MIL-STD-130 Compliance

MIL-STD-130 Compliance is a critical consideration for any organization that works with the Department of Defense today. Item Unique Identification, or IUID, is an essential component for maintaining compliance with US Department of Defense equipment contracts.

IUID refers to the permanent marking method used to give equipment a unique ID#. This unique mark, or label, needs to meet Military Standard 130 (or MIL-STD-130). Here are the essential components to creating fully compliant IUID labels in order to meet your MIL-STD-130 compliance requirements.

Construct 1 vs Construct 2 Labels

MIL-STD-130 specifically identifies how to mark an asset with an IUID. One of the first considerations is to determine whether you need a Construct 1 or Construct 2 IUID label. Government contracts will often clarify which construct needs to be used; but, not always. If the contract does not call out the construct you should check with your contracting officer for clarification on which construct should be used. The designation of Construct 1 or Construct 2 is referring to the data (or the format of the alphanumeric code) within the IUID.

Construct 1 typically consists of a CAGE code (or possibly a DUNS number) and a Serial number. Whereas, Construct 2 typically consists of a CAGE code, Part number and Serial number.

Label Material & Marking Method

Once the Construct has been determined the next step is to choose an appropriate material and marking method for your IUID label. The key to this decision is to fully understand the environmental conditions that your asset will be exposed to throughout the lifecycle of that asset. Your compliant IUID Label needs to last the lifetime of that asset. Meaning you need to select a material & marking method type such as polyester using a thermal transfer printer or photo anodized aluminum that will be able to support the environmental conditions the asset will get exposed to.

Verification and Validation

There is often confusion surrounding the Verification and Validation processes. The goal here is to ensure that every IUID label has been processed properly and is working accurately. These are quality control steps that need to be adhered to in order to achieve sustained MIL-STD-130 compliance.

Validation is all about the data that is encoded in the 2D Data Matrix barcode along with having the correct format and syntax. You need to be sure that your data, regardless if you are using a Construct 1 or Construct 2 format, meets MIL STD 130 guidelines. This means your data can be comprised of alpha uppercase (A to Z) or numeric (0-9) characters. You can also use a dash (-) or forward slash (/) character. If your data is comprised of any other character it would then be considered non-compliant against MIL STD 130.

Verification is the process of assessing the quality grade of the 2D Data Matrix barcode that was created based on your data. Regardless of the various marking methods available such as a thermal transfer printer or a laser etching process the 2D Data Matrix must meet MIL STD 130 quality grade guidelines. The use of a verifier is essential to identify if the mark has met this quality grade. Remember, just because you are able to scan the barcode does not mean that it is MIL STD 130 compliant.

Applying the IUID Label

The IUID labels should be applied to the asset on a flat, clean surface where the barcode is easily accessible for scanning. You may need to follow engineering specifications for label placement. The affix date should also be recorded to establish an audit trail and the asset pedigree data should be validated to insure the correct label is applied to the correct asset.

Reporting to the IUID Registry

The last step is to report your assets to the IUID Registry. There are 3 options available to do this reporting. You can manually enter the data via iRAPT (or what is now known as PIEE – the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment). Or you can outsource this process to an approved vendor. The third option might be to purchase a 3rd party software to process your reporting electronically (Our UC! Web software platform was specifically designed to help Government Agencies and contractors with this process). The last two options are the most reliable as the reporting is done electronically without risk of human error.