Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) documents serve as comprehensive guides for planning, design, construction, sustainment, restoration, and modernization projects. These criteria are applicable across the Military Departments, the Defense Agencies, and the DoD Field Activities. This application aligns with DoD Directive 4270.5 (Military Construction) and the USD(AT&L) Memorandum dated 29 May 2002. UFC documents are exclusively distributed in electronic format and become effective immediately upon issuance.
The administration of the UFC system is the responsibility of three key organizations: the United States Army Corps of Engineers (HQUSACE), the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC), and the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC). The procedures for the development and maintenance of UFC documents, including points of contact, are detailed in the latest edition of MIL-STD-3007.
UFCs designed for unified use by all participating agencies are identified by the absence of an alphabetical letter at the end of the document number. Conversely, agency-specific UFCs are marked with an alphabetical letter (or letters) at the end of the document number. For example, “A” indicates USACE, “N” signifies NAVFAC, and “F” denotes AFCEC. Documents used by two agencies feature a combination of two letters.
Facilities Criteria (FC) Designation: A Closer Look
The designation “Facilities Criteria (FC)” is used for criteria that don’t apply to all DoD Components. This is specific to facility-type documents. For instance, FC 4-721-10N “Navy and Marine Corps Unaccompanied Housing” falls under this category. Facilities Criteria (FC) documents outline functional requirements which are defined by users and address the operational needs of a specific facility type. Differences in functional requirements between DoD Components may arise from variations in policies and operational needs. FCs are only applicable to the DoD Component(s) specified in the title and should be used with unified technical requirements published in DoD Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC).
Submitting Feedback and Change Requests
Questions, comments, suggestions, and recommended changes regarding UFC documents are encouraged and should be submitted as a Criteria Change Request (CCR). To submit a CCR, use the CCR link provided next to the relevant document. It’s important to note that CCRs are not appropriate for matters related to a specific project solicitation, request for proposal, or post-project award. Questions or interpretations related to these documents or a particular situation should be directed to the Contracting Officer.
The UFC system is designed to be responsive to the needs of the DoD and its various components. The criteria used to guide the design of UFC documents are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure they reflect the latest technologies, best practices, and regulatory requirements. This ongoing process of improvement ensures that UFC documents remain a valuable resource for all stakeholders involved in military construction and related activities.
