Packaging and Marking Guide for DoD

This document is an informational guide prepared by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) in March 2014 that provides instruction 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, serving as a reference rather than a replacement for contractual requirements, specifications, or regulations.

The guide covers locations where packaging requirements appear in solicitations and contracts (Sections A through J), hazardous materials handling protocols, and the five basic military preservation methods (Methods 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50), with Methods 30-50 emphasizing waterproof and watervaporproof protection using heat-sealed bags and containers. Key packaging standards referenced include MIL-STD-2073-1E for military packaging, ASTM D-3951 for commercial packaging, and MIL-STD-129 for marking. The document details military packing levels (Level A for severe worldwide conditions and Level B for moderate conditions), provides examples of container types for each method, and specifies marking requirements including identification markings (NSN, CAGE code, part number, contract number, preservation method), bar code markings, address markings using Military Shipping Labels (MSL), and special markings (shelf-life, project codes, fragile/delicate, Method 50, expedited handling, hazardous materials). Additional topics include packaging requirement codes (QUP, ICQ, preservation method, cleaning/drying procedures, preservative materials, wraps, cushioning, unit containers), quality assurance provisions with preservation and packing inspections and leakage testing, heat-treated wood packaging material requirements, palletization standards per MIL-STD-147, and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag requirements per DFARS Clause 252.211-7006.