section, the term covered item refers to any of the following with respect to a Department frontline operational component: (1) Body armor components intended to provide ballistic protection for an individual, consisting of one or more of the following: (A) Soft ballistic panels. (B) Hard ballistic plates. (C) Concealed armor carriers worn under a uniform. (D) External armor carriers worn over a uniform. (2) Helmets that provide ballistic protection and other head protection and components. (3) Protective eyewear. (4) Rain gear, cold weather gear, other environmental and flame-resistant clothing. (5) Footwear. (6) Uniforms. (7) Bags and packs. (8) Holsters and tactical pouches. (9) Patches, insignia, and embellishments. (10) Respiratory protective masks. (11) Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protective gear. (12) Hearing protection equipment. (13) Any other critical safety item as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (f) Effective date This section applies with respect to a contract entered into by the Department or any of its frontline operational components on or after October 1, 2020. . (b) Study Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a study of the adequacy of allowances provided to employees of Department of Homeland Security frontline operational components. Such study shall be informed by a Department-wide survey of employees from across the Department who receive uniform allowances that seeks to ascertain what, if any, improvements could be made to the current uniform allowances and what, if any, impacts current allowances have had on employee morale and retention. Such study shall also consider increasing by 25 percent, at minimum, the uniform allowance for first year employees and by 50 percent, at minimum, the annual allowance for all other employees. (c)