PSC AB11

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) taxonomy standardizes how the U.S. federal government classifies what it buys, supporting consistent reporting, analysis, and transparency across procurement systems such as FPDS and SAM. PSC maintenance and usage guidance are published in the PSC Manual managed on Acquisition.gov. ¹

PSC AB11 denotes “Community and Regional Development R&D Services; Community development; Basic Research.” It falls under the “AB” major area and identifies contract actions funding basic research that expands foundational knowledge relevant to community development, without a targeted application or prototype effort. ¹

See also on G2X:

• G2X — PSC AB11 overview
• G2X — PSC AB12
• G2X — PSC AB21

What this PSC covers

• Fundamental, theory-driven community development inquiries intended to acquire new knowledge of underlying phenomena (basic research). ¹
• Foundational studies not directed to a specific practical aim or deliverable, distinct from applied research or development. ¹
• R&D services within the Community and Regional Development major area, specifically the “community development” sub-area. ¹
• Work coded to stage “1” (Basic Research) in the fourth position of the PSC (AB11). ¹
• Excludes applied research efforts (e.g., AB12) and experimental development (e.g., AB13). ¹
• Excludes purchase of products used in support of R&D; those are coded with appropriate product PSCs, not R&D PSCs. ¹
• Excludes R&D administrative expenses and R&D facilities/major equipment, which are captured by AB14 and AB15, respectively. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Coding notes for AB11 (basic research)

• PSC structure: “A” = R&D, “B” = major area (Community and Regional Development), the third character identifies the sub-area (“1” for community development), and the fourth digit “1” denotes the R&D stage (Basic Research) for AB11. ¹
• FPDS entry: The PSC is recorded in FPDS data element 8A and should reflect the predominant service purchased; AB11 applies when the principal purpose is basic research in community development. ¹

Frequently asked questions

• What exactly does PSC AB11 include?
  AB11 covers R&D services funding basic research—experimental or theoretical work to obtain new knowledge—within the community development sub-area of Community and Regional Development. It is not targeted to a specific practical objective or prototype. ¹

• How does AB11 differ from AB12 and AB13?
  AB11 is basic research (stage 1). AB12 is applied research directed toward a specific practical aim (stage 2), and AB13 is experimental development aimed at producing or improving products, processes, or prototypes (stage 3). ¹

• Can administrative or facility costs for community development R&D be coded under AB11?
  No. Administrative expenses for R&D are coded under AB14, and R&D facilities/major equipment under AB15. These are separate R&D stages and should not be mixed with basic research. ¹

• Is there an official NAICS crosswalk for AB11?
  Not specified by official sources. ²

• Where is the authoritative definition for AB11 and R&D stages?
  The PSC Manual (April 2025) on Acquisition.gov lists AB11 and provides the definitions for basic, applied, and experimental development used across R&D PSCs. ¹

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC AB11 overview
• PSC Manual (April 2025) — official definitions and AB11 listing. ¹
• Product and Service Code Manual hub page (Acquisition.gov). ²
• DPCAP PSC Selection Tool (psctool.us). ³

References

1. Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual April 2025 (PDF), “Section A: Research and Development Codes” and code listings. https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
2. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual (index and downloads). https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
3. PSC Selection Tool (psctool.us). https://psctool.us/