Notice: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Reinstatement of a Previously Approved Collection; Title: Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program

Agency: Department of Justice
Document: 2026‑07893
Published: April 23, 2026
Source: Federal Register

The Department of Justice is reopening a previously approved information‑collection request (ICR) related to the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program. The reinstated collection will be conducted electronically (eCollection) and the agency is soliciting public comments on the proposed methodology, data elements, and burden estimates.

Key points for law‑enforcement chiefs, procurement officers, and FSO personnel:

Purpose: Gather data on the distribution, usage, and performance of bullet‑proof vests supplied under the Patrick Leahy program to assess compliance with federal standards and inform future procurement decisions.
Scope: Applies to all entities receiving vest allocations, including federal, state, and local law‑enforcement agencies, as well as private contractors participating in the partnership.
Data Requirements: Respondents will report vest model numbers, batch identifiers, issuance dates, wearer demographics, incident reports involving vest use, and maintenance or repair actions.
Burden Estimate: The agency projects an average of 45 minutes per respondent per reporting cycle, with an annual total burden of approximately 1,200 hours across all participants.
Comment Period: Written comments must be submitted electronically via https://www.regulations.gov by June 24, 2026. Submissions should address the relevance of the data fields, the estimated reporting burden, and any privacy or security concerns.
Implementation Timeline: If the ICR is approved, the eCollection system will be launched in Q4 2026, with mandatory reporting beginning in January 2027.

Stakeholders should review the proposed collection instruments and assess the impact on internal reporting processes. Early coordination with legal and compliance teams is recommended to ensure timely and accurate submissions once the collection becomes operational.