MIL-STD-2073.pdf

This document is a Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) informational guide on packaging and marking requirements for Department of Defense contracts and solicitations, revised in March 2014.

The guide provides comprehensive guidance on military packaging and preservation standards applicable to DoD contracts. It covers the locations where packaging requirements appear in solicitations and contracts (Sections A through J), with particular emphasis on Section D for Packaging & Marking. The document 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). It includes visual examples and specifications for each method, along with detailed guidance on container types, materials, and construction standards. The guide addresses hazardous materials packaging requirements, referencing Title 49 CFR for land transport, IMO/IMDG for water, ICAO/IATA for commercial air, and AFMAN 24-204_IP for military air transport. Additionally, it provides instruction on packaging requirement codes (PRC), marking standards per MIL-STD-129, quality assurance provisions, inspection procedures, and special markings for shelf-life, project codes, fragile items, Method 50 packages, expedited handling, and hazardous materials. The document includes sample worksheets, examples of unit and exterior container labels, military shipping label formats, and references to applicable standards including MIL-STD-2073-1E, MIL-DTL-117, ASTM D3951, and MIL-STD-147 for palletization.