MIL-STD-2073.pdf

This is an informational guide for packaging and marking requirements applicable to Department of Defense (DoD) contracts and solicitations.

The guide provides comprehensive guidance on packaging standards for DoD shipments, covering both commercial and military packaging approaches. It details 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). Military packaging is categorized into Level A (severe worldwide conditions) and Level B (moderate worldwide conditions), with examples of appropriate containers for each level. For hazardous materials, all items must comply with applicable modal regulations including Title 49 CFR for land transport, IMO/IMDG for water, ICAO/IATA for commercial air, and AFMAN 24-204_IP for military air transport, with markings per MIL-STD-129. The guide establishes that packaging requirements appear in multiple contract sections (A through J) and may reference Commercial Item Descriptions (CIDs), military specifications, aperture cards, special packaging instructions, DLA master solicitations, FAR/DFARS clauses, product specifications, military standard drawings, industry standards (ASTM), and packaging requirement codes (PRC).

The guide includes detailed illustrations of specific preservation and packing methods (31-45), packaging requirement code definitions per MIL-STD-20731E(1), quality assurance inspection provisions, four types of basic markings (identification, bar code, address, and special markings per MIL-STD-129), and examples of unit, intermediate, and exterior container labels with both linear bar codes and 2D (PDF417) symbols. Special markings include shelf-life information, project codes, fragile/delicate indicators, Method 50 labels, expedited handling designations (999 and NMCS), electrostatic discharge sensitive (ESD) device warnings, hazardous material classifications with proper shipping names and UN numbers, heat-treated wood packaging material (WPM) markings per international standards, palletization standards per MIL-STD-147, passive RFID tag requirements per DFARS clause 252.211-7006, and key specification references including MIL-STD-2073-1E, MIL-STD-129, MIL-DTL-117, and relevant ASTM standards for commercial packaging.