Federal Contractor Readiness Guide
How to Determine Your PSC Codes
Identify Product and Service Codes (PSC) that describe what the government buys from you, using the official PSC manual and FPDS definitions for market research and quoting.
What it is
Product Service Codes (PSC) describe products and services purchased by the federal government. They complement NAICS by describing the item or service being acquired.
Who needs it
Contractors analyzing DLA, GSA, or agency buys; preparing quotes; or filtering opportunity and award data by supply or service category.
Prerequisites
- Clear list of products or services you sell to the government
- NAICS codes for context
Step-by-step process
- 1. Open the official PSC resources
Use GSA's PSC manual and search tools to read authoritative PSC definitions.
- 2. Match offerings to PSC descriptions
Select PSC codes that describe the government's purchase (product or service), not your internal SKU names.
- 3. Cross-check with recent contract data
Validate chosen PSC codes against recent awards and open solicitations in your segments.
- 4. Document PSC codes for proposals and searches
Use consistent PSC filters in RFPCapture PSC hubs and saved opportunity searches.
Information and documents you need
- Product/service descriptions
- Relevant NAICS codes
Cost
Federal PSC lookup tools published by GSA are free to use.
Typical processing time
PSC selection is immediate once definitions are reviewed.
Common mistakes
- Using NAICS codes interchangeably with PSC codes
- Selecting overly broad PSC codes that dilute market research
- Ignoring service versus product PSC families
What happens after approval / completion
Filter opportunities and analyze awards by PSC on RFPCapture and agency systems that expose PSC metadata.
Official sources
- GSA — PSC Tool (primary)
- FPDS (supporting)