PSC 2820

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) is a uniform taxonomy the U.S. government uses to label products and services in federal procurements. PSCs help agencies and industry consistently classify what is being bought for reporting and analysis in systems such as the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) and are maintained through the PSC Manual on Acquisition.gov. ¹

PSC 2820 denotes “Steam Engines, Reciprocating; and Components” within Federal Supply Group (FSG) 28 (Engines, Turbines, and Components). It is applied when the principal item purchased is a reciprocating steam engine or its components. The PSC Manual lists the descriptor but does not further enumerate specific component types for this class. ²

What this PSC covers

• Reciprocating steam engine assemblies categorized under FSG 28. ²
• Components for reciprocating steam engines, as indicated by the PSC title. Not specified by official sources ²
• Contract actions recorded in FPDS where the predominant deliverable is a reciprocating steam engine or its components, per PSC selection guidance. ¹
• Marine main propulsion reciprocating steam engines fall under a Department of the Navy coordinated-acquisition assignment note (scope note; not a redefinition of the PSC). ³
• Scope details beyond the title—such as specific subassemblies or use cases. Not specified by official sources ⁴
• Outside scope: steam turbines and water turbines/wheels, which belong to PSC 2825 and PSC 2830, respectively. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
PSC	2815	Diesel Engines and Components
PSC	2825	Steam Turbines and Components
PSC	2830	Water Turbines and Water Wheels; and Components
PSC	2990	Miscellaneous Engine Accessories, Nonaircraft

Descriptors per the PSC Manual. ²

DoD coordinated-acquisition relevance

Under DFARS PGI coordinated-acquisition assignments, PSC 2820 carries a partial assignment for “marine main propulsion steam engines,” indicating Navy acquisition responsibility for those items. This assignment guides interdepartmental buying responsibilities and does not alter the PSC’s governmentwide definition. ³

Coding boundaries within FSG 28 and Group 29

For turbines, use PSC 2825 (steam) or PSC 2830 (water). Engine accessories generally belong to Group 29 (e.g., 2910, 2920, 2940, 2945, 2990), per the Group 29 note. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What is PSC 2820?

  • PSC 2820 is the classification for “Steam Engines, Reciprocating; and Components” in FSG 28. Use it when the principal item is a reciprocating steam engine or its components, as reflected in the PSC Manual’s descriptor and placement within Group 28. ²

• How does PSC 2820 differ from PSC 2825 (steam turbines)?

  • PSC 2820 covers piston-type reciprocating steam engines, whereas PSC 2825 covers turbine-based steam powerplants. They are distinct classes in FSG 28 and should not be interchanged when coding contract actions. ²

• Are specific components (e.g., pistons, cylinders) listed for PSC 2820?

  • The Manual titles PSC 2820 as including “components” but does not itemize particular parts or subassemblies. Selection is based on the engine type and the nature of the deliverable rather than a prescriptive parts list. Not specified by official sources ⁴

• Does DoD have special handling for PSC 2820?

  • Yes. DFARS PGI assigns a partial coordinated-acquisition responsibility to the Department of the Navy for marine main propulsion steam engines under PSC 2820. This affects sourcing responsibilities but does not change the PSC’s definition or governmentwide scope. ³

• How is PSC selection reported in FPDS?

  • The PSC identifies what was bought and is entered in FPDS for each contract action based on the predominant deliverable. This supports governmentwide reporting and analysis aligned to the PSC taxonomy maintained on Acquisition.gov. ¹

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC 2820 overview
• Product and Service Codes (PSC) Manual — FY 2025 edition (purpose and FPDS reporting context). ¹
• Product and Service Codes (PSC) Manual — FY 2024 edition, Section D, Group 28 (code 2820 descriptor and related classes). ²
• DFARS PGI 208.7006 Coordinated acquisition assignments (partial assignment for PSC 2820). ³
• PSC Manual index page (governing official resource when details are unspecified). ⁴

References

1. Product and Service Codes (PSC) Manual, FY 2025 Edition (PDF), Acquisition.gov. https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
2. Product and Service Codes (PSC) Manual, FY 2024 Edition (PDF), Section D: Product Codes, Group 28. https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202024.pdf
3. DFARS PGI 208.7006 Coordinated acquisition assignments (PGI Part 208), Acquisition.gov. https://www.acquisition.gov/dfarspgi/pgi-part-208-required-sources-supplies-and-services
4. PSC Manual index page, Acquisition.gov. https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual