Packaging and Marking Guide for DoD

This is an informational guide prepared by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) in March 2014 that provides non-binding guidance on packaging and marking requirements for Department of Defense contracts and solicitations. The guide is not officially adopted by DoD and is intended for familiarization purposes only, with information derived from current government packaging documents, pamphlets, and technical manuals used for instructional purposes.

The guide covers packaging requirements located across multiple sections of solicitations and contracts (Sections A through J), including packaging and marking specifications detailed in Section D. It addresses hazardous materials packaging in accordance with modal regulations: Title 49 CFR for land transport, IMO/IMDG for water, ICAO/IATA for commercial air, and AFMAN 24-204_IP for military air. Key military packaging standards discussed include MIL-STD-2073-1E (with Change 1, effective January 7, 2011) for military packaging, which applies to items requiring preservation for operational deployment, reusable containers, delivery-at-sea, or Defense Transportation and Distribution System storage exceeding six months. The document details five basic preservation methods (Methods 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50), military packing levels (Level A for severe conditions and Level B for moderate conditions), and minimal packing requirements. Additionally, it provides guidance on commercial packaging using ASTM D-3951 standards, packaging requirement codes (PRCs), quality assurance provisions, inspection procedures, marking requirements (identification, bar code, address, and special markings), military shipping labels, and specialized markings for shelf-life, project codes, fragile items, Method 50 packaging, expedited handling, hazardous materials, heat-treated wood, palletization standards (MIL-STD-147), and RFID tag requirements per DFARS Clause 252.211-7006.