FAQ

Penn Tactical Solutions holds Pennsylvania COSTARS Contract 012-E25-397 under COSTARS-12 Emergency Responder Equipment. Our vendor number is 545748. Both numbers should appear on any purchase order issued to PTS.

COSTARS-eligible purchasers include Pennsylvania local public procurement units and state-affiliated entities. This covers municipalities, county governments, townships, school districts, intermediate units, public authorities, volunteer fire and EMS organizations, and nonprofit fire and rescue companies. If your entity has a COSTARS member number, you are eligible. If you are unsure of your status, the Pennsylvania Department of General Services maintains the current eligibility list. Contact us and we will confirm before you cut a PO.

Three steps: (1) Request a quote by email listing the items, quantities, and delivery address. We return a formal COSTARS-referenced quote the same business day. (2) Your purchasing agent issues a PO to Penn Tactical Solutions, vendor 545748, referencing contract 012-E25-397. (3) Send the PO to sales@penntacticalsolutions.com. We confirm receipt, fulfill the order, and invoice on NET 30 terms. No account setup or pre-registration with PTS is required.

Yes. COSTARS is a cooperative purchasing program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of General Services. Purchases made through an active COSTARS contract satisfy competitive procurement requirements for eligible entities, eliminating the need to conduct a separate bid process for covered items.

Yes. PTS fulfills agency purchase orders nationally. Out-of-state agencies, federal entities, and private security organizations order directly by PO using standard NET 30 terms. COSTARS pricing applies only to eligible Pennsylvania entities, but our standard agency pricing is competitive and equipment ships from the same fulfillment network.

Both, by design. PTS is an authorized dealer for North American Rescue and several other vendors in the emergency medical, tactical, and public safety space. Some items are held in Pennsylvania inventory for rapid turnaround on training consumables and frequently ordered products. Other items ship directly from the authorized distributor's warehouse to your agency. This is deliberate, and here is why it benefits the buyer. For hemostatics, pressure bandages, IV fluids, and any product with a manufacture or expiration date, pulling from the distributor's primary inventory means the agency receives the newest available lot. It also means PTS can offer the best current pricing without passing along the carrying cost of aged stock. Every item shipped is sourced from an authorized channel, covered by the manufacturer's warranty, and traceable by lot number if recalled. PTS is not a reseller of gray-market or secondary-market product. Every SKU we supply is sourced through authorized distribution.

Stocked items typically ship within one to two business days of PO receipt. Direct-from-distributor items typically ship within two to three business days. Many trauma kits are built to order, and custom-configured items may take several additional business days depending on component availability. Standard ground delivery within the continental US is three to five business days. Expedited shipping is available on request and quoted separately. For time-sensitive agency needs, contact us before issuing the PO and we will confirm expected delivery against your operational date.

PTS ships to any valid agency address including police headquarters, fire stations, EMS bases, school district receiving docks, municipal buildings, and secure government facilities. PO boxes are not accepted for most equipment due to carrier requirements. If your agency requires a specific delivery window, loading dock appointment, or signature confirmation, note it on the PO and we will coordinate with the carrier.

Unopened, factory-sealed equipment in original packaging may be returned within 30 days of receipt for a full refund or exchange. Sterile medical products and items with expiration dates cannot be returned once opened. Defective items under manufacturer warranty are handled directly through the manufacturer or through PTS acting as the authorized dealer, at the agency's preference. Contact us before shipping any return so we can issue an RMA and confirm the return address.

Penn Tactical Solutions is certified as a Small Diverse Business (SDB) by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of General Services, Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities. Agencies with supplier diversity goals, small business participation requirements, or set-aside spend targets can apply PTS purchases toward those goals. Certification documentation is available on request for inclusion in agency vendor files or compliance records.

PTS was founded and is owned by Craig Hall, a National Registry Paramedic with 27 years of public safety experience and a certified tactical paramedic attached to a law enforcement team. Product selection, training curriculum, and agency support are field-informed rather than catalog-driven. Every item PTS offers has been evaluated against the operational conditions it will actually be used in. PTS staff bring additional expertise across law enforcement, emergency medicine, fire service, and range operations, allowing agencies to reach the right subject-matter specialist for mission-specific questions.

Yes, and pricing is structured in tiers. All government agencies and nonprofit organizations receive a standard institutional discount off published retail pricing, regardless of order size. COSTARS-eligible Pennsylvania entities receive additional preferred pricing under Contract 012-E25-397. Case pricing is available on most consumables, trauma kits, and training aids, and applies on top of the institutional or COSTARS rate. Agencies ordering patrol-wide equipment packages or full training cohort supplies receive tiered volume pricing beyond the contract rate where the manufacturer permits. Request a quote with your order details and we will return the best available price across all applicable discounts.

PTS supplies emergency medical equipment including tourniquets, hemostatics, pressure bandages, chest seals, and trauma kits; body armor and carriers; tactical medical bags and pouches; training aids and simulators; range safety equipment; and a range of ancillary public safety gear. If your agency needs a specific item within the COSTARS-12 scope and you do not see it listed, ask. We can source across our authorized distribution network.

PTS accepts agency purchase orders on NET 30 terms, ACH, check, government purchase cards (P-cards), and major credit cards. Invoicing follows shipment confirmation. For recurring agency orders, we can establish a standing PO arrangement to reduce administrative overhead.

State and local government entities, qualifying nonprofits, and federal agencies are exempt from sales tax on eligible purchases. Provide your tax-exempt certificate or agency exemption number with your first order and it will be applied to your account for all future purchases.

Yes. PTS routinely combines TECC, Stop the Bleed, and TCCC training with equipment purchases on a single PO, which reduces procurement overhead for the requesting agency. Training is itemized separately from equipment on the quote and invoice for internal accounting.

Yes. Individuals purchasing through the PTS website can enroll in Penn Tactical Partners, our affiliate and loyalty program, to receive a standing discount on orders. Active-duty military, law enforcement officers, EMS, fire service, and first responders purchasing personally are also eligible for a verified-responder discount code — contact us with your role and department and we will issue a code. Personal purchases made by agency personnel for professional use may qualify for institutional pricing depending on the item and intended use; request a quote and we will advise on the appropriate discount structure.