MIL-STD-2073.pdf

This is an informational guide for packaging and marking requirements for Department of Defense contracts, prepared by the Defense Contract Management Agency in March 2014.

The guide provides comprehensive instruction on military packaging and preservation standards, detailing five basic preservation methods (Method 10 through Method 50) that range from physical protection only to watervaporproof protection with desiccant. It specifies that hazardous materials must be packaged according to 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 markings per MIL-STD-129. The guide identifies packaging requirement locations within solicitations and contracts across sections A through J, including items for commercial packaging (ASTM D-3951), military packaging (MIL-STD-2073-1E), minimal packing, and specialized instructions. It explains packaging requirement codes (PRC) used in MIL-STD-207311E(1) that specify quantity per unit pack, intermediate container quantity, preservation methods, cleaning and drying procedures, preservative materials, wraps, cushioning, container types, and unit container levels. The document includes detailed illustrations of specific packing methods, sample worksheets for translating packaging requirements, marking examples for unit and intermediate containers with linear and 2D barcode options, Military Shipping Label formats, and special markings for shelf-life items, hazardous materials, fragile items, electrostatic discharge sensitive devices, and heat-treated wood packaging materials. Additional standards referenced include MIL-STD-147 for palletization, MIL-DTL-117 for heat-sealable bags, MIL-STD-3010 for packaging material testing, and RFID requirements per DFARS clause 252.211-7006.