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
New NIJ certification: Safariland, LLC BA-3A00S-SV02 (Level IIIA)
FMS Chile Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Improved Outer Tactical Vests (IOTVs) and Armor Plates
Industry Day and Presolicitation Notice HITS-UIII
NIJ 0101.07 Addendum 3 — What Changed in December 2025
NIJ published Addendum 3 to Standard 0101.07 on December 1, 2025. The update refines test-methodology language introduced by the 2023 standard and does not require manufacturers to recertify existing products. Here's what it changes.
Zylon — The Body Armor Failure Case That Reshaped NIJ Standards
In 2005 the Second Chance body-armor recall exposed rapid degradation of PBO (Zylon) fiber under real-world UV and moisture conditions. This guide covers what went wrong, what NIJ did in response, and why the Zylon lesson still shapes modern body-armor engineering.
Ballistic Helmets — The Complete ArmorOS Guide
The authoritative hub for ballistic helmets — NIJ 0106 and ACH-GEN-II standards, cut styles (ACH / MICH / FAST / high-cut), pad vs dial retention, NVG mounting (Wilcox, Ops-Core VAS), and procurement. Source-cited across every spec.
How Body Armor Gets NIJ Certified — From Bench Test to CPL Listing
NIJ certification is not a checkbox — it's a 9-to-18-month process involving private-lab pre-test, formal NIJ test-lab submission, CPL listing, and ongoing compliance. This guide walks the full path, what HP-White does, and why some products bench-test well but never ship.
NIJ 0106 — The US Ballistic Helmet Standard Explained
NIJ 0106 is the primary US civil-sector ballistic-helmet certification. This guide covers its three handgun-only threat levels (I, IIA, II), why the standard doesn't address rifle threats, and why most LE procurement specifications pair it with military ACH-GEN-II.
Ballistic Shields — The Complete ArmorOS Guide
The authoritative hub for ballistic shields — NIJ 0108.01 plus the new ASTM E3347 specification and E3141 test method, handheld vs standoff shields, viewport options, maintenance, and LE procurement. Source-cited across every spec.
Body Armor — The Complete ArmorOS Guide
The authoritative hub for US body armor — NIJ 0101.06 vs 0101.07, civilian purchase rules, BVP grant eligibility, LE procurement paths, dealer directory, and product-level certifications. Every linked guide is sourced from primary documents.
NIJ 0108.01 — The Legacy Shield Standard, Still Required
NIJ 0108.01 has governed US ballistic shield certification since 1985. This guide covers its six threat levels, panel-only test scope, and how modern LE procurement increasingly pairs it with the newer ASTM E3347 specification for a full-assembly shield qualification.
NIJ CPL snapshot — 2,445 products currently listed across eight manufacturers
NIJ Level III vs IV — Which Your Agency Should Specify
Level IV stops single M2AP (.30-06 armor-piercing) rounds; Level III stops multi-hit M80 ball (7.62×51mm NATO). Choice depends on expected threat, carrier weight tolerance, and replacement budget. Here is how to decide.
NIJ 0101.06 → 0101.07 — What To Do With Your Existing Inventory
NIJ 0101.07 is the new baseline, but 0101.06 products remain valid for purchases made while they're still on the Compliant Products List. The question is when — not whether — to start the transition. Here's the decision framework.
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.
N6133126SNQ31-Sources Sought Announcement For Improved Maritime Ballistic Plate (IMBP)
Mitigating Obsolescence of MIL-PRF-19500
Materials and Textiles Lab Tensile Tester
1377 - 01-170-5245 MS81, 1377-01-170-5246 MS82, 1377-01-170-5261 MS83, 1377-01-170-5263 MS85, 1377-01-170-5264 MS86, 1377-01-170-5265 MS87
Mitigating Obsolescence of MIL-PRF-19500
ASTM E3347 — The New LE Shield Performance Specification
ASTM E3347 is the first US performance specification purpose-built for LE ballistic shields. It covers shield body, edges, viewports, fasteners, and weak points — going beyond NIJ 0108.01's panel-only scope. This guide covers what E3347 actually tests and why it's rapidly becoming a procurement requirement.
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.
Latest from NIJ
- NIJ 0101.07 Addendum 3 · December 1, 2025
- NIJ 0123.00 — standalone threat-level spec, November 2023 (+ 2 addenda)
- What Addendum 3 changes for procurement →
Not sure which NIJ level you need? Start the selector →
Four questions — role, threat tier, concealment, procurement path. Then a targeted NIJ-level recommendation + shortlist of CPL-listed matches.
Frequently asked — NIJ
What's the difference between NIJ 0101.06 and 0101.07?+
0101.06 (2008) is the previous body-armor ballistic-resistance standard; 0101.07 (2023) is the current standard. 0101.07 revises test conditioning (water/UV/temperature cycles), broadens the threat-level vocabulary (HG1/HG2 + RF1/RF2/RF3 replace IIA/II/IIIA/III/IV), and tightens the back-face signature and environmental aging protocols.
When does NIJ 0101.06 certification stop being accepted?+
As of the current guidance, the NIJ has not posted a hard sunset for 0101.06 CPL acceptance. BVP reimbursement is still honoring 0101.06 purchases. The transition is expected to complete over a 2–4 year window as manufacturers re-certify existing products. Monitor the CPL for delisting signals.
Is my existing 0101.06 armor safe to wear?+
Yes — there is no recall. 0101.06 armor meets the previous (still-valid) standard. 0101.07 raises the bar but does not invalidate prior certifications. Standard NIJ guidance on end-of-life (typically ~5 years from manufacture) continues to apply.
What do HG1, HG2, RF1, RF2, and RF3 mean?+
HG1 and HG2 are the handgun threat tiers (HG2 is the higher). RF1, RF2, RF3 are the rifle threat tiers (increasing in severity). They map roughly to the old IIA/II/IIIA (HG) and III/III+/IV (RF) vocabulary but use specific tested munitions published in NIJ 0123.00. Procurement specs written against the old vocabulary should be rewritten in the new terms by 2027.
Is there an NIJ certification for ballistic helmets?+
Technically yes — NIJ 0106. Practically no active certifications have been issued in over a decade and the program is grandfathered. Most helmet procurement instead cites ACH-GEN-II (military) or specific MIL-DTL specs plus a statement of compliance against NIJ 0106-equivalent testing.
Does NIJ certify ballistic shields?+
NIJ 0108.01 covers ballistic-resistant protective materials including shields, but NIJ does not host a public Compliant Products List for shields the way it does for body armor. Shield certification is typically against NIJ 0108.01 threat levels plus increasingly ASTM E3141 (test method) and E3347 (performance spec).
How often is the CPL updated?+
The CPL is updated as NIJ processes new certifications and delistings. In practice, updates publish on roughly a quarterly rhythm, but delistings can happen mid-quarter. ArmorOS publishes a verified brief within one business day of every change.
What's the difference between NIJ "certified" and NIJ "approved"?+
NIJ only uses "certified" — products listed on the CPL. "NIJ approved" is a marketing term and does not exist in the standards language. Be skeptical of marketing copy using "NIJ approved" or "NIJ rated" without a CPL listing number.
How do procurement cooperatives reference NIJ level?+
NASPO ValuePoint, Sourcewell, and OMNIA Partners all structure their body-armor contracts around CPL-listed products. Cooperative contract language typically requires the specific SKU to be on the CPL at time of order and references the NIJ threat-level vocabulary current as of the contract's award year.
Where do I report body-armor failures for NIJ review?+
The NIJ Compliance Testing Program accepts field-failure reports from agencies and individuals. The program's point-of-contact information is on nij.ojp.gov; formal reports trigger independent retesting and, when warranted, CPL delisting. Prior high-profile delistings (Zylon / Second Chance in 2005) originated from agency field reports.