MIL-STD-2073.pdf

This is a Department of Defense Packaging and Marking Guide for federal contract opportunities, published by the Defense Contract Management Agency in March 2014. The document serves as an informational reference for familiarization purposes and does not replace contractual requirements, specifications, or regulations.

The guide covers packaging and marking requirements applicable across multiple contract sections including solicitation/contract forms, supplies and services, descriptions/specifications/statements of work, packaging and marking, inspection and acceptance, deliveries or performance, contract clauses, and attachments. For hazardous materials, contractors must package items in accordance with applicable modal regulations (Title 49 CFR for land, IMO/IMDG for water, ICAO/IATA for commercial air, and AFMAN 24-204_IP for military air) and mark and label items per MIL-STD-129. Key packaging standards referenced include ASTM D-3951 (latest revision D3951-10) for commercial packaging used in specific circumstances, and MIL-STD-2073-1E with Change 1 (7 January 2011) for military packaging covering items for wartime deployment, reusable containers, delivery-at-sea, and Defense Transportation and Distribution System storage exceeding six months. The guide details five basic military preservation methods (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) with corresponding packing levels (A and B), container types, cushioning requirements, heat-sealed bag specifications, desiccant usage, humidity indicators, and quality assurance provisions including visual preservation examinations and leakage tests. Additional content addresses packaging requirement codes, marking requirements (identification, bar code, address markings, and special markings), unit and intermediate container labeling examples, Military Shipping Label formats, and special handling considerations for shelf-life items, project codes, fragile materials, Method 50 packages, expedited handling, hazardous materials, heat-treated wood packaging, palletization standards (MIL-STD-147), and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags per DFARS Clause 252.211-7006.