U.S. DoD Supports a Continuing Requirement for IUID

Recently, we updated you on the DoD’s reaffirmation of its commitment to Item Unique Identification (IUID) when it republished Department of Defense Instructions (DODI) 8320.04, “Item Unique Identification Standards for Tangible Personal Property”.
That naturally leads to the question: “How is an acquisition program supposed to implement IUID?” The answer is pretty simple. This is documented in DODI 5000.02 as follows.
When a Program Manager (PM) is preparing to develop/acquire a new or modified system, the Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) 5000.02, “Operation of the Defense Acquisition System” guides how the PM and the Program Management Office (PMO) will set up and execute the acquisition.
DODI 5000.02 was revised in January 2015 and continues to directly reference DODI 8320.04.  It requires the Program Manager to implement IUID and document it in the Systems Engineering Plan (SEP).  That direction is below:

“18. ITEM UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION. The Program Manager will plan for and implement item unique identification to identify and track applicable major end items, configuration/controlled items, and government-furnished property to enhance life-cycle management of assets in systems acquisition and sustainment, and to provide more accurate asset valuation and property accountability. Item unique identification planning and implementation will be documented in an Item Unique Identification Implementation Plan linked to the program’s SEP.  DoD Instruction 8320.04 (Reference (ae)) provides the standards for unique item identifiers.”

As you can see, there is no ambiguity in this direction nor is there any exception cited. If your government PM office has not produced an IUID Implementation Plan and documented/linked it in their SEP and executed in their acquisition program through the approved mandatory IUID contract clauses, they have not met their program requirements.
The two DoD Instructions can be found at:
DODI 5000.02
DODI 8320.04
The current mandatory Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clauses can be found at:
DFARS 252.211-7003, IUID
DFARS 252.211-7007, Government Furnished Property
As additional IUID related changes are announced, we will continue to send you updates. If you have any questions regarding this latest change or any other IUID questions, ask our UID expert, or contact us.