MIL-STD-2073.pdf

This is an informational guide for packaging and marking products for the Department of Defense, issued by the Defense Contract Management Agency in March 2014.

The guide provides detailed instructions for complying with DoD packaging and marking requirements across various contract types and solicitation sections. It covers packaging standards including ASTM D-3951 for commercial packaging and MIL-STD-2073-1E for military packaging, with five basic preservation methods: Method 10 (physical protection), Method 20 (preservative coating), Method 30 (waterproof protection), Method 40 (watervaporproof protection), and Method 50 (watervaporproof with desiccant). Military packing encompasses Level A protection for severe worldwide conditions using overseas wood boxes or reusable containers, and Level B protection for moderate conditions using domestic wood crates or weather-resistant materials. Hazardous materials must comply with Title 49 CFR for land transport, IMO/IMDG for water, ICAO/IATA for commercial air, and AFMAN 24-204_IP for military air, with modal regulations taking precedence in case of conflicts.

The guide details specific packaging methods (31-45, 51-52) showing unit pack construction, container selection, preservation techniques, cushioning materials, and heat-sealing requirements. It includes packaging requirement code (PRC) explanations for quantity per unit pack, intermediate container quantity, preservation methods, cleaning and drying procedures, preservative materials, wrapping materials, cushioning specifications, and container types. Package markings must include identification markings (NSN, CAGE code, part number, contract number, military method and date), bar code markings, address markings using Military Shipping Labels, and special markings for hazardous materials, shelf-life items, project codes, fragile items, and electrostatic discharge sensitivity. The guide also references MIL-STD-129 for marking specifications, MIL-STD-147 for palletization standards, and quality assurance provisions including preservation inspections, leakage testing, and heat-sealed seam testing.