A-A-3012A 

INCH-POUND

 May 17, 2006

 SUPERSEDING 

 A-A-3012 

 June 15, 1998 

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION 

DINING PACKETS 

The General Services Administration has authorized the use of this commercial item description 

for all Federal agencies. 

1. SCOPE. 

1.1 Scope. This commercial item description (CID) covers four types of accessory inflight 

dining packets. 

2. CLASSIFICATION. 

2.1 Classification. The dining packets shall be of the following types, as specified: 

Type I - Dining packet, inflight 

Type II - Dining packet, food container 

Type III - Dining packet, inflight, modified 

Type IV - Dining packet, food container, modified 

3. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS. 

3.1 Sanitary packaging. All components shall be packed and assembled under strictly sanitary 

conditions, by methods that will produce the best possible finished product, consistent with the 

material requirements specified in the following paragraphs. 

3.2 Components. 

3.2.1 Type I. The type I dining packet shall consist of twelve components as specified in Table I 

and assembled into a packet as specified. 

Beneficial comments, recommendations, additions, deletions, clarifications, etc. and any other 

data which may improve this document should be sent to: Defense Supply Center Philadelphia 

(DSCP), ATTN: DSCP-FTSL, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5096. 

AMSC N/A FSC 7360 
A-A-3012A 

3.2.2 Type II. The type II dining packet shall consist of the following seven components as 

specified in Table I: 3a, fork (green) or 3b, fork (tan/sand); 4a, knife (green) or 4b, knife 

(tan/sand); 5a, napkin (green) or 5b, napkin (tan/sand); 6, pepper packet; 7, salt packet; 8a, spoon 

(green) or 8b, spoon (tan/sand); and 9, sugar packets. Components shall be assembled into a 

packet as specified. 

3.2.3 Type III. The type III dining packet shall consist of the following nine components as 

specified in Table I: item 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12, (items 1, 2, and 9 are omitted) and 

assembled into a packet as specified. 

3.2.4 Type IV. The type IV dining packet shall consist of the following seven components as 

specified in Table I: item 3c, fork, (tan/sand/beige); 4c, knife (tan/sand/beige); 5c, napkin 

(tan/sand/beige); 6a, pepper packet; 7a, salt packet; 8c, spoon (tan/sand/beige); and 9a, sugar 

packets. Sugar, salt, and pepper packets shall be packaged in tan kraft paper. Components shall 

be assembled into a packet as specified. 

Table I. Components and unit packaging of dining packet ______________________________________________________________________________

Item Quantity Component Details (Conformance) 

1 one Can opener See paragraph 3.2.5 

2 one Chewing gum A-A-20175, type I, unit packaged 

 with 2 tablets per package. 

3 one Fork, picnic (white) A-A-3109, type III, item 5, or 

3a one Fork, picnic (green) A-A-3109, type III, item 5a, or 

3b one Fork, picnic (tan/sand) A-A-3109, type III, item 5b. 

3c one Fork, picnic (tan/sand/ A-A-3109, type VI, item 18 

 beige), 2.3 g min. 

4 one Knife, picnic (white) A-A-3109, type III, item 6, or 

4a one Knife, picnic (green) A-A-3109, type III, item 6a, or 

4b one Knife, picnic (tan/sand) A-A-3109, type III, item 6b. 

4c one Knife, picnic (tan/sand/ A-A-3109, type VI, item 19 

 beige), 2.5 g min. 

5 one Napkin (white) Size A, B, or C of 3.2.6 

5a one Napkin (green) Size A or C of 3.2.6 

5b one Napkin (tan/sand) Size A or C of 3.2.6 

5c one Napkin (tan/sand/beige) Size D of 3.2.6 

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A-A-3012A 

Table I. Components and unit packaging of dining packet (continued) ______________________________________________________________________________

Item Quantity Component Details (Conformance) 

6 .15 gram min. Pepper packet Pepper, Black, Ground, A-A-20001, 

 (sealed). 

6a .15 gram (±5%) Pepper packet Pepper, Black, Ground, A-A-20001, 

 unit package of 0.15 gram (±5%) 

(sealed). 

7 1.0 gram min. Salt packet Salt, U.S. Food Chemicals Codex 

 Sodium Chloride Monograph, unit 

 package 1.0 gram min. (sealed). 

7a 0.67 gram (±5%) Salt packet Salt, U.S. Food Chemicals Codex 

Sodium Chloride Monograph, unit

 package 0.67 g (±5%) (sealed). 

8 one Spoon, tea, picnic (white) A-A-3109, type III, item 7, or 

8a one Spoon, tea, picnic (green) A-A-3109, type III, item 7a, or 

8b one Spoon, tea, picnic A-A-3109, type III, item 7b. 

 (tan/sand) 

8c one Spoon, tea, picnic (tan/ A-A-3109, type VI, item 20 

 sand/beige), 2.3 g min. 

9 6.0 gram min. Sugar packet A-A-20135, type I, Style A or B, 

 one unit package 6.0 gram min. or 

 two unit packages 3.0 gram min. 

 (sealed). 

9a 12.0 gram (±5%) Sugar packet A-A-20135, type I, Style A or B, 

 two unit packages 6.0 g (±5%) or 

 four unit packages 3.0 g (±5%), 

 (sealed). 

10 two Toothpick See paragraph 3.2.7 

11 one Towel packet A-A-461, type I or II, unit packaged. 

12 one Drinking tube See paragraph 3.2.8 

3.2.5 Can opener. The can opener shall be constructed from nickel-plated carbon steel. One 

end of the opener shall have a bottle opener capable of opening a compression type bottle cap. 

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A-A-3012A 

The other end of the opener shall be of a triangular punch design capable of punching a Vshaped opening 11/16 inch (17.5 mm) in width in the tops of steel cans. The end with the bottle 

opener shall have a 3/16 inch (4.8 mm) minimum hole for hanging purposes. The can opener 

shall have an overall length of 31⁄4 inches (+3

/8 inch; - 1⁄4 inch) and a width of 5/8 inch ± 1/64 inch. 

The can opener shall have a bright nickel-plated finish. The opener shall be free from sharp 

edges (except for the punch opener end), slivers, burrs, deep scratches, pits, and tool marks. The 

opener shall not be bent, damaged, or distorted. Surfaces shall be free of loose or flaked plating. 

There shall be no defects which impair the durability, appearance, or serviceability of the item. 

3.2.6 Napkins. Napkins shall be single-ply, creped or embossed, and the color shall 

approximate that of the flatware. The napkins shall be clean and free of holes, tears, wrinkles, 

dirt or foreign particles that adversely affect appearance or serviceability. There shall be no 

visible clumps of undispersed fibers or thin looking areas. The napkins shall be square cut with 

clean, smooth edges without raggedness. The napkins shall have no disagreeable odor, either 

wet or dry. The napkins shall contain not less than 30 percent postconsumer recovered materials. 

3.2.6.1 Napkins shall conform to the following dimensions and physical requirements listed in 

Table II and Table III: 

Table II - Dimensions 1/ 

Size Area Length Width 

A 149 sq in 111⁄4 in 111⁄4 in 

B 941⁄2 sq in 133⁄8 in 7 in 

C 130 sq in 97⁄8 in 97⁄8 in 

D 133 sq in 97⁄8 in 31⁄2 in 

1/ Minimum values 

Table III - Physical requirements

Characteristic Requirement Test Method 

Basis Weight, min. g/m2 

 (lbs 24 X 36-500) 

20.3 g/m2

(12.5) 

TAPPI T 410 or 

ASTM D 646 2/ 

Dry Tensile Strength, 

 MD, kg/15 mm (oz/inch) min. 

 CD, kg/15 mm (oz/inch) min. 

0.268 (16) 

0.10 (5.9) 

TAPPI T 494 or 

ASTM D 828 2/ 

Absorption Time, sec., max. 100 TAPPI T 432 or 

ASTM D 824 2/ 

2/ Prior to physical testing, samples shall be conditioned in accordance with ASTM D 685 or 

TAPPI T 402. 

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A-A-3012A 

3.2.7 Toothpicks. The toothpicks shall be of the following types: Type I - flat, and Type II - 

round or square-centered round. The toothpicks shall be made from white birch conforming to 

the applicable requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 21 CFR, Subchapter B. 

The toothpicks shall be made with the grain of the wood running in the same direction as the 

long axis and shall be uniform in color. The toothpicks shall have no objectionable odor or taste. 

Type I toothpicks shall be of smooth, natural flat veneer finish. Type II toothpicks shall be of 

smooth, natural, straight, grain dowel or veneer. The finished toothpicks shall be clean, free 

from surface checks, rough edges, splinters and any other defects which may affect appearance 

or serviceability. The dimensions of the toothpicks shall be as listed in Table IV. 

Table IV - Dimensions 3/ 

Type I (Flat) Type II (Round) 

Length 21/8 to 23/4 21/2 to 23/4

Width, Narrow End 0.03 to 0.05 

Width, Wide End 0.07 to 0.10 

Center Thickness 0.035 to 0.065 0.07 to 0.11 

End Thickness 0.01 to 0.03 0.04 maximum 

3/ All dimensions are in inches. 

3.2.8 Drinking tube. The plastic shall be clean, sanitary, and free from toxic ingredients. The 

raw materials and finished drinking tube shall conform to the applicable requirements of the 

Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act as amended: Title 21, CFR Subchapter B, Parts 170 to 

199. The color of the tube shall be either white or clear. The length of the tube shall be 73/4

inches (+1

/4; -1/8), the inside diameter shall be 0.245 inch (±0.01), and the wall thickness shall be 

0.007 inch (±0.0002). The tube shall be suitable for use with hot liquids up to 180oF, without 

distortion or impairment due to softening of the plastic. The drinking tube shall be individually 

wrapped or unwrapped, as specified. The tube shall be straight, clean, free from rough and 

uneven edges, circular in cross-sections, and free from defects which may impair appearance and 

serviceability. 

3.3 Workmanship. The dining packet shall be clean, well made, and free from any defects 

which may affect appearance or serviceability. 

3.4 Metric products. Products manufactured to metric dimensions will be considered on an 

equal basis with those manufactured using inch-pound units, providing they fall within 

tolerances specified and all other requirements of this document are met. If a product is 

manufactured to metric dimensions and those dimensions exceed the tolerances specified in the 

inch-pound units, a request should be made to the contracting officer to determine if the product 

is acceptable. 

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A-A-3012A 

4. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. 

4.1 FDA requirements. All deliveries shall conform in every respect to the provisions of the 

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and regulations promulgated thereunder. 

4.2 Recovered materials. The offeror/contractor is encouraged to use recovered materials to the 

maximum extent practicable, in accordance with paragraph 23.403 of the Federal Acquisition 

Regulation (FAR). 

5. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS. 

5.1 Product conformance. The products provided shall meet the salient characteristics of this 

commercial item description, shall conform to the producer’s own drawings, specifications, 

standards, and quality assurance practices and be the same product that has been sold in the 

commercial marketplace for over two years, or is the same product that has successfully been 

supplied to the government on a previous contract or purchase order. The Government reserves 

the right to require proof of such conformance prior to the first delivery and thereafter as may be 

otherwise provided for under the provisions of the contract. 

5.1.1 Market acceptability criteria. The following market acceptability criteria is necessary to 

document the quality of the product to be provided under this CID: The company must have 

sold 10,000 items meeting the requirements of this CID, except for the Government unique 

requirements, in the commercial or government marketplace over the past two years. 

6. PACKAGING. 

6.1 Preservation, packing, and marking. Preservation, packing, and marking shall be as 

specified in the contract or purchase order. 

7. NOTES. 

7.1 Part Numbering. The following part identification number procedure is for government 

purposes and does not constitute a requirement for the contractor. 

Part Numbering System for Commercial Item Description A-A-3012 

 Example: AA3012-1 (AA3012-1) Example - Type I 

 | | 

 | | - - - Type (1 - I, 2 - II, or 3 - III) 

 | - - - CID number 

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A-A-3012A 

7.3 Document sources. 

7.3.1 Government documents. 

Copies of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) are available from the Superintendent of 

Documents, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Internet address: 

http://access.gpo.gov. 

Commercial Item Descriptions are available from the General Services Administration, Federal 

Supply Service, Specification Section, Suite 8100, 470 East L’Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, 

DC 20407; telephone (202) 619-8925, 26 or 27; Fax (202) 619-8978 or 85. 

7.3.2 Non-Government documents. 

Copies of the U.S. Food Chemicals Codex are available from: The National Academies Press, 

500 Fifth Street, NW, Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; telephone (888) 624-8373 or (202) 

334-3313, Fax (202) 334-1891. Internet address: http://www.nap.edu. 

TAPPI test methods may be obtained from: Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper 

Industry, 15 Technology Parkway South, Norcross, GA 30092. 

ASTM methods may be obtained from: American Society for Testing and Materials, 100 Barr 

Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. 

7.4 Ordering data. Purchaser should select the preferred options permitted herein and include 

the following information in procurement documents (if applicable). 

a. Title, number, and date of this commercial item description. 

b. Type required (see 2.1). 

c. The color required for items 3, 4, 5, and 8 (Types I and II, see Table I). 

d. Preservation, packing, and marking requirements. 

7.5 National Stock Numbers (NSN’s). The following is a list of NSN’s assigned which 

correspond to this CID. The list may not be indicative of all possible NSN’s associated with the 

CID. 

NSN TYPE

7360-01-167-2610 III 

7360-01-509-3586 IV 

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A-A-3012A 

MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITY: 

Custodians HHS - NIH 

 GSA - FSS 

 Army - GL 

 Navy - SA PREPARING ACTIVITY: 

 Air Force - 35 

 DLA - SS 

Review activities 

 Army - MD, QM 

 Air Force- 99, 84 (Project No. 7360-0207) 

NOTE: The activities listed above were interested in this document as of the date of this 

document. Since organizations and responsibilities can change, you should verify the currency 

of the information above using the ASSIST Online database at http://assist.daps.dla.mil.

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A-A-3012A 

DSCP-FTSL July 20, 2006 

 

MEMORANDUM FOR: SEE DISTRIBUTION 

SUBJECT: Document Changes to Commercial Item Description A-A-3012A, Dining Packets 

 

 The following changes are made to subject document for all current, pending, and future 

procurements until the document is formally revised or amended: 

Table I - Add “Size E” in the column titled “Details (Conformance)” for Items 5, 5a, 5b, and 5c. 

Table II - Add dimensions for Size E: 

E 125 1⁄2 sq in 9 3/4 in 12 7/8 in 

 Ms. Sally Gallagher, telephone number (215) 737-2961 or DSN 444-2961 may be contacted 

if additional information is required. 

 

 JOHN WOLOSZYN 

 CH, Standardization and Technical Branch 

 Supplier Support Division 

 Directorate of Subsistence 

cc: 

Ray Valvano, Natick 

Bill Spencer, HQ AFSVA/SVPHF 

Pam Beward, USMC 

Robert Winn, Navy 

Helen Richardson, ATSM-CES-OM 

COL Maria Worley, HQ Army Med Com 

Ed Smith, Army Med Com 

Mike Malason, DSCP 

Cindy Henry, DSCP 

Larry Charya, DSCP