Each row covers the verbatim meaning of the code, what it implies for competition, and which AMC numeric codes are valid pairings. Click a letter to jump.
The Government's right to use data in its possession is questionable. Temporary code applied during data-rights review.
Assigned only at the conclusion of limited screening for parts under immediate buy requirements. Remains assigned until full screening resolves the Government's data rights and the part is recoded to a different AMSC. If one source is available, AMC 3, 4, or 5 are valid; if at least two sources exist (or data is adequate for an alternate to qualify), AMC 1 or 2 are valid.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Must be acquired from a source specified on a source control or selected item drawing.
Suitable technical data, Government data rights, or manufacturing knowledge are not available to permit acquisition from other sources, qualification testing of an alternate, or use of a second-source part in the intended application. To become an approved source, contractors typically submit a Source Approval Request (SAR) — and AMSC B parts may require additional documentation from the source-controlling holder demonstrating that permission has been granted to use their technical data.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Requires engineering source approval by the design control activity to maintain part quality.
Existing unique design capability, engineering skills, and manufacturing knowledge held by the qualified source(s) require acquisition from approved sources. The approved source(s) retain data rights, manufacturing knowledge, or technical data not economically available to the Government. Alternate sources must qualify in accordance with the design control activity's procedures.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
AMSC D
CAGE & part number
Restricted source
Data needed to acquire competitively is not physically available, cannot be obtained economically, and adequate specifications cannot be drafted.
Procurement is restricted to a specific manufacturer's CAGE code and part number combination. The Government does not possess sufficient data to write a competitive specification, and reverse engineering or specification development is not economical. Only AMC 3, 4, or 5 are valid.
Valid AMC pairings: 3, 4, 5
Reserved for future use.
Reserved by 48 CFR Ch. 2 App. E §201.2. Not currently assigned to any procurement action.
Reserved for future use.
Reserved by 48 CFR Ch. 2 App. E §201.2. Not currently assigned to any procurement action.
The Government has rights to the technical data, the data package is complete, and there are no technical, engineering, tooling, or manufacturing restrictions.
The only AMSC that implies full and open competition. The Government owns adequate technical data and data rights for any qualified manufacturer to bid. Other AMSCs (such as K, M, N, Q, S) may imply limited competition when two or more sources exist but the technical data package is inadequate for full and open competition.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2
The Government does not physically have sufficient, accurate, or legible data to purchase from other than current source(s).
Temporary code applied to parts under immediate buy requirements while the data deficiency is under review. Assigned only at the conclusion of limited screening; remains until full screening resolves the data question and a different AMSC is assigned.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
AMSC I
Not authorized
—Not authorized
Not authorized for use.
AMSC I is not authorized for assignment under 48 CFR Ch. 2 App. E §201.2.
Reserved for future use.
Reserved by 48 CFR Ch. 2 App. E §201.2. Not currently assigned to any procurement action.
Part must be produced from class 1 castings and similar forgings controlled per MIL-STD-2175.
Repetitive controlled-source production is required. If only one source has acceptable castings/forgings and cannot provide them to others, AMC 3, 4, or 5 are valid; if two or more sources have such castings (or they can be provided to others), AMC 1 or 2 are valid.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Annual buy value falls below the screening threshold established by DoD components.
Used only to replace AMSC O for parts under the established screening threshold. The part has been screened for additional known sources, but no further screening has been performed to determine competitive conditions that would warrant a different AMSC.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Manufacture requires master or coordinated tooling that is not available to other sources.
If only one set of tooling exists and cannot be made available to another source, AMC 3, 4, or 5 are valid. If existing or refurbishable tooling is available to two or more sources, AMC 1 or 2 are valid.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Manufacture requires special test or inspection facilities to maintain ultra-precision quality.
Substantiation and inspection of precision or quality cannot be accomplished without specialized facilities. If facilities cannot be made available for competitive manufacture, AMC 3, 4, or 5 are valid; if they can be made available to two or more sources, AMC 1 or 2 are valid.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
AMSC O
Never screened
No screening
Part was not assigned an AMSC when it entered the inventory and has never completed screening.
Used in conjunction with AMC 0. Use is discouraged — maximum effort should be made to determine an applicable alternate AMSC. Only AMC 0 is valid.
Valid AMC pairings: 0
Rights to use the data are not owned by the Government and cannot be purchased, developed, or otherwise obtained. Uneconomical to reverse engineer.
Used when the Government has the technical data but does not own the rights to use it for additional procurement. If only one source has the rights or data, AMC 3, 4, or 5 are valid; if two or more sources have rights, AMC 1 or 2 are valid.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
The Government lacks adequate data and/or rights, has been unable to economically obtain them, and the part has been undergoing full screening for 12 or more months.
Breakout to competition has not yet been achieved, but ongoing actions to obtain data rights or adequate reprocurement technical data indicate breakout is expected. May be a candidate for reverse engineering. All AMSC Q items must be reviewed within timeframes specified in §203(b).
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
The Government does not own the data or the rights, has determined it uneconomical to buy them, and uneconomical to reverse engineer.
Used when the Government did not initially purchase the data or rights. If only one source has the rights or data to manufacture the item, AMC 3, 4, or 5 are valid; if two or more sources do, AMC 1 or 2 are valid.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Acquisition is restricted to Government-approved sources because production involves unclassified but militarily sensitive technology.
Restriction is governed by FAR 6.3. If only one source is approved, AMC 3, 4, or 5 are valid; if at least two sources are approved, AMC 1 or 2 are valid.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Acquisition is controlled by Qualified Products List (QPL) procedures.
Competition is limited to sources listed on or qualified for listing on the QPL at the time of award (see FAR Part 9 and DFARS Part 209). Only AMC 1 or 2 are valid.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2
Breakout cost has been determined to exceed projected lifetime savings.
If one source is available, AMC 3, 4, or 5 are valid; if at least two sources exist, AMC 1 or 2 are valid.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Designated a high-reliability part under a formal program; failure would be unacceptable for safety.
The cognizant engineering activity has determined that data to define and control reliability limits cannot be obtained, nor can adequate specifications be drafted. If one source is available, AMC 3, 4, or 5 are valid; if at least two sources are available, AMC 1 or 2 are valid.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Reserved for future use.
Reserved by 48 CFR Ch. 2 App. E §201.2. Not currently assigned to any procurement action.
AMSC X
Not authorized
—Not authorized
Not authorized for use.
AMSC X is not authorized for assignment under 48 CFR Ch. 2 App. E §201.2.
AMSC Y
Unstable design
Restricted source
Design is unstable; engineering, manufacturing, or performance characteristics indicate required design objectives have not been achieved.
Major changes are contemplated due to low process yield or marginal performance during tests or service use. Anticipated changes will render the present part obsolete and unusable in its current configuration; limited acquisition from the present source is expected pending configuration changes.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Commercial, nondevelopmental, or off-the-shelf item. Commercial item descriptions, vendor catalogs, or commercial manuals apply.
If one source is available, AMC 3, 4, or 5 are valid; if at least two sources are available, AMC 1 or 2 are valid.
Valid AMC pairings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5