings whispered into the ear of the one you love most. Keeping your head in the fight is important because we know that you are much more than the uniform, and for those who protect us every day, you deserve to come home at the end of the watch and live your very best life. If there is anything we can do to better protect and serve you, please do not hesitate to reach out.
A true rifle-rated combat helmet – the RCH has been tested for the following threats:
Level III+ Rifle Threats
PROJECTILE
GR
VEL FT/S
VEL M/S
(+/- FT/S)
(+/- M/S)
7.62 x 51mm FMJ, steel jacketed bullets (M80)
147
2750
838
(+/- 50 fps)
(+/- 15 fps)
7.62 x 39mm (M43 MSC PS)
123
2350
716
(+/- 30 fps)
(+/- 9 fps)
5.56 x 45mm M193 FMJ
55
3250
991
(+/- 30 fps)
(+/- 9 fps)
MIL-STD 662F Frag Threats
PROJECTILE
GR
VEL FT/S
VEL M/S
V50 FT/S
V50 M/S
US MIL-STD Frag 2 gr. RCC
2
4200
1280
>5391
1643
US MIL-STD Frag 4 gr. RCC
4
3475
1059
>5163
1574
US MIL-STD Frag 16 gr. RCC
16
2475
754
4074
1242
US MIL-STD Frag 64 gr. RCC
64
1750
533
2852
869
US MIL-STD Frag 17 gr. FSP
17
2200
671
4182
1275
US MIL-STD Frag 44 gr. FSP
44
1750
533
3177
969
Want to learn more?
For more information on HighCom’s Rifle Combat Helmet (RCH), please contact us or visit our dealer locator page to purchase from one of our partners.
If you are interested in selling HighCom Armor products or in becoming an exclusive member of our Partner Network, please submit your request on our Contact Us page or email [email protected].
If you’re like most government procurers, you work in a department or agency that’s understaffed and faces budget constraints, and you would welcome purchasing options that can make your life easier. Enter cooperative purchasing agreements. We’ll give you ten cooperative purchasing options you can take advantage of today.
But first, we’ll explain more about cooperative purchasing.
Cooperative purchasing is essentially when agencies pool resources for better leverage to buy items like HighCom Armor’s body armor and ballistic-resistant products. There is power in numbers, especially for smaller state and local agencies. When they unite, agencies can take advantage of their greater numbers to negotiate better discounts, reduce administrative costs, and save time.
Types of Cooperative Purchasing
There are typically two types of cooperative purchasing: piggybacking and joint solicitation.
Piggybacking
Piggybacking, as its name implies, is jumping onto another agency’s contract that is already in place. One or more agencies have pre-negotiated pricing and terms. If allowed, your agency can skip over the negotiating and get right to purchasing based on that contract’s pricing and terms.
Advantages: Minimizes administrative costs and expedites purchasing.
Joint Solicitation
Joint solicitation is when multiple agencies collaborate to negotiate a contract that idealistically benefits all involved. Again, creating a larger buying group typically equates to more substantial buying power through better discounts and terms.
A larger agency usually takes the lead in joint solicitation cooperative purchasing agreements. They act as the main negotiator, and also as the main coordinator of the other agencies participating in the contract.
Advantages: All agencies have “skin in the game” and can help shape the contract together. Agencies can put all their individual requirements into one broad agreement to compete for the best pricing. These contracts usually reduce administrative costs for most agencies involved.
Cooperative Purchasing Contract Models
There are various ways to model a cooperative purchasing contract, and we go into further detail below so you can better understand.
Indefinite Quantity, Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ)-agencies enter into contracts with vendors that allow for an unknown quantity of products and/or services to be purchased for an indefinite time period.
Definite Quantity, Definite Delivery-these types of contracts are less common; they sell a finite amount of products and/or services within a clearly defined time period to a specified cooperative group.
Multiple Agency Contract (MAC)-MACs are established by one government agency that other agencies can then use to purchase products and services.
Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)-this is a type of federal IDIQ contract used by the GSA to offer various services and commodities; vendors can be added to the contract at any time (there is no predetermined solicitation window); state and local agencies can take advantage of these federal contracts.
Leveraged Procurement Agreement-this is another name for a cooperative purchasing agreement.
10 Cooperative Purchasing Source Options
1. Sourcewell
In 2021, Sourcewell awarded HighCom Armor a contract in its Body Armor with Related Accessories, Equipment, and Services category. Of 72 companies who expressed interest in this award, it was only awarded to five companies. This contract is a great option for law enforcement and first responders to take advantage of deep discounts and free shipping.
Sourcewell is a national purchasing group that leverages the buying power of 50,000 entities to offer better pricing and terms on products state and local agencies may not get on their own.
Agencies who sign up with Sourcewell have access to more than 400 suppliers and have the option to purchase directly through those suppliers or consult with Sourcewell’s client relations team. Discounts can range from ceiling discounts to volume discounts.
For agencies that might be interested in learning how their process works, Sourcewell created a simple guide that explains how to register your agency, the ordering process and FAQs. Signing up for Sourcewell takes less than five minutes!
The National Society of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) is one of the earliest companies to develop a cooperative purchasing program. In 1992, NASPO created ValuePoint to offer competitively sourced contracts.
The ValuePoint program is available to all local and state agencies eligible to take advantage of cooperative purchasing agreements. There is no fee for state and local agencies to participate. NASPO offers contracts in the following categories:
Public Safety
Services
IT
Fleet Related
Office, Education, General Business
Facilities and Grounds
Health and Human Services
3. GSA Cooperative Purchasing Program
GSA’s (General Service Administration) Cooperative Purchasing Program is an excellent option for state and local agencies like law enforcement to buy COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) items. These products fall under GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts and are considered IDIQs.
The GSA MAS 84 contract is awarded to multiple vendors that provide products like body armor and other protective equipment. Since MAS contracts are awarded to numerous companies, many offer similar products. This gives purchasers more choice when it comes to brand preferences.
In addition, GSA’s Cooperative Purchasing Program has already vetted vendors and negotiated pricing that should be advantageous to purchasers. HighCom Armor was awarded a GSA contract in 2005, and customers can buy our equipment directly through GSA Advantage!.
OMNIA is the nation’s largest cooperative purchasing group to serve the public sector. It combines the purchasing power of a whopping 234,000 entities and more than 300 cooperative purchasing contracts. OMNIA offers its members an expansive contracts catalog of products and services in the following sectors:
Business Education Services & Solutions
Facilities
Parks and Recreation
Furniture
IT
Participation in OMNIA is free, and they also offer various resources, such as webinars, conferences, state-specific resources and contracts, and compliance assistance.
5. National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance (NCPA)
Piggybacking onto NCPA’s master contracts allows state and local agencies to forgo much administrative work while taking advantage of quality products at favorable pricing. Agencies can often skip the solicitation process by joining forces with a group like NCPA.
NCPA’s purchasing categories include business services, security, medical, environmental, technology, and more. There are no fees for purchasers to join NCPA.
Combined resources give HGACBuy’s members more bang for their buck when purchasing products and services, and its services are free to members. There is no online buying option on their website, but they offer an online catalog.
7. 1GPA (Government Procurement Alliance)
Like most other cooperative purchasing groups, 1GPA is free for members to join and use the leveraged buying power of its organization. 1GPA serves schools, universities, state, local and federal governments, Native American communities, fire districts, as well as cities, towns, and municipalities.
Like the NCPA, 1GPA’s model is to work with a lead agency on contracts, allowing its members to glean the benefits of that contract. 1GPA has a vast offering of products and services.
Agencies can benefit from the pooled resources of 1GPA for the most favorable terms and pricing.
8. BuyBoard
BuyBoard is a national purchasing cooperative that issues proposals and awards contracts to vendors so it can offer its members the best value and suitability of products and services. Membership is free, but there is a fee for vehicle purchases.
BuyBoard offers secure online purchasing to its members.
9. NPPGov
NPPGov is a Seattle-based cooperative purchasing organization that offers programs specific to public safety and law enforcement, although it also serves other government agencies. This is unique because NPPGov offers public safety and law enforcement agencies contracts that are curated specifically for them.
NPPGov boasts strong relationships with state fire associations, fraternal order of police, government retirement organizations, and more. They say this fosters contracts that provide the ultimate value and benefit to their members.
NPPGov is the government arm of the National Purchasing Partners, which is open to the public purchasing sector.
10. TIPS (The Interlocal Purchasing System)
TIPS started regionally in Texas but eventually expanded its cooperative purchasing services nationwide. TIPS uses the lead agency model to procure contracts that its members piggyback.
TIPS solicits its contracts through the RFQ/RFP process, thus offering state and local purchasers access to pricing seen on a more national level.
Membership is free.
Conclusion
As a government procurement official, your purchasing options can be daunting. Taking advantage of cooperative purchasing can streamline your efforts, reduce your administrative workload, and offer you a broad portfolio of products and services at some of the best pricing. Typically this is at no additional cost to you, so these agreements are worth exploring.
HighCom Armor is proud to offer you cooperative purchasing options, and we look to expand these contracts in the future to provide you with even more purchasing diversity.
Please contact us if you’d like more information on our GSA, Sourcewell, or NASPO contracts.
HighCom Armor developed the TITAN III™ Ballistic Shield to meet the growing demand for rifle threats faced by law enforcement. Made from UHMWPE, the TITAN III is up to 30% lighter than most rifle-rated shields on the market. ” With growing threats facing law enforcement, we saw a need for a lightweight rifle shield that felt more like a handgun shield,” said Jamie McCormick. At 16 lbs the TITAN III is significantly lighter than most Level III shields making it easier to maneuver and proven to reduce operator fatigue.
TITAN III Key Features
The TITAN III is HighCom’s lightest rifle-rated (Level III) shieldat 16 lbs
Up to 30% lighter than competitive models – reducing operator fatigue
Multi-hit Level III+ stand alone against rifle rounds and lesser threats (NIJ 0108.01)
Slim profile ensures easy maneuverability when deployed
Additional Features
Shield Size – 20” x 34”
Optional 4”x10” viewport
Weighs 16 lbs without viewport
Weighs 24 lbs with viewport
Engineered from ultra-lightweight UHMWPE
Independently tested by an NVLAP accredited NIJ approved laboratory to NIJ Standard 0108.01
Slim Profile Single Curve Shield
Anti Spall Coated
Multiple shield handle and LED-light upgrades (comes standard with c-handle)
5-year Warranty
Ballistic Rounds Tested
STANDARD
WEAPON
PROJECTILE
GR
VEL FT/S
VEL M/S
(+/- ft/s)
NIJ 0108.01
Rifle
7.62 mm FMJ, steel-jacketed bullets (M80)
147
2750
838
(+/- 50)
Special
Rifle
7.62 x 39mm Mild Steel Core
123
2400
732
(+/- 50)
Special
Rifle
5.56 x 45mm M193 FMJ
55
3250
991
(+/- 50)
Special
Rifle
.223 Remington Tactical Bonded Soft Point
62
2600
792
(+/- 50)
Want to learn more?
For more information on the TITAN III shield please contact us or visit our dealer locator page to purchase from one of our partners.
If you are interested in selling HighCom Armor products or in becoming an exclusive member of our Partner Network, please submit your request on our Contact Us page or email [email protected].
HighCom Armor now offers Soft Armor Panels Designed Specifically for Female Officers in Law Enforcement
Ensuring our frontline protectors are protected drives everything we do, and as Law Enforcement gender distribution is steadily changing with an increasing presence of female police officers, detectives, and agents the need for protective armor suited to the female form has become even more critical as more women are joining the force.
In 2021, among police officers, females now account for 17.7% (Zippia) of the police force in the U.S., which is up from 12.8% in 2019 (Statista), while more women are also rising to the rank of Captain, Sergeant, and Lieutenant in agencies all over the country.
Why Design Construction Matters
For years body armor was designed for the male form, and those who wear body armor know proper fit means everything to ensure the body is protected from threats by numerous types of ammunition. Having gaps between the armor and the body can lead to serious consequences for the wearer, regardless of the gender of the end-user. Fortunately, significant efforts have been made to ensure all frontline operators are fully protected.
Proper Fit Means Proper Protection
HighCom Armor’s engineering team developed two female constructed soft armor panels (Trooper sa2910F, Trooper 3920F) to ensure proper fit and comfort for female operators. Available in either Level II or Level IIIA, both panels are designed specifically for the female officers. HighCom’s female panels offer female officers a panel that is forming and structured to the female bust for added comfort and support. The panels ability to mold around the bust and chest enables the panel to fully protect the front of the body without gaps. Both panels are shaped to a concealable cut and are compatible with HighCom’s concealable carrier, the Trooper C.
The Early Days of Protecting the Frontline Protectors
It was 25 years ago in 1997 in San Francisco, California, HighCom began as a provider of security products and protective equipment. As global conflicts in the early 2000s intensified, HighCom rapidly expanded into rifle armor and hard armor manufacturing and by 2010, the company expanded its headquarters and operations into a 50,000 square feet design, testing, manufacturing, and distribution space based in Columbus, Ohio.
Growth Continues in Quality, Performance & Standards
Established in 2005 and certified in 2006, HighCom Armor’s Quality Management System is ISO 9001:2015 certified and has been continuously since 2006. This certification is the ultimate stamp of approval and recognition by the International Organization of Standards, showing a full commitment to quality management. Then in 2014, HighCom became the first company in the world to receive the BA 9000 certification distinction, a quality management standard developed and published by the NIJ.
These distinctions helped pave the way for the company to raise the bar in body armor manufacturing and laid the foundation for body armor performance that exceeds the standards to the levels of protection required to save the lives of frontline operators. In fact, HighCom is one of only a few companies in the armor manufacturing industry that can say its ballistic armor has never had a penetration, recall, or failure. Not ever in the entirety of its 25 years, and that is a pretty darn impressive achievement in the body armor industry.
A true owned and operated engineering, technology, and manufacturing company, HighCom’s also possesses a sophisticated global supply chain network and has expanded to become the global body armor brand of XTEK Limited in 2019; its Australian parent company providing high-quality frontline products and tailored solutions to government agencies, law enforcement, military, space, and commercial sectors.
Today & Beyond
Today, HighCom Armor is a true leader in advanced ballistic armor manufacturing offering a full product line of military and law enforcement grade hard armor plates, ballistic shields, carriers, soft armor panels, helmets, and gear and accessories such as equipment bags, pouches and ID placards, and standing behind its extensive range of body armor and protective ballistic products, is a team possessing 80+ years of combined experience in manufacturing and its process controls, operations, R&D/engineering, supply chain oversight, ballistic testing, quality assurance, and program management provides customers with a world-class PPE knowledgebase.
Reflecting on the Past 25 Years
In an interview with HighCom’s President and CEO Mike Bundy, we had the opportunity to reflect on its past 25 years of service saving the lives of frontline operators.
Q: HighCom celebrates 25 years this year. What thoughts and emotions come to mind when you think about that?
Bundy: I am beyond humbled to be part of this incredible organization. Roughly 20% of small businesses fail in their first year and nearly 50% fail within their first five years. Many run out of cash and others simply do not have a product or service the market needs. Being involved with a small business that has been able to not only survive but thrive for 25 years and become a leader within its industry is simply, humbling.
My gratitude runs deep for the opportunity to serve our frontline protectors and work in an organization and alongside colleagues where our primary job, regardless of position or title, is to save lives! I cannot recall a time in my life I have been more excited to walk through the doors to our factory and offices on a daily basis and have an opportunity to collaborate alongside a team of professionals developing world-class protective products and the next generation of ballistic resistant platforms that will someday be responsible for saving a life of the very men and women I consider heroes!
Q: What were your visions when you started with HighCom and how has that evolved over these past years?
Bundy: My vision from day one was to serve! I wanted to serve those frontline operators in a way that would make a difference in their lives and those of their loved ones, and I feel I have accomplished this repeatedly with no lingering doubts. As I progressed in my career with HighCom, I found ways to not only serve my lifelong heroes in military and law enforcement, but also the colleagues I have helped build careers and stability for their families through employment and advancement opportunities.
Today, HighCom is a diversified and growing enterprise with facilities and team members around the world with a shared mission and goal through the advancement of science and technology on the battlefield protecting human lives from bullets and bombs. I could never have dreamed of the path I am on today and the opportunity to support such an amazing community of heroes on the frontlines in our communities and across the world.
Q: What ways has the company grown over the past 25 years?
Bundy: Our Physical Space: Our company’s first office was a small apartment in San Francisco. Next, we moved to a small but cozy office near Union Square, not too far from the apartment. Now, we occupy several spaces both office commercial and industrial factories, in the United States, Ohio, Colorado, and Adelaide, Australia. Our nearly 50,000 beautiful square feet space in Columbus, Ohio is our corporate headquarters and houses our engineering, testing, manufacturing, and distribution operations and teams.
Our Website: A website can be a work of art with the proper care and maintenance. The HighCom website has gone through many changes over the years. Thinking back to the early years of our website like many you simply want to think it was a bad dream. Our first website was as basic and non-functional as possible with a logo, static images, and an address with contact phone number. Today, we invest a significant amount of time and resources in our website to ensure we stay up to date on the latest news and resources available for our life-saving products and the support our customers need, to properly size, use, and care for those products.
Our Team: The years have been very kind to our team as we have grown from a few well-rounded operators looking to make a difference to a diverse and specialized team of professionals with skills ranging from machinists to technologists and engineers to scientists. Although we are a small operation of about 60-70 full-time personnel across the group, we have such a deep and personal connection to the very core of our business and customer base that it is about love, not work! HighCom maintains a high priority on family first and ensures our team members have a focus on what matters in their lives when it comes to these priorities. Just like the company, all our team members hold law enforcement and military in high regards for the sacrifices they make and are honored to be part of an organization so deep rooted in the pursuit of performance and trust.
Our Technology and Processes: It’s true, we started on office word and excel and still have some of those old invoices and contact lists around today. It wasn’t fancy by any means, but it kept us organized and got us paid. In retrospect, those invoices and contact lists probably didn’t instill a lot of confidence in our first customers and suppliers. Today, as our team, customers and expertise has expanded, so has our technology tools and resources. We leverage internal tools including NetSuite, Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Box, Google, Celigo, and others, which enable us to communicate, collaborate, strategize, design, engineer, manufacture, and distribute some of the world’s most advanced body armor and ballistic resistant products.
Q: What are some of the greatest accomplishments HighCom has experienced?
Bundy: There is really one accomplishment that is a constant in our workplace. Imagine a story like this breaking… A police officer was shot while responding to a call. A citizen called in a report of an erratic driver, almost striking a pedestrian near the mall parking garage. Police located the vehicle a short time later parked in a nearby backyard. Police officers secured the perimeter and were met with gunfire as the suspect appeared in a second story window. One of the suspect’s bullets struck the officer’s armor in the lower right abdomen. The suspect then proceeded to exit the front door and continued to fire at officers. The officer suffered minor injuries and returned fire, ending the suspects rampage, and saving other officers’ livese in the process. This police officer’s life was spared by his armor. He returned home safely to his wife and three small children. We are grateful to not be mourning the death of another hero. Please always make sure you wear your vest. Now, close your eyes and imagine this officer wearing body armor you designed and made right here in America!
Q: What is your favorite part of your role with HighCom?
Bundy: There is one thing above all else that I love about my role with the company; the opportunity to collaborate at every level of the organization on the small and big details that matter to team members, customers, and suppliers impacting our business. I love the collaboration with our sales and marketing team and being involved in decisions that will help get the right products to market and ensure our prices are competitive, and the look and feel is precisely what operators in the field want and need.
Working with our operations and manufacturing teams on quality initiatives and factory related equipment and process improvement drives my passion for continual improvement. These people are the fabric of an organization that cares more about a stranger than anyone I have met in my life. The work and energy I encounter on the concrete floor of our Ohio manufacturing facility is unlike anywhere I have ever stepped foot in.
Of course, I love the opportunity to work alongside such a talented design, engineering, and technology team as well. The men and women of our organization that care about little things like the placement of a zipper or buckle or layer of woven fabric to ensure not only does a product protect, but can it look and feel good during long deployments really make you slow down and appreciate the little details that go into standards and procedural improvement.
Q: What does the next 25 years look like for HighCom Amor? In what ways do you expect to grow?
Bundy: Well, if history has shown us anything, we are in for an exciting next 25 years with the advancement of technology starting to really come into its own when it comes to material science. Thinner, lighter, stronger materials are at the core of what HighCom does and we are eager to experience growth in current and emerging markets. End uses that we never dreamed of are just around the corner and the evolving ballistic resistance space is in its infancy when it comes to applications far beyond physical protective purposes.
HighCom is dedicated to advancements in areas of ballistic resistance and will explore all opportunities for the design and manufacturing of these products for purposes of protecting people, property, and infrastructure wherever that may lead.
Q: Anything special HighCom has planned to commemorate its 25 years this year and beyond?
Bundy: HighCom has some great things happening this year to celebrate 25 years. We will be launching several initiatives around support in the law enforcement and military communities for officers and their families as well as plans for new products launching in 2022 along with many new resources online and in person around the country and through agents and partners globally. I do not want to give away too much, but I can assure you the amount of donations including products and swag is going to be insane. I mean, you only turn 25 once!
Happy Anniversary and 25 years of service HighCom Armor! It is well deserved!
For more information about HighCom Armor, check out the About Us page. You can visit the How to Buy page to purchase from one of HighCom’s Partner Dealers. If you are interested in selling HighCom Armor products or becoming an exclusive member of our Partner Network, please submit via Contact Us or email [email protected].
Introducing the NEW full product line of HighCom Armor Scorpion Pouches
HighCom Armor is excited to offer 28 tactical pouches constructed from the same Nylon as our carriers for the perfect color match. Scorpion Tactical MOLLE Pouches are high-performance pouches built to endure extreme and rugged conditions and are resistant to abrasions, tears, and scuffs.
All of our pouches:
Manufactured in the USA right here in Columbus, Ohio
Sewn by hand from lightweight water-resistant 1000D CORDURA® Nylon
Designed to deliver maximum comfort and long-lasting wear
Attach to any carrier with MOLLE/PALS webbing
Exact color match to HighCom Carriers (made from the same high-performance Nylon)
Provide tactical reliability with Military standard attachments systems used for MOLLE, hard action snaps, and velcro
Visit our How to Buy page to purchase from one of our Partner Dealers. Interested in selling HighCom Armor products or becoming an exclusive member of our Partner Network, please submit form via Contact Us or email [email protected].
HighCom’s Guardian 4s17m Plates & Trooper CAP Plate Carrier Get Tested to the Extreme in this Review!
HighCom recently partnered up with a former 35F Army Intelligence Analyst, who among other things, has turned gear, firearms, equipment, and accessories reviewer with the pen name Rat Bastard from Veteran run gear review site RatBastardReviews.blogspot.com, to test out and review our Level IV Guardian 4s17m™ hard armor plates with the Trooper CAP™ Carrier, which is also offered as a RAK CAP (Rifle Armor Kit), to provide a real-world account of what wearing this armor package entails for the end user. And when we say ‘real-world’, we mean, ‘extreme by a Military style kind of testing environment that was put under some pretty incredible conditions’ type of ‘real-world’. Whew.
Photo Credit: Rat Bastard
Photo Credit: Rat Bastard
Photo Credit: Rat Bastard
Review Overview
Veteran Rat Bastard’s review offers extensive detail into what the end user will experience in terms of the comfort and overall experience in wear over a duration of time. He details package configurations, construction, and design, including describing his experience of kitting the carrier with “4 AK mags, 2 M9 mags, and a knife without it feeling cluttered, obstructing prone shooting, or causing discomfort while belly down.” He even gives mention to the testing period and course the carrier and plates were put through, taking its performance to the extreme through a “4-mile hike through swamps, suicides, push-ups, jogging, shooting from standing position, and evac car drills,” to really offer up a story of what it would be like wearing the CAP Carrier with 4s17m plates in the most extreme conditions.
I Call It Lightweight
The product review is slightly angled towards the civilian armor wearer yet is relevant to operators who use body armor in their line of work as well. The mention of his background wearing armor systems in the Army that “most civilians would laugh at like the Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) and the Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) systems that can weigh up to 35 lbs when fully kitted!” put everything into perspective, and, when he says the carrier with plates weighing in at a mere 7.5 lbs is light weight, we might agree with him on his questioning his “bias” on the definition of “weight” in body armor!
He does include Law Enforcement and Security officers who could also benefit from this review, as he puts the armor through some serious testing conditions during Florida’s hurricane season!
Body Armor Reviews are Critical
Special Ops, Special Forces, and other tactical teams in Law Enforcement and the Military will largely have a very different requirement in body armor versus civilian wearers, yet the same end result needs to occur for anyone wearing body armor – the armor system has to perform up to its advertised claims and statements.
We all know the weight reviews carry in terms of buying products, and it couldn’t be truer or more important, in terms of body armor and personal protective gear. Not only do reviews and testimonials help buyers make informed decisions, but body armor claims and statements on protections against threats and ammunition, ratings, compliances, certifications, testing results, and materials used, all accumulate into whether or not a life is saved. False narratives and fake claims are dangerous in this industry, so honest product reviews and real-world testimonials are critical components for safe purchasing in the marketplace.
Photo Credit: Rat Bastard
Photo Credit: Rat Bastard
Photo Credit: Rat Bastard
Potential buyers need to ensure they do their research prior to purchasing armor, and it’s product reviews like this one from Rat Bastard that offer up the necessary information for buyers to make those informed decisions for their body armor purchasing. Thanks again Rat Bastard!
For more information on these products, you can check out the Trooper CAP or RAK CAP and the Guardian 4s17m plates on our website or visit our How to Buy page top find a local dealer or online retailer.
