PSC AG11

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) system classifies what the U.S. government buys so spending can be tracked, analyzed, and reported. PSCs appear on contract actions in FPDS and are used in other acquisition reporting. The PSC Manual provides the official maintenance and definitions for these codes. ¹

PSC AG11 is an R&D services code under the Energy portfolio that denotes Energy R&D Services; Energy Supply; Basic Research. Within the R&D series, “A” identifies R&D, the second letter marks the domain (here, Energy), and the last two digits indicate the research stage; 11 corresponds to basic research. Use an R&D PSC only when the action is for R&D services, not for products procured in support of R&D. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — PSC AG11 overview
• G2X — PSC AG12
• G2X — PSC AG21

What this PSC covers

• Fundamental, curiosity‑driven scientific investigation related to energy supply, coded as basic research within the Energy R&D series. ²
• Work intended to increase knowledge without a defined practical application or system deliverable at the time of award. ²
• R&D services only; products and equipment procured to support a research effort are not coded with an R&D PSC. ²
• Effort where Energy is the primary mission area and “Energy Supply” is the subject focus within the AG family. ²
• Actions that meet the PSC Manual’s R&D characteristics (novel, creative, uncertain, systematic, and transferable/reproducible). ²
• Coding based on the predominant service on the action; PSC is entered as the Product or Service Code element in FPDS. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Scope within the Energy R&D (AG) series

• Energy Supply: AG11 basic, AG12 applied, AG13 experimental development, with AG14 administrative expenses and AG15 facilities/major equipment. ²
• Energy Conservation: AG21 basic through AG25 facilities/major equipment for conservation‑focused topics. ²
• Emergency Energy Preparedness: AG31 basic through AG35 facilities/major equipment for preparedness. ²
• Energy Information, Policy, and Regulation: AG41 basic through AG45 facilities/major equipment for policy/regulatory topics. ²

Coding and reporting notes

• Assign an R&D PSC only when the contract action itself is for research and experimental development services; otherwise use the appropriate service or product PSC. ²
• Do not code supplies or equipment purchased in support of research with an R&D PSC; select the applicable product PSC instead. ²
• PSCs are recorded in FPDS as the Product or Service Code data element on contract actions. ¹
• PSC selections support service‑contract inventory reporting performed in SAM for specified PSC portfolios. ³

Frequently asked questions

• When should AG11 be selected?
  Use AG11 when the predominant requirement is Energy R&D Services focused on Energy Supply at the basic research stage. If the work is applied or developmental, use AG12 or AG13 as applicable. ²

• How is “basic research” distinguished from applied research for PSC coding?
  Basic research increases fundamental knowledge without specific applications in mind; applied research uses that knowledge to meet a specific need. The R&D series encodes this distinction as “11” for basic and “12” for applied within each subject family. ²

• Are instruments or supplies for a lab project coded AG11?
  No. The PSC Manual directs agencies not to assign an R&D PSC to products purchased in support of research; those purchases should use the applicable product PSC. ²

• Is there an official NAICS crosswalk for AG11?
  Not specified by official sources ¹

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC AG11 overview
• Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual — landing page. ¹
• PSC Manual, April 2025 edition (includes AG series definitions and tables). ²
• PGI 204.17 (Service Contract Inventory) — confirms PSC‑based reporting to SAM for certain services. ³

References

1. Product and Service Code Manual — acquisition.gov/psc-manual. https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
2. Product and Service Code Manual, April 2025 (PDF). https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
3. PGI 204.17 – Service Contract Inventory (Acquisition.gov). https://www.acquisition.gov/dfars/pgi/204.17-service-contract-inventory