INCH-POUND

 A-A-2577B

 January 12, 2011

 SUPERSEDING 

 A-A-2577A

 January 31, 2003

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

CUP, DISPOSABLE: LID, DISPOSABLE CUP

The General Services Administration has authorized the use of this Commercial

Item Description as a replacement for Federal Specification UU-C-806 for all federal 

agencies.

1. SCOPE.

1.1 This Commercial Item Description covers disposable paper cups and paper or plastic lids 

suitable for use by Federal, State, local governments and other interested parties; and as a 

component in operational combat rations.

2. CLASSIFICATION.

2.1 The paper cups shall be of the following types, styles of construction, classes of coatings, 

capacities (see Table I), and forms, as specified.

 

2.1.1 Cups:

Type I - Hot Drink

 Style A - Round, Two-piece

 Class 3 - Plastic lined

 Color - Green or tan/sand (9 ounce only) outer surface

 Class 5 - Uncoated

 Class 6 - Polylactic acid (PLA) lined

 Form - 4, 6, and 8 ounce with or without handles, or 9, 10, 12, 16, 20, and 24 ounce 

 without handles. Size 10 ounce available in squat shape. Squat cups have a height 

 less than twice the diameter of the base.

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

which may improve this document should be sent to: Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop 

Support, ATTN: FTSA, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5092.

AMSC N/A FSC 7350
A-A-2577B

 Type II - Hot Food

 Style A - Round, Two-piece

 Class 1 - Uncoated (moisture resistant stock)

 Class 2 - Wax coated

 Class 3 - Plastic lined

 Class 4 - Plastic coated, both sides

 Class 6 - Polylactic acid (PLA) lined

 Form - Sizes 6, 8, 12, and 16 ounce available in squat shape. Squat cups have a 

 height less than twice the diameter of the base. 

 

Type III - Cold Drink

 Style A - Round, Two-piece

 Class 2 - Wax coated

 Class 4 - Plastic coated, both sides

 Class 7 - Polylactic acid (PLA) coated both sides 

 Form - Sizes 12 and 16 ounce available in squat shape. Squat cups have a height less 

 than twice the diameter of the base. 

Type IV - Cold Food, Light Duty (ice cream, condiments)

 Style A - Round, Two-piece

 Class 2 - Wax coated

 Class 3 - Plastic lined

 

Type V - Water

 Style A - Round, Two-piece

 Class 1 - Uncoated (moisture resistant stock)

 Class 2 - Wax coated

 

 Style C - Conical

 Class 1 - Uncoated (moisture resistant stock)

 Class 2 - Wax coated

 

 Style E - Flat, not nested

 Class 1 - Uncoated (moisture resistant stock)

 

Type VI - Portion Control

 Style B - Pleated

 Class 1 - Uncoated (moisture resistant stock)

 Class 3 - Plastic lined

2.1.2 Lids - Paper or Plastic Coverall

2
A-A-2577B

3. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS.

3.1 Material. The cups shall be made from paper or paperboard. The lids shall be either

paperboard, which may be white-lined on both sides or may be solid stock, or shall be plastic

or any combination of paper or plastic.

3.1.1 Material Conformance. All cup, lid, and coating materials shall conform in all aspects 

to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Subpart B of 21 CFR 176, as applicable. Cups shall 

conform to 21 CFR 176.170 for paper and paperboard in contact with aqueous and fatty foods. 

Plastic lid and lid components shall conform to 21 CFR 177. Reclaimed fiber shall conform to 

21 CFR 176.260.

3.1.1.1 Polylactic Acid Lining. Class 6 and Class 7, polylactic acid lined cups shall conform to 

ASTM D 6400 and ASTM D 6868.

3.2 Workmanship. The cups and lids shall be clean and free from foreign matter, oil stains 

or liquid marks, holes, tears, lumps, or blisters. Lids shall fit snugly. The cups shall be

round, nestable construction except type V, style E, which shall be flat, not nested 

(rectangular).

3.2.1 Cups. Flat cups (type V, style E) shall be made of one piece of paper formed in a 

rectangular or tapered shape with a gummed lip. The rolled or crimped top brim shall be 

sufficiently tight to prevent release of the pleats when filling or handling. Conical cups (type 

V, style C) shall be made from a single sheet of paper formed into a conical shape, with a 

straight or rolled edge. Round two-piece cups (types I, II, III, IV, V) shall have smooth 

sidewalls with reinforced or rolled top edges and flat bottoms.

3.2.1.1 Type I, Class 5, Uncoated. The uncoated hot drink cups shall be suitable for 

composting, shall be biodegradable in seawater, shall be 100 percent paper, and shall not 

contain any plastic coating or film. The paper stock used shall have a nominal thickness of 

17.5 mils and a nominal basis weight of 195 pounds per 3000 square feet. The cups shall 

have a pictogram (marine dolphin seal) as shown in figure 1 displayed on the outer surface of 

the cup. The pictogram shall measure approximately 1” in height by 1-1/4” in width.

3.2.2 Handles. When specified, handles shall be paperboard and may be either integral with 

the cup or adhered to the cup. The handles shall be sufficiently strong, shall not tear or 

separate from the cup body when subjected to the rigidity test.

3.2.3 Lids. The lids shall be a coverall design with a skirt or flange, which extends over the 

brim of the cup.

3
A-A-2577B

3.3 Color. Color shall be as specified in the solicitation, contract or purchase order. The 

outer surface of the Type I, Style A, Class 3, 9-ounce cup, exclusive of the rolled edge, shall 

be either green or tan/sand. When green is specified, it shall approximate one of the 

following colors of FED-STD-595; 34373, 34441, 34491, 34504, 34516, 34518, 34558, or 

34670. When tan/sand is specified, it shall approximate one of the following colors of FEDSTD-595; 20450, 22563, 23531 or the color of natural kraft paper. The color of the bottom 

outer surface shall be either white, tan/sand, or natural kraft. Plastic lids may be either clear

or opaque.

3.4 Physical Requirements. The capacities and material thickness of the cups shall meet the 

requirements as specified in Table I.

TABLE I. Cups

______________________________________________________________________________

Style Class Rated Required Minimum Thickness

capacity capacity

minimum Wall Bottom

ounces ounces inch inch

Type I, Hot drink

 Style A 5 (uncoated) 9 8-1/2 0.0162 0.0162

 

 Style A 3 (plastic lined) 4 1/ 3-3/4 0.0113 0.0124

 6 1/ 5-3/4 0.0120 0.0090

 8 1/ 7-3/4 0.0120 0.0090

 9 8 0.0130 0.0100

 10 2/ 9-3/4 0.0132 0.0100

 12 * 11-3/4 0.0132 0.0100

 12** 11-3/4 0.0122 0.0100

 16 15-3/4 0.0140 0.0110

 24 23-3/4 0.0200 0.0124 

 

 Style A 6 (PLA lined) 8 7-3/4 0.0110 0.0100 

 10 9-3/4 0.0170 0.0100

 12 11-3/4 0.0170 0.0100

 16 15-3/4 0.0170 0.0100

 20 19-3/4 0.0170 0.0100

*Single sided **Double sided

4
A-A-2577B

TABLE I. Cups (continued)

______________________________________________________________________________

Style Class Rated Required Minimum Thickness

capacity capacity

minimum Wall Bottom

ounces ounces inch inch

Type II, Hot food

 Style A 1 (uncoated 8 7-3/4 0.0152 0.0171

 moisture resistant stock)10 9-3/4 0.0170 0.0171

 12 11-3/4 0.0093 0.0171

 16 15-3/4 0.0093 0.0168

 32 31-3/4 0.0093 0.0189

 Style A 2 (wax coated) 3 2-3/4 0.0093 0.0093

 4 3-3/4 0.0113 0.0093

 5 4-3/4 0.0113 0.0093

 6 5-3/4 0.0093 0.0093

 8 7-3/4 0.0093 0.0093

 Style A 3 (plastic lined) 8 7-3/4 0.0087 0.0120

 12 11-3/4 0.0170 0.0124

 16 15-3/4 0.0170 0.0168

 32 31-3/4 0.0180 0.0180

 Style A 4 (plastic coat- 6 5-3/4 0.0124 0.0124

 ed, both sides) 8 7-3/4 0.0180 0.0140 

 12 11-3/4 0.0180 0.0140

 16 15-3/4 0.0180 0.0180

 32 31-3/4 0.0180 0.0180

 64 63-3/4 0.0200 0.0200

 Style A 6 (PLA lined) 12 11-3/4 0.0132 0.0124 

 

Type III, Cold Drink 

 Style A 2, 4, 7 (wax 5 4-3/4 0.0058 0.0070

 coated, or plastic or PLA 6 5-3/4 0.0068 0.0070

 coated, both sides) 7 6-3/4 0.0068 0.0070

 8 7-3/4 0.0068 0.0070

 9 8-3/4 0.0068 0.0070

10 2/ 9-3/4 0.0068 0.0070

 

5
A-A-2577B

TABLE I. Cups (continued)

______________________________________________________________________________

Style Class Rated Required Minimum Thickness

capacity capacity

minimum Wall Bottom

ounces ounces inch inch

Type III, Cold Drink 

 Style A 2, 4, 7 (wax 12 2/ 11-3/4 0.0077 0.0070

 coated, or plastic or PLA 16 2/ 15-3/4 0.0099 0.0070

 coated, both sides) 20 2/ 19-3/4 0.0099 0.0070

 24 2/ 23-3/4 0.0099 0.0085

Type IV, Cold Food

 Style A 2 (wax coated) 4 3-3/4 0.0084 0.0070

 8 7-3/4 0.0084 0.0070

 3 (plastic lined) 8 7-3/4 0.0084 0.0070

 

Type V, Water

 Style A 1 (uncoated 4 3-3/4 0.0063 0.0077

 moisture resistant stock)

 2 (wax coated) 4 3-3/4 0.0058 0.0074

 

 Style C 1 (uncoated 3-1/4 3/ 3 0.0036

 moisture resistant stock) 3-1/2 3/ 3-1/4 0.0036

 4 3/ 3-3/4 0.0036

 2 (wax coated) 4 3-3/4 0.0056 

 4-1/4 4 0.0056 

 5 4-3/4 0.0056 

 6 5-3/4 0.0056 

 7 6-3/4 0.0056 

 8 7-3/4 0.0056 

 10 9-3/4 0.0063 

 Style E 1 (uncoated 4 3-1/2 0.0040

 moisture resistant stock) 

Type VI, Portion Control

 Style B 1(uncoated 

 moisture resistant stock) 1 1 0.0036

 

 3(plastic lined) 1 1 0.0040

 

6
A-A-2577B

1/ Handles available in these sizes only.

2/ Type III, Cold Drink cups only: 

 Squat shape: overall height is less than two times the diameter of the base.

 Tall shape: Overall height is greater than two times the diameter of the base.

3/ Available in either straight or rolled edge.

3.4.1 Testing of the end item. The end item shall be tested for the applicable characteristics.

A sample unit shall consist of four cups of the same type, style, class, color, capacity and form. 

No more than one sample unit randomly selected shall be drawn from any one shipping 

container. The lot size for the purpose of determining the sample size shall be expressed in units 

of 1000 cups of the same type, style, class, color, capacity, or form in the inspection lot.

3.4.1.1 Certificate of conformance. Except for the leakage test, a certificate of conformance 

to the test requirements shall be accepted in lieu of testing each lot. The contractor shall have 

available for review evidence that those tests specified herein have been performed on 

similar items in the past twelve months, that the product being offered has been

manufactured using the same materials, processes, and manufacturing techniques, and is 

otherwise identical to the product tested.

3.4.2 Thickness test. For determining the thickness of the sidewall, cut two specimens

approximately 2 inches square from the sidewalls of two of the cups constituting the sample unit 

and determine the thickness with a micrometer, which has been properly calibrated and 

graduated to read 0.0001 inch or less. For the thickness of the cup bottom, trim away the 

sidewalls of two cups to produce a circle of material approximating the diameter of the cup 

bottom. Determine the thickness as described above. For one-piece pleated cups, the thickness 

shall be determined on the bottom portion of the cup, after trimming away the sidewalls.

3.4.3 Capacity test. The capacity of the paper cup shall be determined on two cups from each 

sample unit. Measure to the nearest milliliter the quantity of tap water, at room temperature, 

required to fill the cup to the brim. The cup shall rest on a smooth level surface. This test shall 

be performed on cups to be used for the leakage test.

3.4.4 Leakage test.

3.4.4.1 Types I and II. Twenty cups shall be filled with distilled water having a pouring 

temperature of 180o to 200oF and placed on an irregular or ventilated surface to permit air 

circulation under the recessed bottom and prevent accumulation of moisture condensation which 

is not leakage. The cups shall be examined for leakage at the end of 15 minutes.

3.4.4.2 Types III through VI. Twenty cups shall be filled with distilled water at a 

temperature range of 70o to 75oF. Place a sheet of clean, white bond paper between the cup 

and the supporting surface. All above types shall be examined for leakage at the end of 15 

7
A-A-2577B

minutes except type V, styles C and E which shall be examined at the end of 5 minutes while 

suspended from the top.

3.4.5 Rigidity test. The rigidity of the cups shall be determined on the filled cups used for the 

leakage test at the end of the time specified for the leakage test. The rigidity shall be observed

while holding the cup in the normal position for use. The cups shall not collapse when 

handled or when being filled for the leakage test.

3.4.6 Odor and taste. A minimum of 60 milliliters distilled water used in the leakage test 

shall be collected and allowed to stand in a stoppered flask or bottle for 2 hours. The odor 

and taste of the sample water shall be compared with that of freshly distilled water contained 

in a stoppered flask for the same length of time and at the same temperature.

4. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. In accordance with Section 23.403 of the Federal 

Acquisition Regulations, the Government's policy is to acquire items composed of the 

highest percentage of recovered materials practicable, consistent with maintaining a 

satisfactory level of competition without adversely affecting performance requirements or 

exposing suppliers' employees to undue hazards from the recovered materials.

5. PRODUCT CONFORMANCE PROVISIONS. The cups shall not leak when tested as 

specified. The cups shall have sufficient rigidity so that they will not collapse when filling 

and handling or when tested as specified. The cups and lids shall not impart an objectionable 

odor when tested as specified.

5.1 Product conformance. The paper cups and lids shall meet the salient characteristics

of the CID, conform to the producer’s own drawings, specifications, standards, and quality 

assurance practices, and be the same cups/lids offered for sale in the commercial market.

The lids shall be manufactured and supplied by the same manufacturer of the cups to ensure

a snug fit.

5.2 Market acceptance criteria. The item offered, or a generic equivalent, must have been

sold to the commercial market or to the Government.

5.3 Acceptance criteria. Acceptance criteria shall be as specified in the solicitation, contract,

or purchase order.

6. PACKAGING. Preservation, packaging, packing, labeling and marking shall be as 

specified in the solicitation, contract or purchase order. For Department of Defense 

procurements, packaging shall be in accordance with ASTM Standard D 3951.

7. NOTES. 

8
A-A-2577B

7.1 Purchasers shall specify:

 - CID document number, revision, and CID PIN.

 - Types, styles, classes, colors, capacities and forms required.

 - Packaging requirements (Sec 6. or as specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase

 order.)

7.2 Part or Identification Number (PIN). The following PIN procedure is for government 

purposes.

Example - AA2577 - I A 3 W 1 S 08 (AA2577-IA3W1S08)

 | | | | | | |---Size: 8 ounce

 | | | | | |---Form (shape): S - squat,

 | | | | | R - regular, T - tall

 | | | | |---Form, handle: 1 - not provided

 | | | | 2 - provided

 | | | |---Color: W - white, G - green

 | | |---Class: 3 - Plastic coated

 | |---Style: A - Round, Two-piece

 |---Type: I - Hot Drink

7.3 Key words. Container, drink, paper 

7.4 Sources of documents.

7.4.1 Source of information for nongovernmental document is as follows:

ASTM methods may be obtained from: ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West 

Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959 or www.astm.org.

7.4.2 Source of information for governmental documents are as follows:

 

Copies of military and Federal documents are available from: Standardization Documents Order 

Desk, DLA Document Services, 700 Robbins Avenue, Building 4D, Philadelphia, PA 19111-

5092 or on the Internet at: https://assist.daps.dla.mil or https://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/.

9
A-A-2577B

Figure 1

MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITY:

Custodians: VA - OSS

 NASA - NA

 Army - GL GSA - FAS

 Navy - SA

 Air Force - 99 PREPARING ACTIVITY:

Review Activities: DLA - SS

 Army - MD (Project No. 7350-2009-001)

 Navy - MS

 Air Force - 84

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 https://assist.daps.dla.mil.

10
 

 

 A-A-2577B

 NOTICE 1

 February 2, 2018

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION (CID)

CUP, DISPOSABLE: LID, DISPOSABLE CUP

FED-STD-595C, dated 16 January 2008, and all associated slash sheets, were canceled on 

February 14, 2017. SAE AMS-STD-595, “Colors Used in Government Procurement,” 

supersedes FED-STD-595C. Therefore, throughout A-A-2577B, make the following revision:

Change FED-STD-595 to SAE AMS-STD-595

MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITY:

Custodians: VA - OSS

 NASA - NA

 Army - GL GSA - FAS

 Navy - SA

 Air Force - 99 PREPARING ACTIVITY:

Review Activities: DLA - SS

 Army - MD 

 Navy - MS

 Air Force - 84

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 https://assist.dla.mil.

AMSC N/A FSC 7350 

ADMINISTRATIVE 

 NOTICE

INCH-POUND