MIL-STD-2073.pdf

This document is the Packaging and Marking Guide for the Department of Defense, an informational resource published by the Defense Contract Management Agency in March 2014. The guide provides non-binding guidance on proper packaging and marking procedures for federal defense contracts and is derived from current government packaging documents, pamphlets, and technical manuals.

The guide addresses packaging requirements located in various sections of solicitations and contracts, including forms, supplies and services sections, specifications, statements of work, packaging and marking requirements, inspection and acceptance criteria, delivery performance terms, contract clauses, and attachments. It covers hazardous materials packaging requirements under Title 49 CFR for land transport, IMO/IMDG for water transport, ICAO/IATA for commercial air, and AFMAN 24-204_IP for military air transport, with modal regulations taking precedence in cases of conflict. The document establishes two primary military packaging levels: Level A for severe worldwide shipment conditions using overseas-type wood boxes and reusable containers, and Level B for moderate conditions using domestic wood crates and weather-resistant materials. It details five basic preservation methods (Methods 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50), ranging from physical protection only to watervaporproof protection with desiccant, and provides specific guidance on military marking standards per MIL-STD-129, packaging requirement codes, unit and intermediate container labeling with linear or 2D bar codes, exterior container marking with identification and address information, special markings for shelf-life, project codes, fragile items, expedited handling, hazardous materials, electrostatic discharge sensitive items, heat-treated wood packaging materials, and radio frequency identification tags. The guide includes quality assurance provisions requiring visual preservation examinations, leakage testing, and heat-sealed seam testing, along with sample worksheets and detailed packing method illustrations for Methods 31 through 52.