MIL-STD-2073.pdf

This is an informational guide for packaging and marking federal defense contracts and solicitations, published by the Defense Contract Management Agency in March 2014.

The guide provides comprehensive guidance on military packaging and preservation standards applicable to Department of Defense contracts. It covers 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). The guide details specific packing levels—Level A for severe worldwide shipment conditions and Level B for moderate worldwide conditions—with examples of appropriate containers for each. It includes detailed visual diagrams of various packing methods (31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, and 52) showing the layering and containment approaches required. The document references MIL-STD-2073-1E as the primary military packaging standard and MIL-STD-129 for marking requirements. It specifies that hazardous materials must comply with Title 49 CFR for land transport, IMO/IMDG for water, ICAO/IATA for commercial air, and AFMAN 24-204_IP for military air shipments.

The guide provides packaging requirement codes, marking standards including identification markings, bar code applications, address markings via Military Shipping Labels, and special markings for shelf-life, project codes, fragile items, Method 50 packages, expedited handling, and hazardous materials. It includes examples of unit and intermediate container labels with both linear bar codes and 2D PDF417 symbols, exterior container labels, and Military Shipping Label formats. Additional sections address palletization standards per MIL-STD-147, heat-treated wood packaging material requirements with proper trademark marking, RFID tag applications, and inspection and quality assurance provisions referencing visual examinations, leakage tests, and heat-sealed seam tests. The document is informational only and does not constitute official DoD policy or binding contractual requirements.