MIL-STD-2073.pdf

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

The guide provides comprehensive instruction on military packaging standards, preservation methods, and marking requirements for items being shipped to or stored by the DoD. It establishes that packaging requirements are typically located in contract Sections D (Packaging & Marking), with additional specifications found in attachments, military standards, industry standards, and Commercial Item Descriptions. For hazardous materials, shipments must comply with applicable modal regulations (Title 49 CFR for land, IMO/IMDG for water, ICAO/IATA for commercial air, and AFMAN 24-204_IP for military air). The guide details five basic military preservation methods: Method 10 (physical protection), Method 20 (preservative coating), Method 30 (waterproof protection), Method 40 (watervaporproof protection), and Method 50 (watervaporproof with desiccant). Each method is accompanied by specific packing and preservation procedures with corresponding containers and materials. Two primary military packaging standards apply: MIL-STD-2073-1E for military packaging and ASTM D-3951 for commercial packaging. The document includes detailed packaging methods (31-45, 50-52) with accompanying illustrations showing preservation, wrapping, cushioning, and containment requirements. Additional guidance covers packaging requirement codes (PRC) from MIL-STD-20731E(1), quality assurance provisions including preservation and packing inspections with specific leakage and heat-seal seam test requirements, and marking standards per MIL-STD-129. The guide also addresses special markings for shelf-life, project codes, fragile items, Method 50 packages, expedited handling, hazardous materials, electrostatic discharge-sensitive devices, wood packaging material requirements, palletization standards per MIL-STD-147, and RFID tag specifications per DFARS Clause 252.211-7006.