MIL-STD-2073.pdf

This document is an informational guide on packaging and marking standards for Department of Defense (DoD) contracts, prepared by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) in March 2014.

The guide provides comprehensive instruction on military packaging and preservation requirements found throughout DoD solicitations and contracts. It details five basic preservation methods: Method 10 (physical protection), Method 20 (preservative coating only), Method 30 (waterproof protection), Method 40 (watervaporproof protection), and Method 50 (watervaporproof protection with desiccant). Military packaging is categorized into Level A and Level B, with Level A providing protection for severe worldwide shipment conditions using overseas-type wood boxes and reusable containers, while Level B addresses moderate conditions using domestic wood crates and weather-resistant containers. The guide covers two main packing levels: commercial (ASTM D-3951) and military (MIL-STD-2073-1E), with decisions regarding commercial versus military packaging made by packaging technical personnel at the procuring activity prior to solicitation. The document includes detailed visual examples of each preservation and packing method, packaging requirement codes (PRCs) used in contracts, marking requirements for identification, bar codes, address markings, and special markings such as hazardous materials, shelf-life information, project codes, and fragile item indicators. Additionally, it addresses requirements for heat-treated wood packaging material (WPM) marked with IPPC stamps, palletization standards per MIL-STD-147, RFID tag applications, and quality assurance inspection provisions including visual examinations, leakage tests, and heat-sealed seam testing per MIL-STD-3010.