Specifications

Standard Army batteries are commonly defined via Military Performance Specifications (MIL-PRF) which define performance, operating requirements, operational environment, interfaces, and interoperability requirements. These specifications are published (usually with unlimited distribution), and can be found on ASSIST by going to ASSIST QuickSearch.

Specifications consist of 6 sections:

1. Scope: Provides a general description of the batteries covered in the specification.
2. Applicable documents: Lists documents that are cited in the Requirements and Verification sections as well as instructions on how to attain copies of them.
3. Requirements: Defines the minimum requirements to be met in order to be acceptable to the Government. As multiple battery types may be described within the same specification, some requirements may be listed as applying to batteries of a certain characteristic (e.g. chemistry) or may be cited a ‘when specified’. Specific identifiers cited in the Government’s contractual documentation, such as the Part or Identifying number (PIN), will enable a determination of exactly which requirements are applicable.
4. Verification: Lists all inspections that need to be performed to demonstrate the batteries offered for acceptance by the Government meet the requirements outlined in section 3. Inspections range from initial First Article (see First Article Testing (FAT)) or Qualification Inspection to production and periodic conformance inspections. Contractual documentation will specify which verifications are performed by the vendor and which ones require performance in a Government lab. Note that some requirements are deemed beyond the scope of the specification, and vendor’s certificate of conformance may be requested in lieu of a formalized verification by the specification.
5. Packaging: Directs the vendor to the contractual documentation for packaging requirements.
6. Notes: Contains information of a general or explanatory nature that may be helpful, but is not mandatory. This section includes will contain such things as definitions of terms, explanation of concepts, and lessons learned as applicable.

In addition to the base specification described above, a specification may also contain ‘slash sheets’. The name slash sheets comes their naming structure which is the document number of the base specification followed by forward slash ‘/’ and then a sequentially assigned number. For example the base specification MIL-PRF-32271 has associated slash sheets MIL-PRF-32271/1, MIL-PRF-32271/2, etc. While the base specification will contain common characteristics such as safety and operating environment, the slash sheet contains the requirements that are unique to a particular form factor like dimensions and capacity. They must be used in conjunction with one another to fully describe the battery.

Specifications are limited to defining the characteristics of the battery and methods by which to verify them. It does not describe who performs the verification, where the verifications are performed, general quality programs for manufacture, data reporting, or any requirement not applicable to the battery itself. These, and any other additional programmatic requirements, will be found in other contractual documents such as statement of work (SOW).

The Government will periodically review specifications to determine if updates are required. The general practice for an update will to be post an announcement on the System for Award Management (sam.gov) soliciting feedback and comments from industry. Typically, there is no compensation available for this feedback, and comments are non-binding to the Government, but feedback received can help shape the specification update and therefor future procurements.

The following is a list of common Army battery specification and is not all inclusive.