PSC AA11

Overview

The Product and Service Code (PSC) system categorizes what the U.S. federal government buys so contract actions can be consistently classified, searched, analyzed, and reported across FPDS and related acquisition systems. The codes are governed and updated through the PSC Manual issued on Acquisition.gov. ¹

PSC AA11 identifies “Agriculture R&D Services; Agricultural research and services; Basic Research.” It is used when the principal purpose of a contract action is basic research within agricultural disciplines and is reported as an R&D service under Section A of the PSC Manual. Agencies are instructed to select an R&D PSC when the action is for research and experimental development services. ²

What this PSC covers

• Basic research in the agricultural domain where the primary aim is to expand scientific knowledge rather than achieve a specified practical application. ³
• Research activities meeting OMB’s R&D characteristics (novel, creative, uncertain, systematic, and transferable/reproducible) when scoped to agriculture and reported as services. ²
• R&D contract actions where agriculture is the subject area and the appropriate categorization is basic research, not applied research or experimental development. ²
• Studies and investigations that increase understanding of agricultural systems, coded as an R&D service rather than as product purchases. ²
• Efforts that should be distinguished from applied research or experimental development, which are coded under AA12 and AA13, respectively. ²
• Administrative expenses and facilities/major equipment for agricultural R&D are excluded from AA11 and instead use AA14 and AA15 as applicable. ²
• R&D services coded in FPDS under data element 8A (PSC), with environmental attributes—if applicable to the service—captured under element 8L. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Source: PSC Manual April 2025. ²

Coding distinctions within “AA” (Agriculture R&D)

• Choose AA11 when scope and objectives align to basic research as defined in FAR 2.101 (knowledge creation without a targeted application). ³
• Use AA12 when work translates discoveries toward practical aims or advances the state of the art for agricultural needs (applied research). ²
• Use AA13 when the work produces or improves products/processes via experimental development in agriculture. ²
• Charge administrative costs and facility/major equipment expenses to AA14 or AA15, not to AA11. ²

FPDS reporting notes

• Enter the PSC in FPDS data element 8A; use the predominant purpose of the action to select the correct R&D code. ²
• Do not assign an R&D PSC to products purchased in support of R&D; code such items to the appropriate product PSC instead. ²
• Environmental attributes, where applicable to services, are recorded in FPDS element 8L. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What does PSC AA11 cover? AA11 covers Agriculture R&D Services for basic research—work intended primarily to increase scientific knowledge in agriculture, not to produce a defined practical application. It is selected when the contract action is for R&D services in the basic research stage. ²

• How does FAR define “basic research,” and why does it matter for AA11? FAR 2.101 defines basic research as research directed toward increasing knowledge in science, with the primary aim being fuller understanding rather than practical application. If a requirement aligns to that definition within agriculture, AA11 is typically the correct PSC. ³

• When should AA12 or AA13 be used instead of AA11? Use AA12 for applied research that exploits discoveries toward specific aims, and AA13 for experimental development that produces or improves products or processes. These distinctions determine the correct R&D tier within the Agriculture family. ²

• Should equipment or supplies for a research project be coded AA11? No. The PSC Manual instructs agencies not to assign an R&D PSC to products purchased in support of R&D. Such purchases are coded to the applicable product PSC; AA11 is reserved for the R&D service itself. ²

• Is there an official NAICS crosswalk for AA11? Not specified by official sources. ¹

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC AA11 overview
• Product and Service Code Manual (landing page). ¹
• PSC Manual April 2025 (PDF). ²
• FAR 2.101 — Definitions (includes “basic research”). ³

References

1. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual landing page: 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
3. FAR 2.101 — Definitions: https://origin-www.acquisition.gov/far/2.101