66 S T A T. ]
PUBLIC LAW 436-JULY 1, 1952
319
SEC. 4. (a) In cataloging, the Agency shall name, describe, classify, cataloging, and number each item repetitively used, purchased, stocked, or distributed, by the Department of Defense or any of the departments thereof, by such methods and in such manner that only one distinctive combination of letters or numerals or both will identify the same item either within a bureau or service, between bureaus or services, or between the departments. The single item identification shall be used for all functions of supply from original purchase to final field or area disposal. There shall be a single catalog, which may consist of a number of volumes, sections, or supplements, in which all items of supply shall be included and in which there shall appear information on each item needed for supply operations such as descriptive and performance data, size, weight, cubage, packaging or packing data, a standard quantitative measurement unit, and such other related data as is determined by the Director of the Agency to be necessary or desirable. (b) In supply standardization, it shall be the duty of the Agency to i^lt^m^ standardachieve the highest practicable degree possible in the standardization of items used throughout the Department of Defense, through the development and use of single specifications, in the elimination of overlapping and duplicating item specifications, and in the reduction of the number of sizes, kinds, or types of generally similar items. The greatest practicable degree of standardization of methods of packing, packaging, and preservation of such items shall be achieved, together with the most efficient use of services and facilities concerned with the inspection, testing and acceptance of such items. Duties of DirecSEC. 5. The Director shall under the direction of the Secretary of tor. Defense— (a) establish, develop, and maintain the single supply catalog and standardization program herein established; (b) provide for, direct, and coordinate the progressive utilization of the single supply catalog provided for herein in all supply functions within the Department of Defense, its departments, bureaus, and services from requirements determination through ultimate disposal; (c) provide for, direct, review, and approve all item names, item descriptions, and description patterns, the screening, consolidation, classification, and numbering of item descriptions and the publication and distribution of the single supply catalog; (d) establish and maintain liaison with industry advisory groups to coordinate the development of the single supply catalog and standardization program herein established with the best practices of industry in order to obtain to the greatest extent practicable the cooperation and participation of industry in the program; (e) review, amend, revise, promulgate, and establish within the Department of Defense military specifications, standards, and qualified product lists and resolve differences between military departments, bureaus, and services with respect to the same; (f) assign among the military departments, bureaus, and services within the Department of Defense when practical and consistent with their capacity and supply interest, the responsibility for portions of the cataloging and standardization programs herein established, and establish time schedules for the completion of such assignments; and (g) make final decisions in all matters concerned with the cataloging and standardization authority established in this Act, subject to review and modification by the Secretary of Defense.
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