As any DoD supplier knows, it is difficult to acquire a contract with the Department of Defense. Once you have earned a contract it becomes the lifeblood of your business, and maintaining that contract can be paramount to your success. It is absolutely vital to stay compliant with DoD regulations, which includes staying iRAPT compliant in the proper manner.

HOW iRAPT AFFECTS YOUR ASSET REPORTING

The Department of Defense requires all suppliers to not only provide high-quality goods and services, but also has strict requirements on the way you report assets and shipments. Here are a few of these requirements that you should be aware of:

IUID Policy:  iRAPT requires the use of Item Unique Identification (IUID) to achieve asset identification compliance to MIL STD 130.

DFARS clauses: The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) requires defense manufacturers to identify, mark, and report assets. This must be done by placing a durable asset tag containing a machine-readable IUID, or a 2D Data Matrix barcode, on new end item deliverables or existing government property under contract. The 2D Data Matrix barcode links to a range of pedigree data that is unique to the item including manufacturer, part number and serial number as well as identifying transactions such as custody transfers and other asset lifecycle events.

Qualifying Assets: The DoD and all defense contractors and suppliers must account for all qualifying DoD assets using IUID barcode labels and plates. However, with iRAPT, you can no longer add new acquisition deliveries directly to the IUID Registry. Instead, you must submit them through iRAPT along with the Receiving Report.

Even with these supplier-wide requirements, there are some regulations that vary from contract to contract. Before submitting any data, be sure to read your contract carefully.

If your DoD contract contains DFARS clause 252.211-7003, then you must comply with the IUID policy. Your contract will also tell you which items you are obligated to mark.

Remember, it is the prime contractor’s responsibility to ensure the required IUID data is registered. It is always a good idea to verify your tags to ensure the 2D Data Matrix can be read and decoded, reducing risks and cost from returned items.

To learn more about IUID basics and your obligations as a DoD supplier, take a look at our free whitepaper: Getting Started with IUID – What You Need To Know: The Basics.

STAYING iRAPT COMPLIANT IS MUCH EASIER WITH THE PROPER TOOLS

The iRAPT system is like any other advanced computer technology. When used properly, this system will become a critical tool to ensure invoices, shipment data and property reporting is taking place efficiently and without error.

The same principles apply throughout the Supplier’s business. Using the right internal software and hardware solutions can be an investment that greatly relieves the stress and complexity of managing contract data to iRAPT, but is also critical to IUID and RFID compliance and the reporting of assets and shipments. A combination of all of these systems is required to maintain your contracts with the DoD.

Purchasing and implementing these internal systems is an important investment, but leveraging automated systems can generate real cost savings and is vital to your business. You will be amazed at how much time, money, and effort you can save and apply elsewhere if you invest in and utilize the right tools. This is especially true for DoD Suppliers, and using such tools can lead to continued and significant revenues when working with the Department of Defense.

To learn more about iRAPT Compliance and getting your organization audit ready take a look at our complete guide: iRAPT and the DoD – The Defense Contractors Guide to iRAPT.

Staying iRAPT Compliant

Companies like A2B Tracking provide the most effective tools that can aid in staying iRAPT compliant through proper shipping and reporting of assets to the Department of Defense. Some of these tools include barcode and RFID systems, IUID compliance solutions, and a combination of hardware and software for automating your marking, tracking, and invoicing of shipments. Click here to learn more about our solutions.

 

If you are unsure whether you are meeting all of the iRAPT requirements in your government contract or if you would like to discuss some of the tools that we offer – give us a call. A2B Tracking has helped hundreds of organizations like yours navigate the complexities of DCMA compliance. Let us help you get it right.