MIL-STD-129 Requirement Norms As Per The Dod Mil Specs

To standardize the military products, the US Department of Defence (DoD) has introduced certain DoD MIL Specs. The purpose of these DoD MIL Specs is to ensure that all defence related products are manufactured as per a common requirement standard and similar defence-related objective. They should also have proper compatibility with logistics systems.

MIL-STD-129 is one of the major standards of DoD MIL Specs meant for uniform military marking for shipment and storage. Ammunition and other military equipments that are supplied through shipments are clearly specified in the MIL-STD-129 standard. Contractors who want to supply their products are mandated to follow the instructions as per the standard for the application of numbers, labels, symbols, tags, and colors to expedite handling during shipment and storage.

As per the DoD MIL Specs, the MIL-STD-129 standard has made shipment container labelling exercise a bit more rigorous. While one set of labels is required for unit and intermediate containers, and another set is mandated for exterior containers.

The MIL-STD-129 requirements for unit, intermediate and exterior containers are discussed as follows.

For Unit Containers:

Serial Number Barcodes are assigned by the manufacturer or the Government for identification or control and only then can be listed. The serial numbers for each item in the container should be in clear barcode format.

Every minute detail about the barcodes such as National Stock Number (NSN) Barcode, quantity, part number, contract number, item description, unit of issue, date of preservation, and method of preservation code should be listed in plain text format.

As per the MIL-STD-129 standard, Shelf life markings are a must for deteriorative items. The Shelf Life Markings indicate the date an item needs to be tested or disposed of.

For Exterior Containers:

Here the basic label format is similar to that of unit containers, however as per the DoD MIL Specs, there are a few exceptions. Like the Contract Number, NSN, and CAGE Code must be in barcode format. Also item description which was there in unit containers marking is not necessary here. Besides these, certain additional labels are also required which are summarized below.

Military Shipment Label (MSL): both the DoD and contractors are mandated to address this special markings using a bar coded MSL. This label includes barcodes for the transportation control number (TCN), Piece Number and to and from Mark-For address information necessary to route shipments to defense users. A 2D-barcode that encodes all of the data on the label for automatic process is also included in this MSL.

Direct-Vendor Delivery (DVD) Label: According to the MIL-STD-129 requirement standard, vendors are required to follow this DVD shipments standard address marking with bar codes format. This DVD label includes the NSN and composite barcode, requisition TCN, Unit of Issue, Condition Code, made up of Quantity, Routing ID Code, Unit Price, and finally the Distribution Code.

Serial Number Barcode(s): As per the DoD MIL Specs, "SERIAL NUMBER LIST INSIDE" should be clearly marked on the identification-marked side of the exterior container. If more than five bar codes are there, two serial number lists shall be provided instead of a single one. The first serial number must be placed inside the container while the second one should be in the packing list.

The intermediate containers follow the same rules as that of both the unit and exterior containers.

A Brief Overview of IUID Registry Process

The Item Unique Identification (IUID) Registry is commonly known as the vital repository of IUID information. It has a critical role in the identification and classification of items that are at the disposal of the Department of Defense (DoD). Likewise, it also assists the DoD to find out the preliminary value of items during their acquisition, acquisition time, rightful custody and the marking process.

Unique Identification is a system designed and planned by the Department of Defense to differentiate one object easily from another through the entire life cycle process. The IUID has grown to become the most important part of the Department. The IUID has been useful to the DoD in capturing the value of items it buys, controlling these items during their use, and tracking counterfeiting of parts at regular intervals.

The IUID acts as a universal method of parts identification. It is the most significant element which assists the DoD to locate, control and value its assets frequently. Through its IUID policy, the Department of Defense has made it mandatory that all the qualifying items must be marked with two-dimensional Data Matrix which should be encoded with a Unique Item Identifier (UID).

As the DoD’s information systems have become more web-savvy, the IUID helps with financial integration, accountability systems, maintenance and life cycle visibility of the items that are stored within it. Aside from augmenting the quality of information available for management configuration, it will facilitate other important matters such as operational planning, logistics support and systems engineering. In short, The IUID Registry facilitates joint, paperless management of DoD property.

Procedure of Submitting Data in the IUID Registry

All the government manufacturing activities and commercial manufacturers ought to be registered with the Central Contractor Registration (CRR) system before registering with the IUID Registry. If you plan to conduct business with Government Furnished Property, you must submit data to the IUID Registry. The users have to register themselves to get their login credentials and access rights before using the Controlled Access portion of the IUID Registry. Also, you have to be a government employee or an U.S. Government Contractor with approval from the DoD Program Manager to receive login access to the IUID Registry.

Rules to Be Applicable for IUID Registry

• All items for which the Government’s unit acquisition cost is $5,000 or more when the Government’s unit acquisition cost is less than $5,000 and the requiring activity determines that permanent identification is required.

• Ensure the delivery of IUID data to the IUID Registry and marking of UIIs on items purchased by the Department of Defense (including those for foreign customers), consisting of new equipment, major modifications, reprocurements of equipment and spares, by issuing solicitations that include the clause at DFARS 252.211-7003 or by alternative implementation that will result in marking and registration no later than 30 days after receipt of materiel.

• Purchases initiated by the Department of Defense and executed through the General Services Administration or other federal agencies shall comply with the UID policy

• Modernize acquisition, logistics, and property management Automated Information Systems with UII requirements including use of the IUID Registry.