PSC B517

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) is a governmentwide taxonomy that classifies the products, services, and research the U.S. federal government buys; these codes enable consistent reporting and analysis of spend and are maintained through the PSC Manual used for contract action reporting in FPDS. ²

PSC B517 is a service code in Category B (Special Studies/Analysis, not R&D) defined as “Special Studies/Analysis – Geological.” It is used to identify contract actions where the predominant service is geological studies or analysis, distinct from other specialty studies such as geophysical, geotechnical, seismological, soil, or environmental assessments, which each have separate PSCs. ¹

What this PSC covers

• Non-R&D geological special studies and analysis services. ¹
• Classification of contract actions where geological analysis is the predominant service procured. ¹
• Use within PSC Category B5 (Special Studies/Analysis) under Services. ¹
• Services coded to PSC in FPDS data element 8A to indicate “what was bought.” ¹
• Work distinct from other Category B5 specialties (e.g., geophysical, geotechnical, seismological, soil, environmental assessments), which have their own PSCs. ¹
• Scope details, deliverables, and method examples: Not specified by official sources ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
PSC	B518	Special Studies/Analysis – Geophysical
PSC	B519	Special Studies/Analysis – Geotechnical
PSC	B530	Special Studies/Analysis – Seismological
PSC	B532	Special Studies/Analysis – Soil

Verified by the PSC Manual Category B5 listing. ¹

Coding notes for FPDS and SAM.gov

• In FPDS, the PSC is recorded in data element 8A; select the code based on the predominant service on the action. ¹
• The PSC Manual is the authoritative reference for service code definitions and Category B organization. ²
• SAM.gov opportunity submissions include a classificationCode field for PSCs in the Opportunities API, and PSC data is accessible via SAM.gov public APIs. ³

When Architect-Engineer (A/E) codes apply instead

• If the scope is A/E design or construction-related engineering rather than standalone studies/analysis, use Category C A/E PSCs (e.g., C1LC for tunnels and subsurface structures, C211 for general engineering). ¹

Frequently asked questions

• What does PSC B517 represent?
  PSC B517 denotes “Special Studies/Analysis – Geological,” a non-R&D service classification used to code contract actions whose primary purpose is geological analysis. It resides in Category B5 under Services. ¹

• How is B517 different from other geology-adjacent PSCs?
  B517 is limited to geological studies/analysis; related specialties (e.g., geophysical, geotechnical, seismological, soil) have distinct PSCs to promote precise reporting. The PSC Manual groups these in Category B5 but assigns separate codes to each specialty. ¹

• Does the Manual define specific deliverables for B517?
  Specific deliverables (e.g., report types, field methods) are not detailed in the PSC Manual. Classification is based on the predominant service provided. Not specified by official sources ¹

• Where is B517 entered for reporting?
  Agencies record the PSC in FPDS data element 8A to indicate “what was bought.” ¹

• When should A/E codes be used instead of B517?
  When the requirement is architect-engineer design or construction-related engineering services rather than a special study/analysis. In those cases, Category C A/E PSCs apply per the Manual. ¹

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC B517 overview
• Product and Service Code Manual (current release hub). ²
• PSC Manual April 2025 (PDF, current). ¹
• SAM.gov Opportunities API (classificationCode field for PSC) and PSC Public API documentation. ³

References

1. Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual April 2025 (PDF), Federal Procurement Data System Product and Service Codes Manual, effective April 2025: https://www.acquisition.gov/content/psc-manual-april-2025.pdf
2. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual (current): https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
3. GSA Open — SAM.gov APIs: Opportunities API (classificationCode = PSC) and related documentation: https://open.gsa.gov/api/opportunities-api/