DoD MIL Specs and a Brief Analysis of MIL-STD-129 Standard

Unique Identification of Items, or UID, introduced by the Department of Defense (DoD) acts as a common key for data-sharing and communication between suppliers and customers by improving the tracking efficiency method of items in a serialized way. UID is a 2-D data matrix symbol with data scanned and translated into CAGE Code, Serial Number, and Part Number. Of these, CAGE codes play a significant role in the government contracts especially when registering in the UID registry.

What is CAGE Code?

CAGE Code or Commercial and Government Entity Code is a five-character ID number to identify the government contractors. Apart from the Department of Defense, these CAGE codes are used in DoT (Department of Transportation), NASA, and several other federal government agencies.

Those who want to apply for a CAGE code for their items needs to obtain a DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number before applying for DoD's Central Contractor Registration. The Federal government adds all contractors who achieve CAGE Codes in its distinguished panel.

Benefits of CAGE Codes:

• Chance to be added on the distinguished panel contractors of the Federal government list

• Help contractors submit for government bids and proposals

• Sign up for buyer-vendor matching services and spot potential buyers for itemized Products

CAGE codes are mandatory for all items that are to be submitted to the Government. After ensuring the proper coding, the next phase is to ensure proper packaging of the items so that they can endure extreme conditions. For packaging extensively shipment items, Tesa tapes have been highly recommended. Items packaged properly with Tesa tapes ensure their safety and durability during storage and transit. These Tesa Tapes offer high shear, age resistance even on difficult surfaces. Moreover they are easy to handle, robust and sturdy. Packaging with Tesa tapes are considered the suitable options for consistent opening envelopes and cardboard boxes. There are different types of Tesa tapes available.

Categories of Tesa tapes:

Tesa Fastening Tapes

This type of Tesa tapes is reliable as well as cost-effective for temporary fastening, splicing, platemounting and permanent bonding.

Tesa Auxiliary Tapes

This type of Tesa tapes are used for a full spectrum of applications. Polyethylene/cloth based Duct tapes and Specialty Tapes which include transparent cellophane tapes, paper bandoliering tapes.

Tesa Masking Tapes

This type of Tesa tapes are extensively used in transportation, metal finishing and furniture manufacturing industries. There are General Purpose tapes, Fine Line and Temperature-Resistant Tapes available for superior cornering and high-temperature applications.

Tesa Packaging Tapes

For better surface protection, palletizing and sealing, a variety of Tesa Packaging tapes are used. They are TPP Tapes, Carton Sealing Tapes, Tear Tapes and Filament Tapes.

Important facts about Tesa tapes

• The Tesa tapes are safe to use. The adhesive material doesn’t contain any harmful acid which can be injurious for the health.

• There is no organic solvents remain in the Tesa tapes

• The tapes are free of heavy metals, asbestos and formaldehyde.

• The tapes are endurable even in extreme temperature and hence are safer to use.

MIL-STD-130N standard as per the UID Compliance

What is Item Unique Identification (IUID)?

The Item Unique Identification (IUID) system plays a critical role in the identification and classification of items that are to be submitted to the Department of Defense (DoD). Treated as a universal method of parts identification by the DoD, the IUID helps in locating, controlling and valuing all the defense related qualifying assets. IUID requirements criteria are now integrated in the DoD financial improvement and audit readiness plans.

As per the UID Compliance norms, the IUID of items is mandated to be marked with a non erasable 2-dimensional data matrix for each qualifying item. A globally unique and unambiguous Unique Item Identifier (UII) is constructed to be encoded in the IUID data matrix. As the IUID marking is machine-readable, there is minimal chance of human error. The acquisition records and inventory is also improved. Apart from easy identification of items as per the UID Compliance setting, the IUID marking also helps accelerate the receipt and acceptance process, thereby making it easy for the DoD to submit payment to its vendors at appropriate time without making any further delay. The UID compliance has mandated all defense items to be registered with the IUID registry.

Criteria for submitting in the IUID Registry:

• Before registering with the IUID Registry, All the government manufacturing activities as well as commercial manufacturers are mandated to be registered with the Central Contractor Registration (CRR) system.
• All users are required to register themselves to have login credential access rights of the IUID Registry. But for that, you need to be an U.S. Government employee or a Contractor with approval from the DoD Program Manager to obtain the login access to the IUID Registry.
• For those who plan to conduct business with Government Furnished Property, submitting detailed info to the IUID system is a must.

As per the UID compliance, of the several standards used in IUID marking, the MIL STD 130 is the most fundamental item identification marking standard. Of late, certain changes were made to the original MIL STD 130. On December 17^th 2007, a new version of the standard (MIL-STD-130N) was officially released. As per the new MIL-STD-130N, specific criteria have been issued for marking requirements and identification methods of military items produced, stored, stocked, and issued by the Department of Defense.

Rules of the new MIL-STD-130N standard:

• Henceforth, the UID will be restricted to 50 characters only.
• For item identification marking, the MIL-STD-130N standard has criteria for both free text and machine-readable information (MRI) marking.
• Now labels which include name plates, data plates, and ID plates can be made up of metallic or non-metallic materials.
• The standard clearly states that a label may be of any similar or can also be of different material than that of the item to which it is affixed. This basically means that label of one material can be affixed to the identified item of another material.
• The verification is defined in the new MIL-STD-130N standard as “Confirmation by examination, and provisions of objective evidence, that the item identification marking requirements specified in this standard and the associated contract have been fulfilled.”
• A contractual warranty between the Government and the contractor expressing the nature, usefulness, or condition of the items in terms of hours, days, months, number of operations has to be according to the MIL-STD-130N standard.