Brief Overview of DFARS 252.211.7003 Requirements

The marking clause – DFARS 252.211.7003 – included in the Department of Defense’s (DoD) UID regulations deals specifically with item identification and valuation. The following article provides more information on this regulation, as well as tips for compliance.

Introduction

The DoD’s UID program is, in its simplest terms, a unique identification system used to track assets, equipment, and other property across the department. It ensures efficiency and greater asset data tracking. There are numerous regulations in relation to the identification marking process. MIL SPEC 130 and MIL STD 129 contain every individual rule governing the UID program, including IUD marking, IUD verification, and registration. The basic goal of the program is to track every product throughout its lifecycle.

How the process is implemented?

UID is necessary, as earlier stated, to mark nearly all physical assets within the DoD. Complying perfectly with the DoD’s many regulations is far from a simple process – it can, in fact, be quite confusing and difficult for manufacturers to stay up to date on the latest rules. However, those manufacturers who do it – and do it well – can earn themselves a spot on the favored provider list and secure more government contracts as a result. But there is potential for mistakes at every step along the way, which can lead to non-compliance and rejection. So, to provide thorough instructions and guidelines to help manufacturers, the DoD has created separate clauses and articles for each requirement. DFARS 252.211.7003 is a clause dealing with identification and valuation. DFARS 252.211.7003 says that items priced at and above $5,000 USD must be marked. The clause also covers:

• Techniques to use to mark a product
• Placement of the marking
• Materials to use
• Information to be included on a marking
• Exceptions to the rule

In order to ensure compliance with the many regulations, UID verification is recommended. This is a process by which the UID is scanned and tested to ensure it meets all standards before it is submitted to the registry. UID verification scanners can be purchased, though they’re quite expensive. It is also possible to hire a company that provides UID verification services, and this is often a money saver.

While in the past, unique markings were given exclusively to military assets, properties and other items, today these processes even inspire non-governmental organizations to use similar methods. To learn more about this system, you can find useful information on informative websites like ID Integration Inc. Visit ID Integration at www.id-integration.com to find more information.