1 of 5 Attachment, ADC 476

ADC 476

New UoM Conversion Codes for DLA Energy

1. ORIGINATING SERVICE/AGENCY AND POC INFORMATION: 

 a. Technical POC: DLA Energy, Contracting Officer Natural Gas Central Division, DLA 

Energy Phone: 703-767-1153

b. Functional POC: DLA Logistics Information Service, Phone: 269 961-432.

2. FUNCTIONAL AREA: Supply/Contract Administration

3. REFERENCES: 

a. Unit of Measure (Unit of Issue/Purchase Unit) Conversion Guide available on the 

DLMS Web at URL:

www.dla.mil/j-6/dlmso/eApplications/LogDataAdmin/dlmsansiconverguides.asp.

b. Proposed DLMS Change (PDC) 502, New Unit of Measure Conversion Codes for DLA 

Energy, dated January 18, 2012.

4. BACKGROUND: Significant revisions subsequent to staffing of PDC 502 are 

highlighted.

a. Intent of the change: In order for DLMS transactions to comply with Electronic Data 

Exchange (EDI) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) American Standards Committee 

(ASC) X12 syntax, the unit of measure passed in the DLMS/Wide Area Workflow (WAWF)

transactions must use the code value assigned by ASC X12. The optimum situation occurs

where the DOD unit of measure and commercial standard carry the same code values for a 

specific unit of measure. However, this is not always the case, and so a conversion guide is 

required to align the DOD and X12 codes. Four new DOD unit of measure codes (as shown 

below) have been identified for use in electricity and natural gas contracts issued by DLA 

Energy. In order for X12 invoice and receiving report transactions to process successfully within 

Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) these values must be included in the Unit of Material Measure 

(Unit of Issue/Purchase Unit) Conversion Guide. Use of the conversion guide is necessary so 

that all automated systems can understand and process EDI transactions containing the assigned 

X12 code value that equates to the DOD code value. UoM values that are identical within X12 

and DOD are included in the conversion table to support standardized processing.

b. Scenario for which the transaction is used: This requirement is primarily associated 

with the WAWF transactions (potentially applicable, the 856 Receiving Report, 861 Acceptance 

Report, and 810 Invoice). Once authorized, conversion codes will become available for use in 

all DLMS transactions, as needed.

c. Procedures, transactions, data elements, processing details in use today: The 

requirement to use DLMS/WAWF transactions for DLA Energy contracts is new under DLA’s 
2 of 5 Attachment, ADC 476

Energy Convergence (EC) program. EC will automate work processes using COTS technology 

for all Energy-related business areas. It will integrate fuels commodity management with the 

DLA Business Enterprise Architecture. Within DLA’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

system, commercially recognized UoM three-position codes/acronyms are displayed to the user. 

In association with the identified requirement for DLA Energy, the Federal Logistics Information 

System (FLIS) was updated for the national stock number (NSN) and DOD UoM codes 

identified in the original PDC 502.

5. APPROVED CHANGE(S):

 a. The following DOD units of measure must be available in the DLMS Unit of Issue and 

Purchase Unit Conversion Guide (Unit or Basis For Measurement):

(1) Kilowatt. A unit of electrical power equal to 1,000 watts. (Applicable to 

electricity.)

(2) Kilowatt-Hour. A measure of electrical energy equivalent to a power 

consumption of one thousand watts over 1 hour. (Applicable to electricity.)

(3) Megawatt-Hour. A measure of electrical energy equivalent to a power 

consumption of one million watts over 1 hour. (Applicable to electricity.)

(4) Dekatherm. A measure of thermal heating value equivalent to one million British 

thermal units (BTU) or ten therms. (Applicable to natural gas.)

 b. Approved procedures: Revise the DLMS Conversion Guide to include the 

authorized X12 UoM codes for the above UoM, identifying/establishing the DOD equivalent 

codes for conversion processing at ANSI ASC X12 EDI version 4010 or higher. The conversion 

process is used to equate DOD codes for unit of issue or purchase unit to a corresponding value 

in the ASC X12 code list for unit of measure. When a new unit of measure is needed within 

DOD, a corresponding code from the commercial standard is selected for use in the conversion 

guide. When the required new unit of measure is not available in the commercial standard, the 

DLA Logistics Management Standards may propose a data maintenance action to ASC X12 to 

have a code added or modified. However, ASC X12 codes are not downwardly compatible, and 

when a new code or modified definition is approved, it is not applied retroactively to an earlier 

version/release of the standard. 

 (1) The UoM “Kilowatt” is valid in the commercial standard and the X12 code is 

unused within the DOD code set. Therefore, the DOD code currently assigned in FLIS will be 

replaced with the X12 UoM and the conversion guide will be updated to reflect this. This will 

eliminate all conflicts and ensure common understanding of the code value.

 (2) The UoM “Kilowatt Hour” is valid in the commercial standard, but the X12 code is 

already used within the DOD code set. The DOD code currently assigned in FLIS will be 

replaced with a previously unused code to prevent duplication with WAWF. The conversion 

guide will be updated to reflect replacement DOD UoM and the corresponding X12 code.
3 of 5 Attachment, ADC 476

 (3) The UoM “Megawatt Hour” is not valid in the commercial standard; however, the 

equivalent “Thousand Kilowatt Hours” is available. Because these two units of measure have 

the same meaning, an X12 data maintenance request will be submitted to incorporate the 

terminology for both megawatt hour and thousand kilowatt hours in the text name for the 

commercial standard so that the two terms will be aligned. The text name shown in both FLIS 

and the conversion guide will incorporate both terms. DLA Energy will make a corresponding 

request for update of the UoM text names within to the Procurement Data Standard. The UoM 

code for Thousand Kilowatt Hours already exists within both the DOD code set and the 

conversion guide using the same value. Therefore, this code will be adopted and the previously 

assigned FLIS value will be replaced. 

 (4) The UoM “Dekatherm” is not valid in the commercial standard; however, the 

equivalent “Million BTU’s” (for British Thermal Units) is available. Because these two units of 

measure have the same meaning, an X12 data maintenance request will be submitted to 

incorporate the terminology for both dekatherm and million BTUs in the text name for the

commercial standard so the two terms will be better aligned. The text name shown in both FLIS 

and the conversion guide will incorporate both terms.DLA Energy will make a corresponding 

request for update of the UoM text names within the Procurement Data Standard. The DOD 

code currently assigned in FLIS will be replaced with a previously unused code to prevent 

duplication with WAWF. The conversion guide will be updated to reflect replacement DOD 

UoM and the corresponding X12 code.

c. The following table provides the relationship between DOD and X12 code values as 

approved under the DLMS Change. Refer to Enclosure 1 for comments/concurrence subsequent 

to PDC staffing. Refer to Enclosure 2 for the proposed mediation table including discussion of 

logic used for revised code assignment.

Unit or Basis for Measurement Code (Unit of Issue/Purchase Unit)

Approved Code Assignments

UoM Text Name* EBS X12 4010 FLIS

PDC ADC

Kilowatt KW K7 KW K7

Kilowatt-Hour KWH KH KP KZ

Thousand Kilowatt Hours/Megawatt-Hour** MWH T9 MW T9

Million BTUs/Dekatherm** DTH BZ DH ZF

* The exact text name used in FLIS is limited to a maximum length of 20 characters and will 

be abbreviated to accommodate this restriction.

** Proposed for X12 Version 6050 (approximate).

d. Alternatives: None identified.
4 of 5 Attachment, ADC 476

6. REASON FOR CHANGE: UoM codes are needed in support of electricity and natural 

gas contracts issued by DLA Energy. The codes used in FLIS cannot duplicate existing codes 

identified for DOD use in the conversion guide and they must be implementable within WAWF 

without duplicating previously used code values. 

7. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES:

a. Advantages: The availability of ANSI X12 code equivalents allows DLA to 

implement WAWF for DLA Energy and meet X12 syntax requirements.

b. Disadvantages: None identified.

8. NOTE ANY REGULATIONS OR GUIDANCE: DLA Logistics Information Services 

shall update DOD 4100.39-M, FLIS, Volume 10, Table 53, Unit of Issue Codes with new DOD

code designations and terms (text names) as shown above. Further research is required to 

determine applicability to Table 81, Unit of Measurement Designations.

9. ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

a. Upon approval, the new codes will be published on the DLMS Web at URL 

www.dla.mil/j-6/dlmso/eApplications/LogDataAdmin/dlmsansiconverguides.asp. 

To view, select the Unit of Issue and Purchase Unit Conversion Guide (Unit or Basis for

Measurement) in the desired sequence: DOD code sequence, ANSI ASC X12 code sequence, or 

alphabetic sequence by text name.

b. DLA Logistics Management Standards will submit a data maintenance request to ANSI 

ASC X12 for modification of the descriptor (text names) for UoM Codes T9 and BZ. The 

descriptions shown in the table above will be proposed, but are subject to approval by the X12 

Committee.

c. DLA Logistics Information Services shall update the FLIS application to reflect the new 

DOD codes and composite descriptors per table above. This will require prior coordination with 

the Federal Cataloging Committee (FCC).

d. DLA Energy will coordinate with Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy (DPAP) 

for revision to merge the text names for Thousand Kilowatt Hours/Megawatt-Hour and Million 

BTUs/Dekatherm in the Procurement Data Standard (PDS). 

10. ESTIMATED TIME LINE/IMPLEMENTATION TARGET: The conversion guide 

updates will become effective for use immediately upon publication of an approved DLMS 

Change (January 23, 2012). Dates for implementation of the approved changes within FLIS, 

WAWF, PDS, or X12 are not known at this time.

11. ESTIMATED SAVINGS/COST AVOIDANCE ASSOCIATED WITH 

IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS CHANGE: Not available.
5 of 5 Attachment, ADC 476

12. IMPACT:

a. New DLMS Data Elements: None

b. Changes to DLMS Data Elements: Code list/conversion guide updates are described 

above.

c. Automated Information Systems: DLA Transaction Services, DLA Enterprise 

Business System, WAWF must be updated to reflect new code conversion requirements for UoM 

codes associated with Thousand Kilowatt Hours/Megawatt-Hour and Million BTUs/Dekatherm. 

The DOD/X12 common values for UoM codes associated with Kilowatt and Kilowatt-Hour must 

be recognized.

d. DLA Logistics Information Services: Coordination with the FCC and FLIS update 

required.

e. Business Enterprise Common Core Metadata (BECCM) Community of Interest 

(COI). The difficulty in establishing UoM values for DLA Energy highlights the need for a 

better business process. The issue was presented to the BECCOM COI for discussion. The 

BECCM COI provides governance for the DOD’s end-to-end business process enterprise 

standards. In the event consensus on enterprise standards cannot be reached at the COI level, the 

BECCM process is to be used to adjudicate across functional areas. Briefing slides for the 

March 14, 2012 BECCOM presentation on UoM with recommendations and pending actions are

shown at Enclosure 3.
1 of 1 Enclosure 1, ADC 476

Enclosure 1, Proposed Change Concurrence and Comment Resolution

Originator Response/Comment Disposition

1. DLMS Office Mediation is required to obtain an implementable solution 

due to conflicting code assignments reported by WAWF.

Mediation Table shown at 

Enclosure 2.

2. DLA Concur with proposed mediation. Noted.

3. DLA Energy Concur with proposed mediation Noted.

4. WAWF The proposed DOD codes already exist in WAWF:

KW = Kilograms per Millimeter

KP = Kilometers Per Hour

MW = Metric Ton Kilograms

DH = Miles

In all four cases, the X12 matches the DOD value.

Noted. New codes will be 

required to prevent 

duplication. Where feasible 

the X12 code will be 

adopted for DOD use.

5. DPAP The terms DLA is required to use in contracts are the ones 

in the PDS, which match the terms in X12. See also 

http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/policy/policyvault/USA00160

1-11-DPAP.pdf.

Noted. The functional 

experts from DLA Energy 

have indicated that two of 

the text names used within 

X12 are not representative 

of the text names used by 

industry for gas and 

electricity. DLA will 

contact DPAP to request 

revision to the text names in

PDS to match those being 

proposed as data 

maintenance to X12.

6. Navy Concur with PDC 502. Noted

7. USTC Concur with PDC 502. Noted

8. Army Concur with PDC 502. Noted

9. Air Force Concur with PDC 502. Noted
1 of 1 Enclosure 2, ADC 476

Enclosure 2, Proposed Mediation Table

Table 1 – Comment Resolution for ADC 

Finalization

FLIS DLMS

Comment

Recommendation 

X12 

4010

PDC ADC WAWF PDS UoM Table

Kilowatt DOD Code Not Currently Assigned in DLMS 

Conversion Table

Recommendation: 

Revise FLIS code to be consistent with available X12 

value so no conversion will be required 

K7 KW K7 Already 

uses K7 -

no change 

required

Y Add K7 – no 

conversion 

required

KilowattHour 

(KWH)

DOD Code Not Currently Assigned in DLMS 

Conversion Table

– Cannot use proposed value because KP already used 

in WAWF (for Kilometers Per Hour)

– Cannot use X12 value (KH) because KH is already 

used in DOD code set (for Hundred Kilograms)

Recommendation: 

Revise FLIS code to use a previously unused value in 

WAWF (ANSI) or DOD code set.

KH KP KZ Adopt 

DOD/ 

conversio

n code KZ

Y Align

DOD KZ with 

X12 KH

Thousand 

Kilowatt 

Hours

T9 Already available in DOD code set

Recommendation: 

1. Revise FLIS code to be consistent with available 

X12 value so no conversion will be required

2. DLA Energy should use the code and definition as 

already adopted under the DPAP Procurement Data 

Standard (since transition to PDS is required for DLA) 

(vice identified preference for MWH)

T9 MW T9 Already 

uses T9 -

no change 

required

Y No change 

required

Million 

BTU's

DOD Code Not Currently Assigned in DLMS 

Conversion Table

– Cannot use proposed value because DH already used 

in WAWF (for Miles)

– Cannot use X12 value BZ because already used in 

DOD code set (for Block)

Recommendation: 

1. Revise FLIS code to use a previously unused value

in WAWF (ANSI) or DOD code set.

2. DLA Energy should use the code and definition as 

already adopted under the DPAP Procurement Data 

Standard (since transition to PDS is required for DLA) 

(vice identified preference for DTH)

BZ DH ZF Adopt 

DOD/ 

conversio

n code ZF

Y Align DOD ZF 

with 

X12 BZ
1 of 2 Enclosure 3, ADC 476

Enclosure 3 BECCM COI Briefing

Refer to the DLMS Web for Points of Contact identified to the BECCM for UoM action items at: 

http://www2.dla.mil/j-6/dlmso/Archives/BECCM/BECCM_03_14_2012v11.pptx (slide 34). 

Problem: 

• DOD Business Mission Area (BMA) needs to establish one Authoritative Master 

Reference Data repository for both Functional(s) and Systems Integrators

– Currently, translation tables and data is maintained by various Functional 

communities (Logistics, Procurement, Finance, Real Property, WSLM, HRM)

– Current BEA Reference Data: 

http://ruby.nit.disa.mil/bmr/UoMHtml4/P2P_html.html

• Nearly all ERP programs building interface to WAWF and DFAS Entitlement systems 

have expressed invoice challenges at Entitlement for UoM

– Approximately 31% of suspended invoices from WAWF to IAPS are due to a Unit of 

Issue problem

• Lack of Enterprise-wide mediation strategy or roadmap to reduce mapping to Legacy 

DOD data codes 

– There are currently 55 unit of issue codes that have a conflict between the DOD code 

and the X12 code

Solution: 

• Establish BEA web site as DOD Reference Master Data

– Document requirement in BEA Content Refinement (CR)

– Establish Publish/Subscribe at DLA Master Data Capability (system to system), or 

FLIS Portfolio Data Warehouse (FPDW)

– DCMO and DLA to take Technical Lead to ensure implementation is planned and 

programmed

• Work with ERPs, WAWF, and Entitlement systems to ensure system changes are in 

place to be compliant to BEA and DLMS

– DCMO and DLA to take Technical Lead to ensure implementation is planned and 

programmed

– Recommend migrating X12-based mediation to latest version of UoM code set to 

eliminate "borrowed" codes currently used to support prior versions of the standard

– Requires X12 trading partners to use migration codes as designated in the Enterprise 

Mediation Table
2 of 2 Enclosure 3, ADC 476

• Establish Enterprise Mediation at GEX, in the interim environment until all systems 

can migrate to the PDS or 2AN ASC X12 code

– Similar challenge for systems to migrate to ISO 3166 Country Code 2AN

Action Items:

NLT 28 March 2012:

• Ensure all DOD Components have reviewed the BEA Unit of Measure Values as 

published in BEA 9.0 (Enterprise Standards view)

– http://ruby.nit.disa.mil/bmr/UoMHtml4/P2P_html.html

– Incorporate any final comments and publish in BEA for Compliance - Document 

requirement in BEA Content Refinement (CR)

March – June 2012:

• Establish Publish/Subscribe at DLA Master Data Capability (system to system)

– MDC/FPDW already publishes Authoritative Data for Item, Vendor, Customer using 

web-services, web application, and business intelligence reporting

• Coordinate with ERPs, WAWF, and Entitlement systems to ensure system changes are 

in place to be compliant to BEA UoM Domain Values

• Coordinate with DLA J6, GEX PMO to establish Enterprise Mediation, in the interim 

environment until all systems can migrate to the 2AN ASC X12 code

– Similar challenge for systems to migrate to ISO 3166 Country Code 2AN