The NSN number usually isn’t printed directly on a CMS page. To find it, identify the item’s manufacturer part number or product description in CMS, then search that information in the Defense Logistics Agency’s PUB LOG or another authorized NSN database. An NSN is a 13-digit stock number made up of a four-digit Federal Supply Class and a nine-digit National Item Identification Number.
Check the CMS record
Open the item, equipment, or supply record in your CMS and look for fields such as:
- NSN
- National Stock Number
- NATO Stock Number
- Stock number
- Part number
- Manufacturer part number
- CAGE code
- Item identification number
The NSN may appear under Specifications , Product Details , Inventory , Procurement , or Additional Information , depending on the CMS. If the page shows only a part number, manufacturer, or description, use those details for the next step.
Search PUB LOG
The Defense Logistics Agency’s PUB LOG system lets users search item data through an interactive query. You can search all fields with the Find It option or narrow the search using specific FLIS data fields.
- Open PUB LOG.
- Select Search Interactive.
- Enter the manufacturer part number, item description, CAGE code, or other available details.
- Select Search.
- Review the matching records.
- Select the correct item and choose View(s) to display its catalog information.
- Confirm that the description, manufacturer, part number, and specifications match the CMS item.
Searching by part number and CAGE code together usually produces more precise results than searching by a broad product name alone.
Recognize the correct format
A complete NSN contains 13 digits. It is commonly displayed in this format:
1234-00-567-8901 The first four digits identify the Federal Supply Class.
The remaining nine digits form the National Item Identification Number, which
includes a two-digit National Codification Bureau code and a seven-digit item
number.
If no NSN appears
The item may not have an assigned NSN, or the CMS record may be incomplete. Check for alternate part numbers, older catalog records, packaging labels, technical manuals, or procurement documents. Don’t assume that a similar- looking item has the same NSN; verify the manufacturer and technical details before using the number.