National Stock Number (NSN)
The U.S. government works with several different items and parts, some of which have a specific code or part attached to them.
This code is also used between separate countries, most of which are within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which is an intergovernmental military alliance. Since this involves the military, the U.S. agency that deals with these numbers the most is the Department of Defense (DOD) and their subagency, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).
The code that is used to simplify these items is called an NSN, which can stand for the National Stock Number or NATO Stock Number. These codes are 13 digits long.
What are the Benefits of NSNs?
NSNs are used to provide a vendor with the exact specifications that an item should have so that the agencies that need them would be able to request them by code to make things go much more smoothly.
This uniformity helps streamline logistics and procurement processes for all the agencies and governments that use them. Since this number is something that is shared, it is more easily given and used to provide valuable information on what is needed.
For example, the NSN 6240-00-357-7976 is for a mercury vapor lamp ( a bulb used in street lights). If the DLA needs this item, they can request this specific part from potential vendors who will have access to the technical specs or know the primary vendors that supply this item for them.
What Does The Number Mean?
The first four digits of an NSN are for the Federal Supply Class (FSC) and can be used to help narrow down the category that each piece has.
The next two digits are for the country of origin for this item with the U.S. holding the numbers 00 and 01.
The last seven digits are uniquely made to set these items apart from others. This is sometimes called the part number, but this should not be confused with the manufacturing company's part number, as those are separate.
How to Use NSNs
As mentioned earlier, NSNs have technical specifications attached to them. These are sometimes released within the solicitation or they are released with a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code.
If an NSN is released with a CAGE code, that means the company associated with it is an authorized manufacturer of the item. There will normally be a part number associated with the CAGE code so that when you reach out to the company in question, you have more information that you can use to receive the item.
A lot of companies, whether they are the original product manufacturers or not, will list the NSN with the product so that buyers, government or otherwise, can more easily find and procure from them.