Item Unique Identification (IUID) is required for all new Department of Defense (DoD) acquisitions meeting these criteria:

• the item has a line item acquisition cost in its contract of $5,000 or more

• the item is or will be serially managed by the DoD

• the item is or will be controlled or mission essential

• permanent identification is or will be wanted for any other reason

Items already owned by DoD (legacy items) that are serially managed may also be IUID relevant according to the decision tree in DoD Instruction 8320.04.

For embedded items, the only criteria are whether the item is or will be DoD serially managed or if permanent identification is or will be needed or desired for any other reason. Embedded items are parts or components delivered under contract without their own line item specifying their explicit cost.

For new acquisitions, the government must include DFARS clause 252.211-7003 in the contract. In the clause, DoD can identify those items that exceed the $5000 threshold that should not be marked and items under the $5000 threshold that do require marking. Embedded items that require marking must also be specifically identified in the clause. 

Items requiring IUID must be assigned a globally unique, permanent unique item identifier (UII). The UII and other identification data must be submitted on the Material Inspection and Receiving Report (MIRR) in WAWF. When the MIRR with the UII data is accepted in WAWF (generally as part of the invoicing process) the UIIs will be automatically transmitted to and registered in the IUID Registry. Note that the only method to submit new procurement UIIs to the IUID Registry is via WAWF MIRR. WAWF accepts manual web entry, flat file direct to WAWF, or ANSI X.12 via the Global Exchange Service.

The UII data is encoded into an ECC200 data matrix (shown below) and applied to the item. The IUID data matrix can be applied to the item using a variety of methods, ranging from adhesive labels, to laser marking, to thermal spray.

One of the two critical characteristics of IUID is the permanency of the UII assigned to the item. Once assigned to an item, the UII shall never, ever change. Whether an item is modified, resulting in a new part number; or sent to Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Disposition Services; or rebuilt at a depot; or expended or consumed in use, the UII for the item remains constant and associated to the item, never to be used for any other item.

The other critical characteristic is the uniqueness of the UII. The DoD recognizes six commercially used unique identifiers as IUID equivalents: the vehicle identification number, or VIN; the cellular mobile telephone identifier (CMTI); the mobile equipment identifier (MEID) ; the electronic serial number (ESN); the Global Individual Asset Identifier (GIAI); and the Global Returnable Asset Identifier (GRAI). These IUID equivalents may be used in lieu of assigning a new UII.

If no UII or IUID equivalent is already assigned, a UII can be built from one of two constructs. A Construct 1 UII is made by connecting three pieces of data: an issuing agency code designating what kind of enterprise is ensuring the uniqueness of the UII, an identifier for that enterprise, and finally a serial number the enterprise has uniquely assigned to that item. A Construct 2 UII is made by connecting four pieces of data: an issuing agency code designating what kind of enterprise is ensuring the uniqueness of the UII, an identifier for that enterprise, the original part number of the item, and finally the serial number uniquely assigned to that item within the part number. Note that the issuing agency code is not encoded in the IUID Data Matrix. These data elements provide the foundation for a globally unique item identifier.

See MIL-STD-130 latest version and the DoD Guide to Uniquely Identifying Items for additional information.