MIL-STD-2073.pdf

This is an informational guide on packaging and marking standards for Department of Defense (DoD) contracts, published by the Defense Contract Management Agency in March 2014.

The guide provides comprehensive guidance on military packaging and preservation requirements applicable to DoD solicitations and 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). For hazardous materials, packaging must comply with 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, with marking per MIL-STD-129. The guide details Military Packaging Level A (severe worldwide conditions) and Level B (moderate conditions), specifying appropriate containers, materials, and techniques for each level. It establishes packaging requirement codes (PRC) per MIL-STD-2073-1E(1) using standardized codes for quantity per unit pack, intermediate container quantity, preservation methods, cleaning and drying, preservative materials, wrapping materials, cushioning materials, container types, and cushioning thickness. Marking requirements include identification markings (NSN, CAGE code, part number, nomenclature, quantity, contract number, military method and date of preservation), bar code markings, address markings using Military Shipping Labels (MSL), and special markings for shelf-life, project codes, fragile items, Method 50 packages, expedited handling, hazardous materials, and RFID tags. Quality assurance provisions in Appendix G specify visual preservation examinations, leakage testing, and heat-sealed seam testing requirements. The guide references ASTM D-3951 for commercial packaging applications and MIL-STD-2073-1E as the governing military standard, along with palletization requirements per MIL-STD-147.