PSC AB15

Overview

The Product and Service Code (PSC) system classifies what the U.S. federal government buys so contract actions can be consistently recorded in government systems (e.g., FPDS/SAM) and analyzed for spend, trends, and reporting. The PSC Manual maintained on Acquisition.gov defines codes and usage rules and is the authoritative reference for selecting the correct PSC on awards. ¹

AB15 identifies Community and Regional Development R&D Services in the “community development” topic at stage “5,” which the PSC Manual defines as expenses for R&D facilities and major equipment needed to execute an R&D program (not the conduct of research itself). Examples include construction of R&D facilities and acquisition or production of major movable instruments. ¹

See also on G2X:

• G2X — PSC AB11
• G2X — PSC AB25

What this PSC covers

• Expenses to purchase, construct, rehabilitate, or substantially improve R&D facilities required for community development research programs. ¹
• Acquisition, design, or production of major movable R&D equipment (e.g., large research instruments) used in community development R&D activities. ¹
• Capital investments for laboratories, testbeds, and major fixed equipment directly necessary to execute community development R&D. ¹
• Obligations recorded under R&D stage “5” (R&D Facilities and Major Equipment) within the Community and Regional Development “community development” sub-area. ¹
• Excludes construction of non-R&D facilities (e.g., general office space) and minor equipment like standard PCs or simple microscopes. ¹
• Products purchased merely in support of R&D should use the appropriate product PSCs rather than R&D PSCs. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Coding guidance highlights

• Stage meaning: In R&D PSCs, the fourth character “5” denotes “Expenses for R&D Facilities and Major Equipment,” distinct from stages 1–3 (research/development) and 4 (administrative). Select the subject area (AB = Community & Regional Development) and the correct stage. ¹
• Include/exclude cues: Include facility construction and major instruments necessary for R&D execution (e.g., research vessels, DNA sequencers); exclude minor equipment and non-R&D facility construction. Products purchased in support of R&D are coded with product PSCs. ¹
• FPDS entry: The PSC is reported in FPDS data element 8A and should be selected based on the predominant item or service acquired. For R&D, choose the subject area and the appropriate stage; products purchased in support of R&D should not be assigned an R&D PSC. ³

Distinguishing AB15 from nearby codes

• AB14 covers R&D administrative expenses (e.g., operating costs of research facilities), not capital investments; AB15 is for facilities and major equipment. ¹
• AB11–AB13 cover the conduct of research (basic/applied/experimental development); AB15 records capital assets needed to execute R&D, not the research work. ¹

Frequently asked questions

• What does PSC AB15 mean?
  AB15 is Community and Regional Development R&D Services; community development; stage 5 “Expenses for R&D Facilities and Major Equipment.” It applies to capital assets (facilities or major instruments) necessary to carry out community development R&D programs. ¹

• When should AB15 be used instead of AB11–AB13?
  Use AB15 when the obligation is for R&D facilities or major equipment; use AB11–AB13 for research performance (basic, applied, experimental development). Stage “5” is distinct from stages “1–3.” ¹

• Does AB15 include minor equipment or office construction?
  No. The Manual excludes minor equipment (e.g., standard PCs, simple microscopes) and construction of non-R&D facilities such as general office space from stage 5 reporting. Use the appropriate product PSCs or other applicable codes instead. ¹

• How is AB15 recorded in FPDS?
  Agencies report the PSC in FPDS data element 8A and must choose the code based on the predominant item or service. For R&D, select the subject area and stage; do not assign an R&D PSC to products merely supporting R&D. ³

• Are official NAICS mappings provided for AB15?
  Not specified by official sources. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC AB15 overview
• Product and Service Code Manual (April 2025 edition), including R&D stage definitions and AB-series listings. ¹
• PSC Manual landing page and archives (official repository for current/archived PSC manuals and worksheets). ²
• FPDS help index (ezSearch and reporting guidance). ³

References

1. Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual April 2025 (PDF): https://www.acquisition.gov/content/psc-manual-april-2025.pdf
2. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual landing page: https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
3. FPDS — Help and ezSearch User Guide: https://www.fpds.gov/help/index.jsp