RFID label manufacturers have a reason to rejoice over several government mandates issued in recent years. DFARS, the Defense Federal Regulation Supplement, is one set of mandated restrictions that has benefited the industry.
To explain why, let’s start with the Controlled Unclassified Information Program (CUI).
Some knowledge is best held in private hands.
That idea is behind the USA’s Controlled Unclassified Information Program (CUI), the policy program that sets information handling protocols for the executive branch of government through designation, handling, and decontrolling of government materials that qualify as sensitive, but are not labeled “classified.”
Outside of the federal executive branch, any entity receiving CUI information from the executive branch also must follow the program’s rules.
Following CUI standardizes and gives consistency to the often “as needed” or makeshift security policies both the former and the latter groups had in the past.
Any group, therefore, that works as a transmitter of government information, supplies the government with requested materials or contracts to fulfill government projects must comply with CUI protocols for handling sensitive information.
Since today most businesses dealing with the government are dependent on electronic data systems, compliance means that information technology infrastructures must be tuned to CUI protocols for mission and business success.
Then, let’s understand FAR.
FAR (the Federal Acquisition Regulation document) is the guide mandated for use by government purchasing agents and government contractors in their endeavors to acquire goods and services.
Finally, let’s look at DFARS.
DFARS, too, is a regulatory document. It is a supplement to FAR that deals directly with safeguarding sensitive defense information (note the “D” and “S” in the title) in the process of purchasing goods and services.
It includes clauses on cyber security, which continues to be a concern for government and the private sector.
CUI, “or Covered Defense,” in federal parlance, is basic to DFARS. Covered Defense includes controlled technical information and a contractor’s proprietary information. It is designed to:
- identify users (humans, processes, devices) of CUI
- secure user access to CUI
- audit and give accountability of CUI usage (a digital paper trail)
- confirm the identity/authenticity of assets germain to CUI
- confirm the location of assets germain to CUI
- check electronic infrastructures handling of CUI
- keep CUI information current
- ensure maintenance
The ideal vehicle to meet the design is the RFID tag.
Since 2007, the DOD has required all of its suppliers to use passive RFID tags.
When shipping to defense distribution depots, contractors must affix passive RFID tags at the case and pallet levels when sending packaged operational rations, commodities, clothing, individual equipment, tools, personal demand items, and weapon system repair parts.
Also included are subsistence and comfort items, packaged petroleum, lubricants, oils, preservatives and chemicals, construction and barrier material, computers, digital equipment, ammunition of all types, pharmaceutical, medical material and more.
(Use of high-data-capacity active RFID also are cited in DFARS as viable aids in the DOD operational environment.)
Consequently, at the inception of DFARS in 2005, the future for RFID labelers began to grow brighter and brighter, in part, because the DOD required RFID tag usage on an enormous amount of cases and pallets (pursuant to clause DFAR 252.211-7006).
And, more good news, since the information contained on the tag is no longer used after the packaging or container has been opened, the DOD requires a continuing supply of newly produced tags.
Reuters attests to the growth of the industry and predicts “The RFID Tags Market to Witness a Pronounce Growth Rate of 7.6% CAGR by 2023.” Part of this growth is attributed to an increase in usage of security and access control applications in the DOD as well as in other enterprises.
Since DFARS inspires industry growth, vendors and manufacturers would be prudent to add the required UHF Gen 2 EPC standard tags to their offerings and showcase RFID tags to their government clients to enhance their ROI.
Metalcraft supplies DFARS compliant tags to the DOD to ensure national security.
RFID Journal quotes Austin Elling, Metalcraft’s marketing director as saying “the universal Metalcraft passive UHF tags, as well as all other Metalcraft RFID tags, are ISO-certified and meet DFARS standards. DFARS compliance ensures that the data management for the RFID tags meets cybersecurity regulations – a feature required by numerous government entities.”
In addition, the universal Metalcraft passive UHF tag is very competitively priced at a much lower cost than similar tags offered by competitors. It is also rugged, so reading isn’t a problem.
About the Author: Marianne Alvarado

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