Department of Defense announces new RFID plan

Final DoD policy outlines the timelines for RFID implementations, along with the data standards and package marking requirements for its suppliers.

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 10/1/2004

Last fall, the Department of Defense announced its commitment to join Wal-Mart as an early adopter of passive RFID technology.

The broad plan was to require RFID tags on pallets, cartons, and some packaging materials that require a unique identification (UID) beginning in January 2005.

But as Modern reported at the time, the policy was still a work in process. (See related article from May at www.dod.mmh.com.) The DoD still had to finalize what tags would be acceptable; where and on what products those tags would be applied; and who would be affected.

The picture is now clearer following a policy update which represents the final DoD policy statement on the implementation requirements for both active and passive RFID, according to Alan Estevez, assistant deputy under secretary of defense, supply chain integration.

"This policy outlines the timelines for implementation as well as the data standards and package marking requirements for DoD suppliers," Estevez said. "This requirement is a significant step in providing improved supply chain visibility to the warfighters. DoD is proud to be a leader in the implementation of this technology."

According to the new policy, RFID will be a mandatory DoD requirement on solicitations for specific products issued on or after October 1, 2004 for delivery on or after January 1, 2005. The policy initially impacts shipments of a select group of products destined for defense distribution centers in San Joaquin, Calif. and Susquehanna, Penn.

Unlike the Wal-Mart mandate, which initially impacts its top suppliers, all DoD suppliers of those products into those facilities will be required to meet the new requirements, and not just the top 100.

The products include: packaged operational rations; clothing, individual equipment, and tools; personal demand items; and weapon system repair parts and components.

In January 2006, the program will be expanded to include subsistence and comfort items; packaged petroleum, lubricants, oils, preservatives, and chemicals; construction and barrier material; ammunition; major end items; and pharmaceuticals and medical materials.

DoD has approved a frequency range for passive tags at UHF 860 – 960 MHz. That means for now, DoD will accept EPCglobal Class 0 64-bit read-only, Class 1 64-bit read-write, Class 0 96-bit read-only, and Class 1 96-bit read-write tags. Those tags will gradually be phased out in favor of the next generation UHF Gen 2 tag once that specification becomes commercially available.

The full text of the supplier implementation plan is available on the DoD RFID web site at www.dodrfid.org.