NIJ 0101.07 is the new baseline — here’s what it means for procurement
The National Institute of Justice published Standard 0101.07 in 2023. It retires the legacy 0101.06 threat levels, introduces a cleaner rifle/handgun split, and changes how products are tested and listed. The Compliant Products List is transitioning. Here is what buyers and grant recipients need to know.
Replaces II and IIIA with cleaner round-based definitions.
Replaces III and IV with modern test rounds (M80, M855, M2AP).
Products must be on the NIJ CPL at the date of purchase for BVP reimbursement.
What we track here
- • Every new 0101.07 certification as it appears on the CPL
- • Any 0101.06 product de-listed or re-listed
- • Threat-level equivalence (0101.06 ↔ 0101.07)
- • Test-round specifications and exterior marking requirements
- • Warranty-period expectations for transitioning product lines
- • BVP eligibility implications during the changeover window
Subscribe to the weekly brief to get an alert the next time the CPL changes.
Deep dives
NIJ 0101.07 Transition — What's Changing, What's Grandfathered, What to Buy
NIJ 0101.07 replaces 0101.06 as the body armor ballistic standard. New threat-level naming (HG1/HG2/RF1-RF3), expanded conditioning protocols, and a phased transition. Here's the purchase decision framework.
NIJ Threat Levels Explained — IIA, II, IIIA, III, IV vs HG1/HG2/RF1/RF2/RF3
NIJ threat levels define what ballistic threats body armor resists. Level IIIA stops most handgun rounds. Level III stops rifle rounds but not armor-piercing. Level IV adds AP protection. Here's how to pick the right level for the mission.
Source of truth: the NIJ Compliant Products List is published at nij.ojp.gov. We capture every published change and publish a verified brief alongside it.