Learning Center: RFID & MIL-STD 129 Compliance
- What is RFID?
- Why has RFID technology been implemented in the DoD Supply Chain?
- What is the DoD's RFID policy?
- Which commodities or Federal Supply Classes require RFID labels?
- Which 'ship to' locations require RFID?
- Which boxes and pallets require RFID?
- What are the technical specifications for passive RFID tags?
- What data is required to be encoded on the RFID tag?
- What is Wide Area Workflow (WAWF)?
- What is the ASN requirement for RFID?
- If a contractor is awarded a contract and selects a partner (with a different CAGE) to manufacture the product, is the Prime Contractor's CAGE or the Subcontractor's CAGE used on the RFID tag?
- What are the basic labels required by MIL-STD 129?
- For a palletized load, what are the requirements for MIL-STD 2073 container levels & MIL-STD 129 labels?
- For a non-palletized load (e.g. an individual container, case, box or crate) what are the requirements for MIL-STD 2073 container levels & MIL-STD 129 labels?
What is RFID?
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automatic identification technology in which
data is transferred wirelessly via radio waves between transponders, called RFID tags or
RFID labels, and RFID readers. This data transfer is performed in milliseconds, without
human involvement (i.e. hands free) and without line of sight. RFID tags can signal their
presence, unique identity, location & other user-defined information. RFID tags vary in
amount of memory, power, durability, size and frequency. Passive tags have no internal
power source, whereas active tags have a battery on board. For tracking cases and pallets
in the supply chain, DoD mandates the use of 96 bit, passive RFID tags which conform to
the EPC UHF Class 1 Gen 2 standard.
Why has RFID technology been
implemented in the DoD Supply Chain?
(Excerpted from
www.acq.osd.mil/log/rfid)
The implementation of RFID enables the improvement of data quality, item management,
asset visibility, and maintenance of material. RFID addresses a key challenge that
has been observed at every node within the DoD supply chain - lack of visibility of
logistics data. The use of RFID in the DoD supply chain has the potential to provide
real benefits in inventory management, asset visibility and interoperability in an
end-to-end integrated environment. RFID encapsulates the data accuracy advantages
inherent in all types of Automatic Identification Technology (AIT). Additionally,
RFID is a non-intrusive methodology for data capture (requires no human intervention),
and, unlike barcodes, does not require line-of-sight to be read. RFID is a key
technology enabler for the DoD logistics business transformation and supports long-term
integration of Item Unique Identification (IUID) into the DoD end-to-end supply chain.
RFID (both active and passive) is required by DoD to:
- Provide near real-time in-transit visibility for all classes of supplies and material.
- Provide "in the box" content level detail for all classes of supplies and material.
- Provide quality, non-intrusive identification and data collection that enables enhanced inventory management.
- Provide enhanced unit pack level visibility.
What is the DoD's RFID policy?
MIL-STD 129 and DFARS 252.211-7006 require you to affix passive RFID tags at the case
(i.e. shipping/exterior container) and pallet level for shipments of specific commodities
to specific locations. (See the two next questions for the specified commodities and
locations.) The DoD also requires the RFID numbers of each case and pallet bearing RFID
labels to be sent in an Advanced Shipment Notice to WAWF. This appends the RFID numbers
to the WAWF Receiving Report of the associated DoD contract. It can be done via manual
data entry or electronically.
Which commodities or Federal
Supply Classes require RFID labels?
The commodity being shipped must have RFID if it is in the following Classes of Supply:
- Subclass of Class I - Packaged operational rations.
- Class II - clothing, individual equipment, tentage, organizational tool kits, hand tools, and administrative and housekeeping supplies and equipment.
- Class IIIP - Packaged petroleum, lubricants, oils, preservatives, chemicals, and additives.
- Class IV - Construction and barrier materials.
- Class VI - Personal demand items (non-military sales items).
- Subclass of Class VIII - Medical materials (excluding pharmaceuticals, biologicals, and reagents - suppliers should limit the mixing of excluded and non-excluded materials).
- Class IX - Repair parts and components including kits, assemblies and subassemblies, reparable and consumable items required for maintenance support of all equipment, excluding medical-peculiar repair parts.
For a list of Federal Supply Classes and the year the RFID mandate began for each Class, see: www.acq.osd.mil/log/rfid/Class_of_supply_lookup_tool.htm
Which 'ship to' locations require RFID?
DFARS 252.211-7006 lists the following 'ship to' destinations as requiring RFID.
(However, you must read your individual contract carefully, because additional locations
requiring RFID may be identified for specific shipments.) Click for a printable version
of the list.
- New Cumberland / Susquehanna, PA W25G1U, SW3124
- Tracy / San Joaquin, CA W62G2T, SW3224
- Albany, GA SW3121
- Anniston, AL W31G1Z, SW3120
- Barstow, CA SW3215
- Cherry Point, NC SW3113
- Columbus, OH SW0700
- Corpus Christi, TX W45H08, SW3222
- Hill, UT SW3210
- Jacksonville, FL SW3122
- Oklahoma City, OK SW3211
- Norfolk, VA SW3117
- Puget Sound, WA SW3216
- Red River, TX W45G19, SW3227
- Richmond, VA SW0400
- San Diego, CA SW3218
- Tobyhanna, PA W25G1W, SW3114
- Warner Robins, GA SW3119
- Charleston AFB, SC CHS
- Naval Air Station, Norfolk, VA NGU
- Travis AFB, Fairfield, CA SUU
- Locations outside the contiguous US with Transportation Priority 1
Which boxes and pallets require RFID?
When shipping to a location that requires RFID, you must place an RFID label on every
outermost box of the shipment. This is true when the outermost box (i.e. shipping
container) is on a shrink-wrapped pallet or when the outermost box is an individual
case. In addition, when shipping to a location that requires RFID, you must place and
RFID label on all shrink-wrapped pallets. Whenever a shrink-wrapped pallet requires a
Military Shipping Label (MSL), it also requires an RFID tag. In summary, when RFID tags
are required, they must be applied at the case (exterior container or shipping container)
and pallet (palletized unit load) levels.
What are the technical specifications for passive
RFID tags?
Since March 1, 2007, the DoD has only accepted UHF Class 1 Gen 2 EPC RFID tags. Their
frequency range is 860 to 960 MHz, with a minimum read range of 3 meters. The EPC Class 1
Gen 2 standard has been ratified by the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) as 18000-6C. ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004 defines the air interface for radio-frequency
identification (RFID) devices operating in the 860 MHz to 960 MHz Industrial, Scientific,
and Medical (ISM) band used in item management applications.
What data is required to be encoded on the
RFID tag?
The required data consists of a Header, Filter, Government Managed Identifier (or
CAGE code) and Serial Number. This "serial number" does not refer to the serial number
of the product being shipped. Rather, this "serial number" is a unique number assigned
to a specific case or pallet. This number must be unique. It is never acceptable to
repeat a tag ID across two or more passive RFID tags.
| DoD-96 Identity Type | |||
| Header | Filter | Government Managed Identifier | Serial Number |
| 8 bits | 4 bits | 48 bits | 36 bits |
What is Wide Area Workflow (WAWF)?
Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) is the DoD's secure web-based system for electronic invoicing,
government inspection, receipt and acceptance. It enables electronic form submission,
processing and acceptance. It creates a virtual folder housing all contact-related
documents and sign-offs required to pay a vendor including the contract, invoice and
Receiving Report. Authorized DoD users are notified of pending actions by e-mail and
are presented with a collection of documents required to process a contracting or
financial action. WAWF has reduced the number of days it takes for DoD contractors to
get invoices approved and paid by. Resources can be found on the web at
www.wawftraining.com and
wawf.eb.mil.
What is the ASN requirement for RFID?
Sending an Advanced Ship Notice (ASN) to WAWF is the second part of the RFID regulation
per RFID DFARS clause, 252.211-7006. The ASN is not a new process. It just adds the
submission of RFID data to the Material Inspection Receiving Report (MIRR) sent to WAWF.
MIRR is the on-line version of the now defunct, paper DD250. The RFID data are the 24
characters encoded on the RFID chip and printed on the Military Shipping Label or
Exterior Container Label of every case and pallet of each shipment. For example:
2F1203337515435000000017.
If a contractor is awarded a contract and
selects a partner (with a different CAGE) to manufacture the product, is the Prime
Contractor's CAGE or the Subcontractor's CAGE used on the RFID tag?
The CAGE of the entity who ships the product should be used on the tag.
What are the basic labels required by
MIL-STD 129?
MIL-STD 129 requires Unit Container labels, Intermediate Container labels, Exterior
Container labels and Military Shipping labels.
| Unit Container labels bear data and Code 39 linear barcodes specified by MIL-STD 129 including NSN, CAGE, Part Number, Description, Quantity, Unit of Issue, Contract number, Preservation Method and Date of Preservation. Intermediate Container labels bear the same information. |  |
| Exterior Container labels include contract and content data and several Code 39 linear barcodes specified by MIL-STD 129. |  |
| Military Shipping labels (MSL's) include 'ship from' and 'ship to' address data, several Code 39 linear barcodes and a large PDF417 2-D barcode. |  |
For a palletized load, what are the requirements
for MIL-STD 2073 container levels & MIL-STD 129 labels?
MIL-STD-2073 describes a 'Russian doll' arrangement of Unit Containers, Intermediate
Containers, and Exterior Containers as indicated in the graphic below. Your contract
contains MIL-STD-2073 codes which indicate the level of packaging and type of containers
specified for your shipments. Click
here to see the required MIL-STD 129 labels.
Mouse click image to see diagram with required label placements
For a non-palletized load (e.g. an
individual container, case, box or crate) what are the requirements for MIL-STD 2073
container levels & MIL-STD 129 labels?
MIL-STD-2073 describes a 'Russian doll' arrangement of Unit Containers, Intermediate
Containers, Exterior Containers, and pallet as indicated in the graphic below. Your
contract contains MIL-STD-2073 codes which indicate the level of packaging and type
of containers specified for your shipments.
Mouse click image to see diagram with required label placements
Who needs rejections?
Proper compliance helps your shipments get where they're going
Customers say…
"For more than a year, Compliance Label Service has been our sole source for RFID labeling compliance; by choice, not by necessity. During that time, we have never shipped late due to an issue with the products or services we received from you. Any issues that did arise were quickly addressed with an email, a phone call or a fax. It’s a relief to know that when shipments have to get out the door, assistance is just a click or call away."
David Gauch,
Program Manager,
Hunter Manufacturing Company
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