PSC 5831

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) system is a governmentwide taxonomy used to classify what the U.S. government buys so agencies can code contract actions consistently for tracking, analysis, and reporting. PSCs are defined and maintained in the PSC Manual and are used in FPDS to identify the predominant product or service purchased. ¹

PSC 5831 covers “Intercommunication and Public Address Systems, Airborne.” It resides in Federal Supply Group 58 (Communication, Detection, and Coherent Radiation Equipment) and distinguishes airborne intercommunication/public address equipment from comparable, non-airborne systems in adjacent classes such as 5830. It is distinct from airborne radio/television communication (5821) and radio navigation (5826) equipment, and from sound/video recording or reproducing equipment (5835, 5836). ²

What this PSC covers

• Airborne intercommunication systems as indicated by the official class title. ²
• Airborne public address systems as indicated by the official class title. ²
• Items classified here when designed specifically for airborne application; comparable non-airborne systems fall under 5830. ²
• Equipment within the communication/detection family of Group 58, per PSC Manual structure. ²
• Not included: sound recording/reproducing and video recording/reproducing equipment, which are covered by 5835 and 5836. ²
• Not included: airborne radio/TV communication and radio navigation equipment, which belong to 5821 and 5826. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Classification tips and boundaries

• Select 5831 when the intercommunication or PA system is designed for airborne use; otherwise consider 5830. The Group 58 structure emphasizes classifying items by their next higher assembly/application when names are similar. ²
• Do not use 5831 for equipment properly categorized under specialized classes in Group 58 (e.g., 5821, 5826, 5835, 5836). ²

FPDS reporting considerations

• The PSC recorded in FPDS should reflect the predominant product for the action; select the single code that best represents “what was bought,” per PSC Manual guidance. ²
• Environmental attributes (FPDS element 8L) are reported independently of the PSC; selection should reflect contract requirements and may not always apply to Group 58 products. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What exactly is included in PSC 5831?
  • PSC 5831 covers airborne intercommunication and public address systems, such as aircraft-installed crew intercoms, PA amplifiers, control panels, and associated components integral to onboard voice distribution. The PSC Manual does not enumerate specific “includes/excludes” beyond the class title. Not specified by official sources. ²
• How does 5831 differ from 5830?
  • 5831 is for systems designed for airborne use, while 5830 is “Except Airborne.” Typical 5830 examples include building/shipboard/tactical vehicle intercoms and PA systems, whereas 5831 applies to equipment engineered for aircraft integration and operational environments. ²
• When should 5821 or 5826 be used instead of 5831?
  • Use 5821 for airborne radio/television communication equipment and 5826 for airborne radio navigation equipment. Choose 5831 only when the equipment’s primary function is intercommunication or public address within the aircraft, not external radio or navigation functions. ²
• How are PSCs applied in federal reporting?
  • Agencies select one PSC per action in FPDS to represent the predominant product or service, using the PSC Manual as the authoritative source for definitions and structure. This coding supports governmentwide reporting, competition analysis, and policy oversight across portfolios and time. ¹
• Is there an official NAICS crosswalk for PSC 5831?
  • Not specified by official sources. The PSC Manual defines the class but does not publish an official PSC-to-NAICS mapping for 5831. Agencies typically use program context and product descriptions to determine the appropriate NAICS separately from the PSC. ¹

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC 5831: https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/5831
• Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual (library landing page): https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
• Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual, April 2025 (PDF): https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf

References

1. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual: https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
2. Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual, April 2025 (PDF): https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf