PSC B532

Overview

The Product Service Code system classifies the goods and services the U.S. federal government buys, supporting consistent reporting and analysis of contract spending across FPDS and related acquisition systems. The PSC Manual on Acquisition.gov provides the authoritative catalog and maintenance process for these codes. ¹

PSC B532 is defined in the PSC Manual as “Special Studies/Analysis – Soil” within Section C (Service Codes). Agencies use it to tag contract actions for soil-focused special studies or analytical work that is not research and development. The manual lists the descriptor but does not provide further scope notes or examples. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — PSC B532 overview
• G2X — PSC B519 (Special Studies/Analysis – Geotechnical)
• G2X — PSC B533 (Special Studies/Analysis – Water Quality)

What this PSC covers

• Soil sampling and analysis plans for environmental or compliance investigations, following EPA quality system guidance. ⁴
• Laboratory analyses of soil chemical, physical, and biological parameters (for example, metals, organics, pH, texture) as part of soil characterization. ⁵
• Risk-based soil screening and evaluation to inform cleanup or risk management decisions under federal programs. ³
• Soil mapping, description, and characterization activities that support planning and technical decision-making. ⁶
• Assessments addressing human exposure pathways related to contaminated soil and dust. ⁷
• Any additional inclusions or exclusions beyond the title: Not specified by official sources. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
PSC	B519	Special Studies/Analysis – Geotechnical
PSC	B529	Special Studies/Analysis – Scientific Data
PSC	B533	Special Studies/Analysis – Water Quality

Distinguishing B532 from nearby PSC families

• B532 covers soil-focused special studies/analysis; B519 is specifically “Geotechnical,” a separate descriptor in the same “Special Studies/Analysis” family. ²
• B533 addresses “Water Quality” studies/analysis; use it for water-focused work rather than soil-centric efforts. ²
• The PSC Manual does not provide crosswalk rules or examples assigning specific tasks to these codes; only titles are provided. ²

FPDS reporting pointers

• PSC is recorded in FPDS as data element 8A and should reflect the predominant product or service in the action. ²
• Environmental attributes, when applicable to the acquisition, are reported in FPDS data element 8L. ²
• The current PSC Manual (Fiscal Year 2025 edition) is effective April 2025 and governs PSC usage and updates. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What does PSC B532 signify?
  It is the service code for “Special Studies/Analysis – Soil,” used to classify contract actions involving soil-focused special studies or analytical activities that are not R&D. The PSC Manual provides the descriptor but no detailed scope notes, so agencies rely on the requirement description. ²

• Is work under B532 considered research and development?
  No. B-series “Special Studies/Analysis” codes are service codes listed in Section C of the PSC Manual, distinct from Section A R&D codes. Use R&D codes only when the principal purpose is to advance scientific knowledge or apply science in a systematic study. ²

• How should B532 be distinguished from B519 (Geotechnical) or B533 (Water Quality)?
  Select the descriptor that best matches the predominant subject: soil (B532), geotechnical (B519), or water quality (B533). The manual lists titles only; contracting and program offices apply judgment based on the statement of work. ²

• Which NAICS codes are officially mapped to B532?
  Not specified by official sources. The PSC Manual lists code titles and categories but does not publish authoritative NAICS-to-PSC mappings; agencies commonly use internal crosswalks or market research to select NAICS. ¹

• Are environmental attributes reported for B532 actions?
  FPDS collects environmental attributes in data element 8L for applicable acquisitions. This reporting is independent of the PSC selected and should be completed when relevant to the requirement or award. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC B532
• Product and Service Code Manual (document library), Acquisition.gov. ¹
• PSC Manual, April 2025 (FY 2025 Edition) — official PDF. ²
• EPA Superfund Soil Screening Guidance. ³
• EPA Sampling and Analysis Plan Guidance and Template. ⁴
• NRCS NCSS Soil Characterization Data (Lab Data Mart). ⁵

References

1. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual (document library): https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
2. Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual April 2025 (PDF): https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
3. U.S. EPA — Superfund Soil Screening Guidance: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-soil-screening-guidance
4. U.S. EPA — Sampling and Analysis Plan Guidance and Template: https://www.epa.gov/quality/sampling-and-analysis-plan-guidance-and-template-v4-general-projects-042014
5. USDA NRCS — NCSS Soil Characterization Data (Lab Data Mart): https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/data-and-reports/ncss-soil-characterization-data-lab-data-mart
6. USDA NRCS — Urban Soil Survey: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/natural-resource-concerns/soil/urban-soil-survey
7. U.S. EPA — Exposure Assessment Tools by Media (Soil and Dust): https://www.epa.gov/expobox/exposure-assessment-tools-media-soil-and-dust