GSA Global Supply offers more than 50,000 items identified with a National Stock Number. This is a 13-digit identifier where the first four digits indicate its Federal Supply Class (e.g. 5110 = tools) and the remaining digits identify the specific item. NSNs are a fundamental part of the National Supply System and facilitate transfer of requisitions among GSA, DoD, the Postal Service, and other federal entities.
GSA has partnered with leading commercial vendors to offer hundreds of thousands of additional items. Since it would be impractical and costly to assign NSNs to each product—some of which are short-lived—GSA relies on commercial part numbers.
Customers can order NSNs or part-numbered items via phone, fax, or online. MILSTRIP users can order part-numbered items by using the identifier AOB for domestic shipment and AO2 for overseas destinations.