WASHINGTON -- The US Defense Logistics Agency today issued a brief instituting DNA marking for any company that seeks to supply electronics components deemed to be high counterfeit risks.

In the brief, the DLA wrote that DNA marking requirements are unique to FSC 5962 and are being instituted for the safety of our service men and women. Effective immediately, only trusted sources who comply with Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) marking requirements in DLAD 52.211-9074 are eligible to receive FSC 5962 awards from DLA. There are no exceptions.

Federal Supply Class (FSC) 5962, Electronic Microcircuits, covers components and multichip modules that have been determined to be at high risk for counterfeiting. This latest DLA move follows its decision last August to implement its first phase of requirements for DNA marking.

Trusted sources are defined as either an original component manufacturer (OCM), a supplier on the qualified suppliers list of distributors (QSLD), an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), an authorized distributor, a manufacturer on the qualified manufacturers list (QML), a supplier on the qualified testing suppliers list (QTSL), or the manufacturer of generalized emulated parts (SRI). All trusted sources except those listed on the QTSL must have full traceability documentation for the item being procured.

The DLA said that because some small businesses and other trusted sources of FSC 5962 are not prepared to comply with the DNA marking requirements, the agency will reimburse those that receive awards for the direct costs of the annual DNA marking license that must be obtained from Applied DNA Sciences (unique DNA mark, ink, authentication program, monthly reports, detector set (UV and IR), and training).

For more on using DNA to authenticate components, click here and here.