PSC B502

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) is a governmentwide taxonomy used in federal procurement to classify what agencies buy. PSCs enable consistent reporting and analysis in systems such as the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) and are maintained through the PSC Manual published by GSA. The manual provides official code definitions and guidance for coding contract actions. ¹

Within the Special Studies/Analysis, Not R&D category, B502 identifies requirements for “Special Studies/Analysis – Air Quality.” Agencies use B502 when the predominant purpose of the contract action is an analytical study related to air quality (as opposed to product acquisition, testing/inspection services, or research and experimental development). ¹

See also on G2X:

• G2X — PSC B502 overview: https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/B502
• G2X — PSC B510 (Special Studies/Analysis – Environmental Assessments): https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/B510
• G2X — PSC B533 (Special Studies/Analysis – Water Quality): https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/B533

What this PSC covers

• Air-quality-focused special studies or analyses (non-R&D) where the deliverable is analytical insight rather than a product or construction outcome. ¹
• Analytical work whose subject is air quality and that aligns with the Special Studies/Analysis family rather than testing/inspection or operations. ¹
• Studies distinct from formal environmental assessments, which are coded under B510. ¹
• Non-R&D analytical efforts; research and experimental development must be coded under the appropriate R&D PSCs in Category A. ¹
• Efforts where air quality is the specific analytical focus, as opposed to water or other media (for which related codes such as B533 exist). ¹
• Standalone studies or analyses not otherwise specified under another, more precise Special Studies/Analysis code. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type | Code | Descriptor

• | - | - PSC | B510 | Special Studies/Analysis – Environmental Assessments ¹ PSC | B533 | Special Studies/Analysis – Water Quality ¹ PSC | B506 | Special Studies/Analysis – Data (Other Than Scientific) ¹ PSC | B513 | Special Studies/Analysis – Feasibility (Non-Construction) ¹

Coding boundaries and selection notes

The PSC Manual directs contracting personnel to choose the PSC that best reflects the predominant requirement. For air-quality-centric analytical efforts that are not research and experimental development, B502 is appropriate; if the effort constitutes R&D, select an R&D code from Category A instead. Quality control, testing, or inspection activities fall under Category H rather than Special Studies/Analysis. ¹

DoD service contract inventory alignment

DoD’s PGI 204.1703 identifies PSC groupings that trigger service contract inventory reporting in SAM. The Special Studies/Analysis family (B5xx), which includes B502, appears in the Knowledge Based Services portfolio list for reporting when other DFARS threshold and applicability criteria are met. ²

FPDS environmental attribute reporting (context)

The PSC Manual explains that environmental attributes are reported in FPDS using data element 8L. While many special studies are primarily labor-based, agencies still determine whether any environmental attributes apply and report them accordingly in FPDS alongside the PSC selection. ¹

Frequently asked questions

• What does PSC B502 stand for?

  • It denotes “Special Studies/Analysis – Air Quality” within the Special Studies/Analysis (not R&D) services family. Use it when the primary deliverable is an analytical study focused on air quality, rather than product acquisition, testing/inspection, construction, or research and experimental development. ¹

• How is B502 different from B510?

  • B502 covers air-quality-focused analytical studies, while B510 is for environmental assessments as a distinct subcategory. Select based on the predominant requirement defined in the PSC Manual. See also on G2X: https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/B510 ¹

• Can air-quality research be coded under B502?

  • No. If the requirement involves research and experimental development, you must select an R&D PSC from Category A. Special Studies/Analysis PSCs are explicitly designated “not R&D,” and should be used only when the scope is analytical studies rather than experimental or developmental work. ¹

• Is there an official NAICS crosswalk for B502?

  • Not specified by official sources ³

• Does B502 trigger DoD Service Contract Inventory reporting in SAM?

  • The DoD PGI lists the B5xx Special Studies/Analysis family among PSCs requiring SAM service contract inventory reporting when thresholds and applicability apply, so actions using B502 can be in scope. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC B502 page: https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/B502
• Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual (document library): https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual/all ³
• Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual (April 2025 edition; code definitions and guidance): https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf ¹
• Acquisition.gov — PGI 204.1703 (Service contract inventory reporting; PSC groupings include B5xx): https://www.acquisition.gov/dfarspgi/pgi-part-204-administrative-and-information-matters ²

References

1. Product and Service Codes (PSC) Manual, April 2025 Edition (GSA). https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
2. DFARS PGI 204.1703 — Reporting requirements for the Service Contract Inventory in SAM; PSC groupings include B5xx. https://www.acquisition.gov/dfarspgi/pgi-part-204-administrative-and-information-matters
3. Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual document library (index). https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual/all