XL EagleNIIN (National Item Identification Number)
NIIN stands for National Item Identification Number. The NIIN is the last nine digits of a National Stock Number. Its first two digits are a country code showing which NATO codification bureau assigned it (00 and 01 are U.S. codes), and the last seven identify the item.
Unlike the Federal Supply Class at the front of the NSN, the NIIN never changes for that item. If an item is moved to a different supply class, the NIIN stays the same, which makes it the more reliable number for tracking a part.
Why it matters to a small contractor
When you research the purchase history of a part, searching by NIIN can catch records that a full NSN search might miss if the class code changed.
Example
A parts supplier finds an older contract for a valve under a different NSN than today's request. The NIIN matches, so he knows it is the same item and uses the old price as a reference.
NIIN: common questions
Is a NIIN the same as a part number?
No. A NIIN is a government catalog number. One NIIN can be linked to several manufacturer part numbers that are all approved for that item.
What does the country code in a NIIN mean?
It shows which nation's codification bureau assigned the number. It does not mean the item must be made in that country.
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