PSC 8905

Overview

The Product Service Code system is a governmentwide taxonomy used to classify what the federal government buys, supporting standardized reporting in FPDS and SAM and enabling analysis of spending. The PSC structure and definitions are maintained through the PSC Manual on Acquisition.gov and are updated periodically for consistency across agencies. ¹

PSC 8905 identifies purchases of “Meat, Poultry, and Fish” within Group 89 (Subsistence). The manual explicitly lists inclusions—game birds, shellfish, and sausage casings—and notes that special dietary foods are categorized elsewhere under PSC 8940, not under PSC 8905. ²

• See also on G2X:
  • G2X — PSC 8905 overview: https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/8905
  • G2X — PSC 8910: https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/8910
  • G2X — PSC 8970: https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/8970

What this PSC covers

• Meat products procured as subsistence supplies for federal use. ²
• Poultry items, including game birds. ²
• Fish and seafood products, including shellfish. ²
• Sausage casings. ²
• Dietetic or specialty nutritional foods are not covered here; they fall under PSC 8940. ²
• Packaging or state-of-supply specifics (e.g., fresh, frozen, canned): Not specified by official sources ².

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	424410	General Line Grocery Merchant Wholesalers; appears on FPDS awards coded under PSC 8905. 3
NAICS	311611	Animal (except poultry) slaughtering; observed paired with PSC 8905 in FPDS. 4
PSC	8910	Dairy Foods and Eggs; distinct subsistence class adjacent to PSC 8905. 2
PSC	8970	Composite Food Packages (e.g., ration packs), not individual meat/poultry/fish items. 2

Coding notes and boundaries

• Per the PSC Manual, select the PSC based on the predominant product when multiple items are procured on one action; PSC 8905 applies when meat/poultry/fish predominate. ²
• Group 89 guidance specifies that dietetic preparations are classified under PSC 8940, not under PSC 8905. ²
• Composite or pre-assembled ration/meal packs should be coded under PSC 8970, not PSC 8905. ²

Observed contracting patterns

• FPDS shows PSC 8905 used by the Defense Commissary Agency for subsistence purchases, paired in some awards with NAICS 311611. ⁴
• National Guard USPFO offices have used PSC 8905 for grocery distribution buys under NAICS 424410. ³

Frequently asked questions

• What exactly does PSC 8905 include?

  • PSC 8905 covers meat, poultry, and fish within the Subsistence group. The manual explicitly includes game birds, shellfish, and sausage casings. Dietetic foods are excluded and placed under PSC 8940. ²

• How does PSC 8905 differ from PSC 8970?

  • PSC 8905 is for individual meat/poultry/fish items. PSC 8970 covers composite food packages such as rations or meal kits; use it when the buy is for assembled packs rather than discrete proteins. ²

• Are medical or dietetic versions of meat products coded under PSC 8905?

  • No. Group 89 notes specify that subsistence items specifically prepared for dietetic use are categorized under PSC 8940, not PSC 8905. ²

• Which NAICS codes commonly appear with PSC 8905 in FPDS?

  • FPDS records show PSC 8905 paired with NAICS 424410 for general line grocery distribution in Guard and other subsistence buys. ³

• Does the PSC define packaging, temperature control, or origin requirements?

  • Not specified by official sources. The PSC Manual defines coding scope, not product specifications or handling standards; those requirements come from the solicitation or program specifications. ¹

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC 8905: https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/8905
• Product and Service Code Manual (landing page), Acquisition.gov. ¹
• PSC Manual April 2025 (current edition PDF), Acquisition.gov. ²
• FPDS ezSearch Help and User Guide. ⁵
• DPCAP Product Service Code Selection Tool (PSC–NAICS exploration). ⁶

References

1. https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
2. https://www.acquisition.gov/content/psc-manual-april-2025.pdf
3. https://www.fpds.gov/ezsearch/search.do?indexName=awardfull&q=0031+9700++CONTRACTING_OFFICE_NAME:%22USPFO+FOR+VIRGINIA%22+CONTRACTING_AGENCY_NAME:%22DEPT+OF+THE+ARMY%22+CONTRACTING_OFFICE_NAME:%22USPFO+FOR+OKLAHOMA%22+PRINCIPAL_NAICS_CODE:%22424410%22+PRODUCT_OR_SERVICE_CODE:%228905%22&s=FPDS&templateName=1.5.3
4. https://www.fpds.gov/ezsearch/search.do?indexName=awardfull&q=0114+9700++CONTRACTING_AGENCY_NAME:%22DEFENSE+COMMISSARY+AGENCY++%28DECA%29%22&s=FPDS&templateName=1.5.3
5. https://www.fpds.gov/help/index.jsp
6. https://psctool.us