PSC 8965

Overview

The Product and Service Code (PSC) system classifies the products and services the U.S. government buys, enabling consistent tagging of contract actions for tracking, analysis, and reporting. PSCs are applied to awards in FPDS and are maintained through the official PSC Manual on Acquisition.gov, which provides authoritative definitions, inclusions, and exclusions for each code. ¹
PSC 8965 is a product code within Group 89 (Subsistence) for BEVERAGES, ALCOHOLIC. The manual lists example inclusions—beer, whisky, wine, and liqueur—and notes exclusions for sacramental wine and medicinal‑grade brandy, whisky, and wine. Agencies should select this code when alcoholic beverages are the predominant items being procured, consistent with the general rule to code the principal item of supply on the action. ¹

What this PSC covers

Per the PSC Manual, this class covers alcoholic beverage supplies procured under Subsistence (Group 89). ¹

• Beer.
• Whisky.
• Wine.
• Liqueur.
• Alcoholic beverage supplies where these items are the predominant products in the purchase.
• Items in Group 89 (Subsistence) that meet the alcoholic beverage definition above.

Related NAICS and PSC codes

The related PSCs below are adjacent classes in Group 89 (Subsistence) per the PSC Manual. ¹

Type	Code	Descriptor
PSC	8960	Beverages, Nonalcoholic
PSC	8955	Coffee, Tea, and Cocoa
PSC	8940	Special Dietary Foods and Food Specialty Preparations
PSC	8975	Tobacco Products

Key inclusions and exclusions

• Includes: Beer; whisky; wine; liqueur. ¹
• Excludes: Sacramental wine and medicinal‑grade brandy, whisky, and wine. The PSC Manual does not specify an alternative PSC for these excluded items; classification should follow agency policy and the manual’s general guidance. Not specified by official sources. ²

Coding and reporting notes

• PSC 8965 is a product (supply) code under Group 89. When a buy includes multiple products, the PSC should reflect the predominant product acquired. ¹
• In FPDS, the PSC is captured as data element “Product or Service Code.” Agencies should code based on the principal item of supply when multiple items are present. ¹

Frequently asked questions

• What does PSC 8965 include?
  PSC 8965 covers alcoholic beverage supplies and lists beer, whisky, wine, and liqueur as examples. Use this code when alcoholic beverages are the predominant products in the purchase. ¹

• What is explicitly excluded from PSC 8965?
  The PSC Manual excludes sacramental wine and medicinal‑grade brandy, whisky, and wine from PSC 8965. It does not identify an alternative PSC for these items. ¹

• How should mixed purchases with alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages be coded?
  Use the PSC that reflects the predominant product in the order. If alcoholic beverages predominate, use PSC 8965; if nonalcoholic beverages predominate, use PSC 8960. ¹

• Are PSC codes used in SAM.gov searches?
  Yes. SAM.gov allows searching and filtering of opportunities using NAICS or PSC codes; contracting offices also tag notices with PSCs so market research can be scoped by code. ³

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC 8965: https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/8965
• Product and Service Codes (PSC) Manual — April 2025 Edition (official definition and grouping). ¹
• Product and Service Code Manual landing page (current files and SOP). ²
• SAM.gov Help: videos and articles on searching by PSC. ³

References

1. Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual April 2025 (PDF). https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
2. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual (landing page). https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
3. SAM.gov — Help (includes “Video: Search opportunities by NAICS or PSC”). https://sam.gov/help