NIJ Advisory Notice vs. NIJ Safety Notice: What They Mean for Body Armor (XR32 & ShotStop Explained)
When a vest or plate drops off NIJ’s Compliant Products List (CPL), buying can stall, grants can be jeopardized, and chiefs have to make fast calls about fielded gear. This guide breaks down why NIJ issues Advisory vs. Safety Notices, how the process works, and what to do next—using the 2025 XR32 Advisory and the ShotStop Safety Notices as current examples. Our goal at IntelAlytic is to give you clear, defensible steps you can act on.
What NIJ Compliance Really Means
Why to say “CPL-listed,” not “certified”
NIJ runs a Compliance Testing Program (CTP). When a model passes NIJ testing, it’s listed on the CPL and placed under Follow-up Inspection and Testing (FIT)—ongoing surveillance to confirm production armor still matches the model that passed. Agencies should always cross-check the CPL before purchase.
Grant reality: If you use the Patrick Leahy BVP program, vests must be on the NIJ CPL as of the date the order is placed, be U.S.-made, and be uniquely fitted. If it’s not CPL-listed on the order date, it’s not eligible for reimbursement.
Standards update + transition (0101.07 + 0123.00)
NIJ published 0101.07 (ballistic resistance) alongside 0123.00 (protection levels and test threats) on November 30, 2023—0101.07 references 0123.00, so HG/RF levels live in one specification.
Transition window: Because so many officers wear 0101.06 armor today, NIJ anticipates maintaining the 0101.06 CPL through at least the end of 2027 to allow a managed changeover.
Understanding NIJ Advisory vs. Safety Notices
NIJ Advisory Notice
NIJ has concerns and the model is temporarily suspended from the CPL while NIJ reviews root cause and corrective actions.
NIJ Safety Notice
These notices often originate in FIT—unannounced inspections and sample pulls that trigger testing, investigations, and, when needed, advisories or removals. FIT also uses BA 9000/ISO-based QMS audits to keep manufacturing tightly controlled.
Wear guidance during an Advisory: Advisory pages typically encourage officers to keep wearing the model during the suspension unless NIJ later directs otherwise.
How a NIJ Notices Unfold
The operational timeline you can plan around
Issue detected (FIT, audit, or investigation).
Advisory Notice issued → model temporarily suspended from the CPL; the listee identifies affected units, notifies customers, completes root-cause analysis, and proposes corrective actions.
Re-test & verification under NIJ direction.
Outcome:
Advisory closed → model reinstated on the CPL, or
Safety Notice issued → model removed from the CPL; agencies should replace affected armor.
Case Studies → What “NIJ Advisory” vs. “Safety” Looks like in 2025
Case 1 — XR32 Advisory (Carolina Performance Fabrics)
Notice: Advisory #07-2025, posted May 12, 2025.
Effect: XR32 is suspended from the CPL during NIJ’s evaluation; officers are encouraged to continue wearing the model during the suspension.
Case 2 — ShotStop Safety Notices
Notices: Safety #01-2025 (PA1RF1 ICW SLHIIIA), #02-2025 (D1652SSB), #03-2025 (PS1RF1SC), posted early May 2025.
Basis: Federal investigation reported smuggling/counterfeiting—Chinese armor mislabeled as NIJ-compliant and Ohio-made.
Effect: Models removed from the CPL; ShotStop Ballistics, Vallmar Studios, and an associated individual were prohibited from future NIJ CTP participation; agencies were told to immediately discontinue use of armor purchased from ShotStop or Vallmar.
Meet The Armor List → FREE for Agencies
IntelAlytic built The Armor List to make these decisions simpler, faster, and documented. It’s 100% free for agencies and public-safety organizations.
What The Armor List Does for You
Verify before you buy. Look up models and confirm CPL status at the exact time of purchase. Save a timestamped record for your grant file.
See what labels should say. Match model name/number, NIJ Mark, threat level, and standard version—so the label and the CPL entry line up
Stay ahead of notices. Create watchlists; get Advisory/Safety alerts with a short “what to do now” note for chiefs, buyers, and quartermasters.
Handle exceptions. If an Advisory hits, the platform guides you through inventory checks, supplier outreach, and retest follow-ups.
Build your audit trail in minutes. Auto-compile an evidence pack (CPL screenshot + notice PDF + notes). Hand it to finance, auditors, or grant managers.
Collaborate. Share model lists with procurement, training, and command staff so everyone works from the same page
Want access? Ask us to set you up with The Armor List (no cost to agencies/first responders). Manufacturers and distributors can request access as well.
What This Means for Each Audience
For Agencies & Buyers
Lock in CPL at the PO Verify the exact model is on the CPL the day you place the order; keep a timestamped screenshot for your grant file. This is a BVP requirement.
Subscribe to NIJ/CJTTEC updates so you see Advisories the day they post.
Build a playbook:
Advisory response: inventory check, officer notice, supplier RCA/corrective-action timeline, watch list for retest status.
Safety response: immediate replacement planning and funding pivot (consider reserve stock or pre-negotiated alternates).
Label discipline: Match the NIJ Mark, threat level, and model name/number on the label to the CPL entry.
Deeper reads from IntelAlytic to help your team execute:
For Manufacturers & Distributors
Treat FIT like a gatekeeper. Any change in materials, construction, or manufacturing location needs NIJ review before you ship. Expect unannounced pulls, lab tests, and BA 9000/ISO-based audits.
If a notice hits: identify all units and customers, notify immediately, present root cause + corrective actions and a retest plan in writing. That’s the fastest path to closing an Advisory.
Context from IntelAlytic on supply-chain integrity and labeling risk:
For End Users
Advisory → keep wearing unless your agency says otherwise. Safety → follow agency direction to replace. When in doubt, ask your quartermaster to confirm the current CPL status of your exact model. (cjttec.org)
Sidebar — Standards at a Glance 0101.07 + 0123.00
0101.07 sets test methods and performance requirements for torso armor; 0123.00 defines HG/RF protection levels and test threats that 0101.07 references.
Transition planning: NIJ expects to maintain the 0101.06 CPL through at least 2027—budget and replacement cycles should reflect that runway.
A Quick CPL Checklist You Can Run Before Every PO
Model match: The exact model designation appears on the NIJ CPL (save a screenshot with date/time).
Label match: NIJ Mark present; label threat level and standard version match the CPL.
Grant match (if using BVP): CPL-listed on the order date, U.S.-made, uniquely fitted; maintain a written mandatory wear policy.
Monitor: Stay subscribed to Active NIJ Advisory & Safety updates.
Why This Matters Now
XR32 shows how a temporary suspension works while NIJ confirms fit, construction, or performance; ShotStop shows what permanent removal and immediate discontinuation look like when safety and integrity break down. If you anchor your process to the CPL, FIT, and the BVP order-date rule, your procurement stays eligible and your risk posture stays strong.
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