PSC 9510

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) system is the U.S. government’s standard taxonomy for identifying what products and services are purchased. Agencies assign a PSC in FPDS and SAM.gov so spending can be tracked, analyzed, and reported consistently; the PSC Manual provides the official definitions and coding guidance used across government. ¹

PSC 9510 covers “Bars and Rods.” The PSC Manual defines this class as bulk metal material only: bars are elongated pieces of metal with simple, uniform cross-sections (commonly rectangular, circular, or hexagonal) produced by forging or hot-rolling and often called bar stock; rods are thin round metal bars distinguished by dimensional parameters in the item name definition. Exclusions include muck bar, rods for wire, and sheet bar (see 9640); threaded rods (see 5306); and grooved rod (see 5340). ¹

See also on G2X:

• G2X — PSC 9510 overview
• G2X — PSC 9530 (Bars and Rods, Nonferrous Base Metal)
• G2X — PSC 9520 (Structural Shapes)

What this PSC covers

• Bulk metal bars and rods classified as raw stock (bulk material only); specially designed items are coded elsewhere. ¹
• Bars: elongated metal of uniform cross-section (e.g., rectangular, circular, hexagonal) produced by forging or hot-rolling; also known as bar stock. ¹
• Rods: thin round metal bars; differentiation from bars is by dimensional parameters in the official item name definition. ¹
• Excludes upstream semifinished iron and steel forms (muck bar, rods for wire, sheet bar) coded under 9640. ¹
• Excludes threaded rods (code 5306) and grooved rods (code 5340). ¹
• Adjacent classes: use 9505 for nonelectrical wire; 9515 for plate, sheet, strip, foil, and leaf; 9520 for structural shapes; 9530 for nonferrous bars and rods. ¹
• Coding tip: when purchases include mixed metal forms, select the PSC for the predominant product for the FPDS/SAM action. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type | Code | Descriptor

• | - | - PSC | 9505 | Wire, Nonelectrical PSC | 9515 | Plate, Sheet, Strip, Foil, and Leaf PSC | 9520 | Structural Shapes PSC | 9530 | Bars and Rods, Nonferrous Base Metal

DoD coordinated acquisition note

Within DoD’s coordinated acquisition assignments, Product Service Codes in FSC Group 95 (including 9510) are assigned to the Defense Logistics Agency (listed as DSCP) for centralized supply support. This assignment context is useful for understanding common buying channels and supply responsibility, but does not change the PSC definition. ²

Upstream materials distinctions

If the requirement is for primary or semifinished iron and steel (e.g., billets, blooms, muck bar, rods for wire, sheet bar, tube rounds), classify under 9640 rather than 9510. PSC 9640 explicitly covers those semifinished forms prior to further rolling or finishing into bars/rods. ¹

Frequently asked questions

• What exactly falls under PSC 9510? PSC 9510 covers bulk metal bars and rods. Bars are elongated, uniform cross-section pieces produced by forging or hot-rolling; rods are thin round metal bars defined by dimensional parameters. The class excludes muck bar, rods for wire, sheet bar, threaded rods, and grooved rods. ¹

• When should PSC 9530 be used instead of PSC 9510? Use 9530 when the bars or rods are nonferrous base metal; PSC 9510 covers the companion ferrous class, as indicated by the separate nonferrous class designation. ¹

• Are threaded or grooved rods included in PSC 9510? No. Threaded rods are coded under 5306, and grooved rods under 5340, per the explicit exclusions for PSC 9510. ¹

• Who manages coordinated acquisition for Group 95 materials in DoD? The Defense Logistics Agency (DSCP) is listed as the coordinated acquisition assignment holder for Group 95 classes, including 9510, in PGI 208.7006. This informs common sourcing channels for DoD buyers. ²

• What dimensional thresholds separate “bar” from “rod”? The PSC Manual notes rods are thin round metal bars and refers to dimensional parameters in the item name definition; specific thresholds are not provided in the manual. Not specified by official sources. ¹

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC 9510 overview
• Product and Service Code Manual, April 2025 (official definitions; PDF). ¹
• PGI 208.7006 Coordinated acquisition assignments (DoD assignment context for Group 95). ²
• Product and Service Code Manual landing page (current and archive versions). ³

References

1. Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual April 2025 (PDF), Section D Product Codes (Group 95), and Introduction (FPDS usage): https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
2. Acquisition.gov — PGI 208.7006 Coordinated acquisition assignments (listing DSCP for FSC 95 classes): https://www.acquisition.gov/dfars/pgi/208.7006-coordinated-acquisition-assignments
3. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual landing page (current editions): https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual