Specifications

The following information is usually contained in the spec. Outlined below is some general information applicable to most specs.

Section 1:

Scope – The statement of the scope shall repeat the item name and its modifiers and consist of a clear, concise abstract of the coverage of the specification and may include, whenever necessary, information as to the use of the item other than specific detailed applications covered under ” Intended Use”. This brief statement shall be the beginning paragraph in section 1 of the six section specification. As applicable, reference may be made to information contained in section 6. The scope shall not contain requirements. Figures shall not be included in the scope.

This section shall include the following in the order listed, as applicable:

A. Scope B. Classification

Section 2:

Applicable Documents – Section 2 shall list only those documents referenced in sections 3 and 4 of the specification that are needed to meet requirements or provide useful information for meeting requirements. If a document is only cited as an example or for background information, it does not have to be listed in section 2. Figures bound integrally with the specification shall not be listed in section 2 unless they are reduced-size copies of drawings provided in the specification for information only. Use of the full-size drawings is normally required with the specification.

This section shall include the following in the order listed, as applicable:

1. Required general paragraph
2. Correct document number and titles
3. Documents referenced in sections 3, 4, and 5
4. Sources for documents
5. Order of precedence

Section 3:

Requirements – Section 3 of the specification shall state the necessary requirements for the product for which the specification is prepared. Figure 1 lists some possible requirements for performance specifications and detail specifications: General principles – the following general principles shall govern requirements for performance and detail specifications:

1. Requirements shall represent the actual essential needs of the government – ( Mil-Spec.)
2. Requirements shall be described in a manner to encourage competition
3. Requirements shall be clear and provide a definite basis for rejection or firm criteria for acceptance

based on testing or examination.

This section shall include the following in the order listed, as applicable:

1. Paragraph on associated specifications, MS sheets, or specification sheets
2. Qualification
3. First article
4. Standard sample
5. Materials
6. Environmental considerations
7. Recycled, reclaimed, recovered material
8. Design
9. Construction
10. Hardware
11. Reliability
12. Maintainability
13. Transportability
14. Performance characteristics
15. Energy efficiency
16. Human factors
17. Safety
18. Chemical and physical properties
19. Electromagnetic interference suppression
20. Dimensions
21. Weight
22. Color
23. Finish
24. Identification plate
25. Anti-counterfeiting
26. Government-furnished property
27. Government-loaned property
28. Workmanship
29. Requirements covered examinations and tests in section 4

Section 4

Verification – Section 4 shall include all inspections to be performed to determine that the item to be offered for acceptance conforms to the requirements in section 3 of the specification. This section shall not include quality requirements that belong in the contract, such as responsibility for inspection, establishment of quality or inspection program requirements, warranties, instructions for nonconforming items, and contractor liability for nonconformance.

This section shall include the following in the order listed, as applicable:

A. Classification of inspections

B. Inspection conditions

C. Qualification inspection

D. First article inspection

E. Conformance inspection

F. Examinations and tests for verifying requirements in section 3

Section 5

Packaging – For product acquisition purposes, the packaging requirements shall be as specified in the contract or order.

Section 6

Notes – Section 6 is not contractually binding. It shall only contain information of a general or explanatory nature, and no requirements shall appear therein. It shall contain information designed to assist in determining the applicability of the specification a and the selection of appropriate type, grade, or class of the commodity, additional supersession data, changes in product designation such as grades or class, standard sample ( if required ), and other information deemed appropriate.

This section shall include the following in the order listed, as applicable: