Packaging and Marking Guide for DoD

This is an informational guide prepared by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) in March 2014 to assist contractors in understanding packaging and marking requirements for Department of Defense contracts and solicitations. The guide is not officially adopted by DoD and is intended for instructional purposes only, derived from government packaging documents, pamphlets, and technical manuals.

The guide addresses where packaging requirements are located within solicitation and contract documents (Sections A through J), with particular emphasis on Section D for Packaging and Marking. It provides detailed guidance on five basic military 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). The guide explains military packaging levels A and B, which establish protection standards for worldwide shipment and storage conditions, and outlines minimal packing requirements for domestic distribution. Key specifications referenced include MIL-STD-2073-1E for military packaging standard practice, MIL-STD-129 for military markings on shipments and storage, ASTM D3951 for commercial packaging, and requirements for hazardous materials shipping via Title 49 CFR (land), IMO/IMDG (water), ICAO/IATA (commercial air), and AFMAN 24-204_IP (military air). The document includes detailed illustrations of packaging methods 31 through 52, packaging requirement codes (PRCs), quality assurance inspection provisions, and examples of proper unit pack, intermediate container, and exterior container labeling with identification markings, bar codes, and special markings for shelf-life, project codes, fragile items, Method 50, expedited handling, and hazardous materials.