As a Mineman, it is important for you to have a clear understanding of the terminology used in material identification. The following terms are used to designate types of material and information about material.

Material: Supplies, repair parts, equipment, and equipage used in the Navy.

0 Equipment: Any functional unit of hull, mechanical, electrical, ordnance, or electronic material that is operated singly or as a component of a system or a subsystem and is identified by a component identification number (CID), a numerical control code (NCC), an allowance parts list (APL), or a similar designation.

0 Support equipment: Equipment (such as test equipment, fixtures, hand tools, etc.) required for the maintenance, assembly, disassembly, overhaul, repair, and test or check of the end item.

0 Equipment division: Breakdown of electrical, electronic, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic military equipment.

1. Part: One piece or two or more pieces joined together that are not normally subject to disassembly without destruction of the designed use (such as electron tube, composition resistor, screw, capacitor, etc.).

2. Subassembly: Two or more parts that form a portion of an assembly or a unit that is replaceable as a whole, but have a part or parts that are individually replaceable (such as arming device, instrument rack, parapack, anchor, etc.).

3. Assembly: A number of parts or subassemblies or any combination thereof joined together to perform a specific function. In the Mine Force, this is a mine.

4. Unit: An assembly or any combination of parts or subassemblies, mounted together, that is normally capable of independent operation in a variety of situations (such as hydraulic jack, electric motor, electronic power supply, electric generator, etc.). The size of an item is a consideration in some cases. An electric motor for a clock may be considered as a unit; it is not normally subject to disassembly.

5. Group: A collection of units, assemblies, or subassemblies that is a subdivision of a set or a system, but is not capable of performing a complete operational function.

Equipage: Non-installed and relatively durable items that are located in operating spaces or other designed areas to support recurring operational, maintenance, or administrative functions, or to provide for the health, comfort, or safety of the crew. (Equipage does not include installed mechanical, electrical, ordnance, or electronic equipments, components, or systems.) Chargeable items of equipage are identified in procurement, receipt, and consumption documents by the letter "E" in the second position of the applicable fund code. See Financial Management of Resources, NAVSUP-3013-2. Controlled equipage refers to those items of equipage that require special management control because the material is (a) essential for the protection of life or (b) relatively valuable and easily convertible to personal use. Generally, controlled equipage is carried on board in allowance quantities only. It requires special inventory control in accordance with chapter 6 of NAVSUP P-485. Items classified as controlled equipage are listed in appendix 11 of NAVSUP P-485.

Repair part: Any item (including modules and consumable materials) that has an application and appears in an APL, a stock number sequence list (SNSL), an integrated stock list (ISL), or a manufacturer's handbook.

0 Consumables: Administrative and housekeeping items, common tools, paints (not associated with the maintenance of mines), cognizance symbol 1I forms, or any other items not specifically defined as equipage or repair parts.

0 End item: A combination of products, component parts, or materials that is ready for its final intended use.

0 Replacement item: A different item supplied as a spare or repair part in place of the originally used part. Replacement items are not necessarily interchangeable with the items they replace; they may be of better quality or may have greater capacity than the items replaced. Replacement items are not substitutes because they are supplied on a continuing basis.

*Equivalent item: An item that is similar to another item to the extent that its characteristics are in strict compliance with drawings, specifications, standards, performance qualification tests, within limits, or tolerances and compounds specified therein. Repairable assemblies are equivalent only if their "purchased repairable parts" and performance are also equivalent.

0 Interchangeable item: A non-equivalent item that is used in place of another item in all applications.

0 Substitute item: An item authorized for a one-time use in place of another item, based on a specific application and request. (Equivalent and interchangeable items are not included in this category.) No substitute will be used that might adversely affect any one of the following factors: (1) safety of flight; (2) efficient functioning of performance of any aircraft, engine, accessory, or equipment; (3) manufacturer's guarantee or warranty; (4) delicate, sensitive, or critical assemblies; or (5) assemblies subject to environmental conditions, high speed, or high loads.

PROCUREMENT RESPONSIBILITY Procurement is the act of obtaining materials or services, using appropriate funds, by requisition or open purchase. The most frequently used of these methods is the requisition. The open purchase is used for procurement of non-standard material and for emergency requirements.

Each activity is responsible for spending the money made available to it in the most effective way. Although the money is not actual cash, it is available through specific allocated funds or accounts. A careful review of each obligation must be made to ensure that all funds are applied correctly.

As a supervisor, you must ensure that financial obligations made by your command are necessary and are not wasted or misappropriated. The ultimate use of an item must be considered since this generally determines which funds must be used. For example, paint requisitioned for painting office spaces must come from operating target (OPTAR) funds, while paint for mines must be obligated against mine maintenance funds.

This section discusses funds, requirements determination, requisitioning procedures, material obligation validations, and transmittal reports of transaction.