PSC B534

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) is the federal government’s standardized taxonomy for classifying purchased products, services, and research and development, enabling consistent reporting and analysis of contract actions across acquisition systems. PSC entries define “what” was bought in the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) and are maintained through the PSC Manual published on Acquisition.gov. ¹

Within the Services section of the PSC Manual, PSC B534 is defined as “Special Studies/Analysis – Wildlife.” It sits under Category B (Special Studies/Analysis, Not R&D) and Category B5 (Special Studies/Analysis) and is used to record non-R&D analytical work where wildlife is the predominant subject matter. ¹

See also on G2X:

• G2X — PSC B534 overview
• G2X — PSC B516 Special Studies/Analysis – Animal/Fisheries
• G2X — PSC F019 Other Wildlife Management

What this PSC covers

• Non-R&D studies and analyses focused on wildlife, coded under Category B (Special Studies/Analysis). ¹
• Analytic efforts where the primary subject is wildlife rather than broader natural resources or habitats. ¹
• Work categorized in Category B5 (Special Studies/Analysis), distinct from operational management activities. ¹
• Efforts that are analytical in nature as opposed to ongoing wildlife management services (see PSC F019). ¹
• Subject-matter boundary with endangered species analyses (PSC B509) when listings/status drive the scope. ¹
• Distinction from fisheries/animal analyses (PSC B516) when scope centers on fisheries or non-wildlife animal topics. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Related PSCs below are listed as defined in the PSC Manual. ¹

Type	Code	Descriptor
PSC	B516	Special Studies/Analysis – Animal/Fisheries
PSC	B509	Special Studies/Analysis – Endangered Species: Plant/Animal
PSC	F019	Other Wildlife Management
PSC	B525	Special Studies/Analysis – Natural Resource

Boundary with adjacent PSCs

• Not R&D: Category B is explicitly “Special Studies/Analysis, Not R&D.” When the requirement constitutes R&D in natural resources or environment, consider PSCs in the AH series (e.g., AH11–AH55). ¹
• Studies vs. management: Analytical wildlife work aligns to B534; operational wildlife management activities (e.g., population control, on-the-ground interventions) align to F019. Selection should follow the predominant purpose. ¹

Frequently asked questions

• What does PSC B534 mean?

  • PSC B534 is the Services code for “Special Studies/Analysis – Wildlife,” within Category B (Special Studies/Analysis, Not R&D). It is used to classify non-R&D analytical work where wildlife is the main subject in federal procurement reporting. ¹

• Is B534 considered research and development?

  • No. Category B is labeled “Special Studies/Analysis, Not R&D.” R&D requirements in natural resources or environment belong in the AH-series R&D PSCs, not in B534. ¹

• How is B534 different from B516, B509, or F019?

  • B534 covers wildlife studies/analysis; B516 is for animal/fisheries analyses, B509 for endangered species analyses, and F019 for wildlife management services. Choose based on the predominant subject and activity. ¹

• Where is B534 used in federal systems?

  • The PSC appears in FPDS to indicate “what” was bought for each contract action. SAM.gov also supports searching contract opportunities by PSC, as shown in its help resources. ³

• Are there official NAICS mappings or deliverable expectations for B534?

  • Not specified by official sources. The PSC Manual provides code titles and categories but does not prescribe NAICS mappings, deliverables, or methods for B534. ²

Useful resources

• Product and Service Code Manual (April 2025 edition, PDF). ¹
• Product and Service Code Manual landing page (indexes current and archived editions). ²
• SAM.gov Help — Searching opportunities by NAICS or PSC. ³

References

1. Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual April 2025 (PDF): https://www.acquisition.gov/content/psc-manual-april-2025.pdf
2. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual (index): https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
3. SAM.gov — Help (contains “Search opportunities by NAICS or PSC” resources): https://sam.gov/help