PSC 3615

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) is a standardized taxonomy the U.S. federal government uses to categorize the products and services it acquires. PSCs support contracting activities by enabling consistent classification for reporting, analytics, and spend transparency across procurement systems. The PSC structure and definitions are maintained in the official PSC Manual issued by GSA and published on Acquisition.gov. ¹

3615 — Pulp and Paper Industries Machinery — is a product class within Group 36 (Special Industry Machinery). Per the PSC Manual, 3615 covers machinery used in pulping and papermaking, including chippers, digestors, beaters, bleaching equipment, and paperboard manufacturing machinery; it excludes paperboard box, case, and tray making machines, which fall under 3540. Select 3615 when such equipment is the predominant item being procured. ²

• See also on G2X:
  • G2X — PSC 3615 Pulp and Paper Industries Machinery
  • G2X — PSC 3540 Wrapping and Packaging Machinery
  • G2X — PSC 3610 Printing, Duplicating, and Bookbinding Equipment

What this PSC covers

• Pulp chippers used in fiber preparation for papermaking. ²
• Digestors for chemical or mechanical pulping processes. ²
• Beaters and refiners for stock preparation. ²
• Bleaching equipment for pulp and paper production lines. ²
• Paperboard manufacturing machinery and related production equipment. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
PSC	3540	Wrapping and Packaging Machinery
PSC	3610	Printing, Duplicating, and Bookbinding Equipment
PSC	3620	Rubber and Plastics Working Machinery
PSC	3660	Industrial Size Reduction Machinery

Descriptors summarized from the PSC Manual. ²

Coding and reporting notes

• PSC selection in FPDS is reported in data element 8A; choose the code that represents the predominant product or service on the award. For mixed buys, code to the item representing most of the ultimate contract value. ²
• Environmental attributes are reported separately in FPDS data element 8L (e.g., energy efficient, biobased, environmentally preferable) and may apply when acquiring equipment in 3615. ³
• Equipment for paperboard manufacturing is included in 3615, but box, case, and tray making machines are excluded and classified under 3540. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What exactly is included under PSC 3615?

  • The PSC Manual lists chippers, digestors, beaters, bleaching equipment, and paperboard manufacturing machinery as examples included in 3615. Use this code when such machinery is the primary procurement. ²

• What is specifically excluded from PSC 3615?

  • Paperboard box, case, and tray making machines are excluded and should be coded under 3540, not 3615. ²

• Is PSC 3615 a product or a service code?

  • 3615 is a product class in Section D (Product Codes) of the PSC Manual’s Group 36: Special Industry Machinery. ²

• Where are PSC codes recorded for federal contract awards?

  • PSC codes are captured in the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) as data element 8A and drive reporting and analysis of what the government buys. ³

• How are spare parts for pulp and paper machinery classified?

  • Not specified by official sources ².

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC 3615 Pulp and Paper Industries Machinery
• Product and Service Code Manual homepage (index and downloads). ¹
• PSC Manual April 2025 (current edition; see Section D, Group 36). ²
• FPDS Data Dictionary entry for data element 8A (Product or Service Code). ³

References

1. Product and Service Code Manual (index and downloads), Acquisition.gov: https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
2. PSC Manual April 2025 (PDF), Acquisition.gov: https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
3. FPDS-NG Data Dictionary: “8A – Product or Service Code,” FPDS.gov: https://www.fpds.gov/wiki/index.php/V1.4_FPDS-NG_Data_Dictionary