Summary: Packaging and Marking Guide for DoD

This is an informational guide published by the Defense Contract Management Agency in March 2014 that provides 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 and instructional purposes only, serving as a reference document derived from current government packaging documents, pamphlets, and technical manuals rather than establishing binding contractual requirements.

The guide covers the locations where packaging requirements appear in solicitations and contracts (Sections A through J), hazardous materials handling requirements, five basic military preservation methods (Methods 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50), detailed visual examples of military packing levels (Level A and Level B), specific packaging methods with illustrations (Methods 31-52), military packaging requirement codes, quality assurance provisions, and package marking standards including identification markings, bar code markings, address markings, and special markings for shelf-life, project codes, fragile items, Method 50 packages, expedited handling, hazardous materials, electrostatic discharge sensitive devices, and heat-treated wood packaging materials. The guide references key military standards including MIL-STD-2073-1E (military packaging), MIL-STD-129 (military marking for shipments), MIL-DTL-117 (heat-sealable bags), ASTM D3951 (commercial packaging), and MIL-STD-147 (palletization standards), and includes practical worksheets, code lookup tools, and illustrative examples of proper container labeling for unit packs, intermediate containers, and exterior shipping containers.