PSC AF35

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) is a standardized taxonomy the U.S. federal government uses to categorize what is being purchased so spending can be tracked, analyzed, and reported in systems such as FPDS; codes and guidance are maintained in the PSC Manual issued on Acquisition.gov. Agencies select one PSC per action to reflect the predominant product, service, or R&D purpose in FPDS reporting. ¹

AF35 is an R&D PSC within the “Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services” family (AF). Officially, it covers “Social Services R&D; R&D Facilities & Major Equipment,” and is used when the predominant purpose of the action is facilities and major equipment supporting social services research and experimental development. ¹

See also on G2X:

• G2X — PSC AF31
• G2X — PSC AF33

What this PSC covers

• Expenses for facilities and major equipment specifically supporting social services research within the AF R&D area. ¹
• Contract actions where the predominant purpose is R&D facilities/major equipment for social services (e.g., lab build‑outs or capital instrumentation), as opposed to supplies. ¹
• Reporting of such actions in FPDS using the PSC field (data element 8A) with the appropriate AF code. ¹
• Use alongside other AF social‑services R&D codes when efforts span basic/applied research, development, administrative expenses, and facilities—selected by the dominant objective. ¹
• Excludes routine product purchases used in R&D; those must be coded with the correct product PSC rather than an R&D PSC. ¹
• Excludes pre‑production development and user demonstrations that validate systems for specific use cases, which are not considered R&D under PSC guidance. ¹
• The PSC Manual does not define dollar thresholds or a detailed list of “major equipment” for AF35. Not specified by official sources. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Descriptors per the PSC Manual (April 2025). ¹

Coding notes for AF35

• If the contract action is for research and experimental development, report an R&D code; use AF35 only when the action’s main purpose is facilities and major equipment aligned to social services R&D. ¹
• Do not assign an R&D PSC to supplies purchased in support of R&D (e.g., instruments or spectrometers); code those with the proper product PSC. ¹
• R&D PSCs have two letters and two digits; “A” identifies R&D, the second letter denotes the major area (AF for education/training/employment/social services), and the digits indicate the R&D subcategory (e.g., “35” for facilities and major equipment). ¹

Frequently asked questions

• What does “R&D Facilities & Major Equipment” mean for AF35?

  The PSC Manual labels AF35 as “Social Services R&D; R&D Facilities & Major Equipment” but does not define specific assets or thresholds that qualify. Not specified by official sources. ²

• How is AF35 different from AF33 or AF34?

  AF33 covers experimental development; AF34 covers R&D administrative expenses; AF35 is reserved for expenses tied to facilities and major equipment supporting social services R&D. Select the code that best matches the predominant purpose. ¹

• When should AF35 not be used?

  Do not use R&D PSCs for routine products purchased in support of research; those should be coded with product PSCs. Also exclude pre‑production development and user demonstrations validating a system for a specific use case. ¹

• Where is AF35 recorded in FPDS?

  PSC is captured in FPDS data element 8A (“Product or Service Code”). Select AF35 when the predominant purpose is facilities/major equipment for social services R&D. ¹

• Does FAR Part 35 control selection of AF35?

  FAR Part 35 sets R&D contracting policies and procedures, while PSC selection and definitions come from the PSC Manual; use FAR for contracting approach and the Manual for coding. ³

Useful resources

• PSC Manual (April 2025), official definitions and coding guidance. ¹
• Product and Service Code Manual (current/archives hub). ²
• FAR Part 35 — Research and Development Contracting. ³

References

1. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code 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 (current/archives): https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
3. Acquisition.gov — FAR Part 35, Research and Development Contracting: https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-35